First there were some mad bends, and then some successful smaller bends…
Before we finally got the process down almost to a fine art. Just in time for a visit from the Architectural Association students.
Something a bit different for them to see!
The curves were beginning to pile up.
Time to talk them through the process while the wood is steaming.
Very relieved to do a perfect bend in front of an audience! Here you can see the steam box cooling down after being hoisted on the pulleys off the hot plank. The steam bending arm has come all the way round and the end of the piece of wood is clamped round the former. The cell structure of the timber has now been altered and will cool to its new shape.
And here is one we did earlier. We just keep it clamped into shape until the design of the pavilion will do that for us.
PETTER BJØRN SOUTHALL 