Kia ora koutou katoa
Here in Aotearoa a few friends hatched a plan to test the viability of using accommodation as a means to fund native forest regeneration and biodiversity projects in Porirua. We chose domes because we found they would be the cheapest way to enclose a space that could withstand the big winds here. But I wanted to maximise my opportunities here and make a space that good acoustic performance too so I could loan the project my Linkwitz LX521 based stereo. So I came up with twin spiral staircases with floor to ceiling cut out artworks. The shape channels and diffuses and hopes to reduce standing waves.
So I commission the artist Anna Muirhead (usefully an old friend) to design a cut out forest scene based on the neighbouring Kohekohe forest (Kohekohe are a beautiful native tree here that flower off the trunk in the middle of winter providing a key food source for local birdlife)
Enter the Maslow CNC. Before realising the possibilities of home CNC for this project I just saw something on a social channel or something demonstrating the M2 I think. A bit of googling and I knew this is what I needed to use to create the perfect space on a budget and from a more ground up - trying shit out kinda aesthetic that I wanted to be evident with the project (see the construction lines - see that someone without specific skills but a desire to craft via any means for the right outcome could make something that could have impact)
I was too late for the M4 kickstarter so I bought an M2. But enough time passed that I was able to buy a n M4 afterwards and it sat in my garage as I had already set up and got some time with the M2. Got the spiral staircase treads and a few other things done with it before it broke - probably my fault. So I had cut 2 of 11 full ply panels with the M2 and I had a deadline of about 12 days I think to cut the rest and parts would take too long to come for the M2 so I set up the M4 and had to go from 0 to 100 pretty fast. I had the static issues as I was set up in a small space and didn’t have proper anti static vac set up. I also a day to the power getting switched off in my street - that day had me on my knees shaking my fists at the sky.
Anyway I got the 11 full sheet of ply after about 100 hours cutting into this amazing artwork and now it’s on display for guests here:
escarpomentdomes.co.nz
People love it and I gotta say I never could have realise this project without the 2 Maslows.
Ka pai and thanks to Bar and the team
