Bamboo Hexabyrinth

Hexabyrinth using bamboo

I have held a wish to create a labyrinth for many years. When I scored 500 metres of free fabric from a construction company in Melbourne, using it to make a labyrinth was the obvious choice. The Hexabyrinth was the result  -  a 37m diameter temporary installation of fabric, rope and bamboo.

It was important the structure be strong. As this was my first time making a structure this size designed to contain visitors, I found the answer to the question "what's the worst that could happen?" a little chilling. One way of achieving the required strength would have been through the use of heavy duty materials, steel cable and heavy use of waratahs. This option was contemplated early on. However after conversation with architect Graeme North in Warkworth a different method was chosen. While a six armed "spine" provides the initial basis for the structure, each additional element actually increases the strength of the whole. This was achieved via a geometric network of braid that interconnects each of the poles to all the others. In the final design only half of the "spine" poles are attached to waratahs, while the rest have metal pins to stop them shifting at the base. It is the parabolic profile of the three "spinal" cords that provide the pressure that keeps the structure on the ground. Every bamboo pole in the Hexbyrinth is held in place from four, and often six, directions. This, along with labyrinth's natural geometry of inter-nested equilateral triangles, makes for a very sturdy structure.

There are three types of bamboo in the Labyrinth, all of which came from the very knowledgeable and helpful John Rogers. Bamboo was an ideal choice for the structure, being light, cheap and strong - a rare combination! Bambusa Oldhami was used for the 12 tall poles capable of holding flags, at the centre and periphery of the labyrinth. The remaining poles that make up the structure's "spine" are Phyllostachys Nigra Henonis. These are tied with some excellent quality white 2 tonne breaking strain sailing braid from Auckland company "Fineline". The rope is pegged into the ground and tensioned with a trucker's hitch. The remaining 2.2m poles of Phyllostachys Angusta are then tied into a network of fine black braid with a toggle system I invented. This network is then used to suspend the fabric walls of the labyrinth. The toggles can be pulled out at pack-down, instantly freeing the shorter poles from the structure.

Within the Hexabyrinth function and form compliment and inform one another. The beauty I see in this installation is a consequence of its geometry, which is also the source of the structure's strength. The diverse bunch of folks who attended the launch of the Hexabyrinth really enjoyed the experience of walking the labyrinth, and were rewarded with a glass of some rather fabulous wine from Ransom's Vineyard. After the launch was over my crew and I packed the whole thing down in half a day, and put it all on the back of a ute. Anyone who has a spare field and/or the inclination to experience an installation of the Hexabyrinth should get in touch with me at anterelic@gmail.com

Hamish Bartle     17 July 2007

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