STAR CAGE in G4G8
Democracy Steps
Bamboo Fibonacci Tea House
 ©2008 Akio Hizume

1st February - 31st March 2008
Atlanta, U.S.A.

Client: Sarah Garvin and Tom Rodgers

I attended the 8th Gathering for Martin Gardner (G4G8).
Two month before the conference, I visited Atlanta as an artist in residence.
Tom Rodgers and Sarah Garvin who are host of the G4G8 asked me to build two mathematic heritages in their garden.

photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

First I built the Democracy Steps.
This is fourth opportunity, that is, first one was in Chichibu Japan (1994), second one was Ohio U.S.A.(1997), and third one was New Zealand (2005).

I started to survey the ground carefully.
This is the most important process.

Then, I designed the arrangement of steps based on the Fibonacci Lattice using computer.
Client and I decided we would use railroad tie of the Amtrak.

photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

Everyday 5 Guatemalans who are Santos, Lucas, Carlos, Oswald, Ricardo helped me.

The rise is 18cm constant.


photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

Guatemalans helped me very well. The Democracy Steps was completed only for one week.


photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

Completion!


photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

Landscape architect Dr. Takeo Uesugi set up the beautiful draining system.


photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

There are 76 steps total. The horizontal distance is around 100m.
This is the longest one of all continuous Democracy steps I built in the past.
When people climb up and down the Democracy Steps, they experience their own music inside their body without sound subconsciously.
It is the same experience as playing the Fibonacci Kecak.


The picture above was previous Bamboo Tea House I built two years ago for G4G7.
But in this occasion, I knew the bamboo condition was not good. We decided to rebuild new one.
The client wished that the next one should be higher ceiling and more exoteric than previous one.
I solved this good problem.
And we decided to use Guadua bamboo which came from Colombia originally because they said the species is the strongest bamboo in the world. My client ordered it from the Bamboobarry.

photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

I decided to use 2*12 lumbers for the supporting frame structure instead of plywood.
My client bought all materials and tools I needed at once.

photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

I did all carpenter work myself.

photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

After processing the lumbers, I started to assemble them.

photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

This regular pentagonal platform is very stable without any brace.
There is no nail.
Five persons took pentagonal position, and then they lifted it up at once and carried it to the exact site.


The platform just fitted the site.


A view from the lower side.

photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

It took two days to flooring.


photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

This supporting frame structure was an invention in this occasion.
It should be the best solution.

photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

At last, I started to construct the bamboo roof.


photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

It took only one day to construct the supporting frame structure and the bamboo roof.


A view from the lower side.


Bottom up view.


A vista from inside the tea house.
The bamboo dome is Caspar Schwabe's work.


There is no entrance. Every side can be entrance.
But this direction is easiest to enter inside.
The aluminum object right is George Hart's work.
And moreover, Richard Esterle, Peter Swedenborg, and Goodman Strauss built their geometric works in one night.
Tom Rodgers' garden becomes an outdoor sculpture museum.

photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

A big reception of G4G8 was held on 28th of March in Tom's property.
I served tea, coffee and Sake in the Bamboo Fibonacci Tea house.
from the left, Jan, me and Teja.


There are some ways to cover the bamboo roof.
In Costa Rica, I covered it by palm leaves.
We can also hang big leaves on each bamboo.(left)
I think this occasion we should cover roof using cone shape canvas. (center)
There are various ways else.

There is a magnetic way I invented.
This is to join all similar triangles based on Phyllotaxy.(right)
I named it "A wind mill of Fibonacci Tornado mod3".

photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

On the final day, I gave a presentation at G4G8 conference.
I talked about progress of my works last two years.
I showed latest musical work "Golden Bell Tower", many slides, movies, and models.
Audience enjoyed it I believe.

photo: Tomoko Ninomiya

I showed the real model of "A paper wind mill of Fibonacci Tornado mod3". This work reacts to the slightest moving of air and changing humidity.
This work is my exchange gift for all participants of G4G8.

Special Thanks
Dr. Takeo Uesugi
Mr. Bill Grove
Yoshi Okochi San
Mieko San

Return to Top Page