The Zig Zag Wall Takes a Final Turn

The zig-zag wall at Hogpen Farms has taken its final turn. Five entrance/exit ramps provide communication with the elevated wall top. A path, wide enough for a person and a dog to pass each other along its length, weaves its way across a forest glade.

The perforated construction style allows light and air to flow around individual stones, and through the wall. Building in such a manner goes against basic tenets of sound, dry stone construction. Joints aren’t tight and stones are laid “trace”, that is, with their length along the face of the wall. But since it was the Edward Tufte’s goal to create a piece of stone art that included many “blocks of light,” a compromise was struck between craft and creativity. Oddly enough, it takes extra skill to make an insubstantial dry stone construction compared to one that is solid built. My walling compatriots and I were able strike a balance between loose and strong. Heavy cap stones bind the filigree together.

Thanks to Jared, Chuck and Andrew for bringing their superior walling skills to bear on this unusual project. The day-time labors were shared equally, as were the evening ping pong wins and losses.

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