Well, I got my "Aztec" square yurt up to the Playa and back. Because I took almost no pictures I didn't get one of the structure, but someone took a marker and scribbled "Best Shelter Design Award, BM 2015" on the outside.
I do have a few observations: * The interface with the ground was a problem. I thought I had a flat site, but there were air gaps that admitted wind and dust (especially since my tarp was only 12' wide to keep rain from leaking in), and also allowed the walls to bend in and out alarmingly, esp. in the wind. I dealt with it by raking playa a few inches high at bottom, but I still got plenty of dust intrusion. * Dealing with the zipties was a pain, since drilling the holes left them so rough that moving the ties around--especially cinching them up--was a problem. In future I'll try to minimize the problem by putting the ties into one hole before putting the structure up. * The door side was fairly fragile, and as the week wore on, the gap between the door pieces opened up. * In the highest winds I feared for the survival of the 1" walls. * Speaking of the door, it was difficult to keep it from blowing open when inside (when I was outside I just blocked it with a gallon water jug). * Decoration note: my shelter-mate scared up a piece of carpet to lie in the space between the beds. It made all the difference in dust control and general home-iness. * The roof turbine was great. I had in mind an elaborate system to control airflow, but I just wound up attaching a handle to the plywood circle from cutting out the hole and jammiing it up there as needed. Anything more would have been wasted. * My swamp cooler failed (long story) but the shelter was habitable day and night, albeit a tad stuffy in hot weather and pretty chilly on the coldest nights. * Note: you CAN make a roof larger than 4' using just two pieces cut from a single 4x8 sheet of plywood. I spent several sleepless hours figuring this out, so contact me if you want the scheme. * I cut 1x2's to make a square that fits tightly into the walls at the top, and screwed that onto the plywood. Makes nice seating at the top. * Not trusting bare plywood in the rain, and being suspicious that it would heat up in the sun, I covered the top with Reflectix, stapling it to the plywood edges and duct-taping it to the collar for the vent turbine. No rain, but I'm very confident in it. For next year, here are a few things I'll do: * Dig a trench a couple of inches deep for the walls, such that the tarp goes into the trench but not out the other side. That should help with the structure of the walls and the wind, as well as providing a surface for the walls to clamp down to. * Run a wire from pipe to pipe across the bottom of the door wall, to keep it from spreading. * Rig a loop of tape or cord at the inside top of the door and hang a weight (a boot?) from it to keep the door closed when you're inside. * Find some not-quite-so-cheap air filters. Mine were just generic Home Depot filters, and during the dust storms I could literally see dust blowing in. This happened with my prior hexayurts too, but I never seem to remember it until I'm up there. * I don't know what the standard scheme is for dealing with stacking, but I made a perfect rectangular 8' x 4' x 8" stack by hinging the triangles to the walls. On each wall, one triangle hinges "in" and the other hinges "out". Two walls have them going one way (left "in", right "out") and two the other (right "in", left "out"). One wall has one triangle detached--taped onsite--so it will be lie on the top without an odd triangle. Stick the loose triangle to mate with the odd one on the bottom and you're away! So, Alex, thanks for an inspired design! I've got my shelter for the next few years. Cheers, Steve On Tue, Aug 18, 2015 at 7:15 AM, Bobby Ray <[email protected]> wrote: > HI Steve, > > I would love to see some pictures and any modifications that you did to > the original design. > > Thanks in advance. > Bobby Ray 951-764-1335 who will soon be making a trip from Hemet > California to Kansas City and back > (going to pick up my van that died there.) I welcome invitations to visit > and photograph your projects. > > Next trip is from Hemet in Southern California to South Florida then > staying for an unknown length of time > and returning. > > I welcome travel companions and I am looking for someone in KC area that > wants a "free" ride to California . > to share the driving. > > I travel with tools, glad to help with projects. I always have a camera, > chess set and now that I am ' > learning bridge ... a few decks of cards. I love the simplicity of yurts, > hexayurts and domes have fascinated > me for decades. > > On Tue, Aug 18, 2015 at 5:52 AM, Steve Upstill <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Almost done with the panels. Just have to punch out the tape for the >> drill holes and do the hinges. >> >> You think YOU'RE psyched! >> >> On Tue, Aug 18, 2015, 1:08 AM Lucas González <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> Photos useable in wikipages would be extra nice. Thanks! >>> El 18/08/2015 01:15, "Alex Gorbatchev" <[email protected]> >>> escribió: >>> >>>> Steve, >>>> >>>> I didn't add any dust filters to the turbine hole, I figured if there's >>>> wind it will be sucking air out due to "negative" pressure. >>>> >>>> I cut out a square opening for the turbine, treated the edges with foil >>>> tape. I kept the cut out piece and also treated the edges in case there's a >>>> need to plug the whole. >>>> >>>> The turbine base was simply taped to the top of the panel. I used a >>>> couple of wood screws in a few places where it was possible. >>>> >>>> I'm super excited to see somebody actually building this :) Are you >>>> done with the panels already? >>>> >>>> On Mon, Aug 17, 2015 at 2:48 PM Steve Upstill <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Alex, >>>>> >>>>> I'm in mid-construction on my version of your "Aztec". One question >>>>> re: ventilation. Did you just leave the hole to the turbine open, or did >>>>> you fill it with some kind of filtering material in the event of backflow? >>>>> Also, did you build something to block the flow to the turbine (for pretty >>>>> much the same reason)? >>>>> >>>>> PS I'll be camping with Aquazone at 3:00 and F this year. Come say hi >>>>> and see my version! >>>>> >>>>> Thanks, >>>>> Steve "Swifty" Upstill >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2015 at 6:14 PM, Alex Gorbatchev < >>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> For the roof I made an L shaped frame out of 1x3 wood I believe and >>>>>> put a 4x4 panel in the frame. I the taped up the seams with foil tape. >>>>>> >>>>>> The frame acted and the rigid structure for the panels to lean on and >>>>>> hold the shape. Because the pipes were actually leaning on the frame, >>>>>> there >>>>>> was practically no pressure downward on the panels themselves. >>>>>> >>>>>> The yurt itself stood up very well to the Monday rain. Unfortunately >>>>>> I placed the matt on the ground flat and so bunch of water sipped under >>>>>> the >>>>>> panels, but that wasn't the yurt issue. >>>>>> >>>>>> The best part is the wind vent. The stronger was wind outside, the >>>>>> more airflow there was throw the air filters and out of the yurt, >>>>>> essentially sucking the dust out and cleaning the air inside. I enjoyed >>>>>> this very much, it was an experiment that worked out very well imo. >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2015, 15:07 Chita Jing <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Our messages crossed each other. 1/2" EMT is indeed easy to find and >>>>>>> drill, cut, etc. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> How easy was this construction to keep dry? Any closeups of the >>>>>>> roof? Especially where it meets the walls, please. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2015 at 3:05 PM, Alex Gorbatchev < >>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Oops, sorry, that was the wrong link and you fellas totally right, >>>>>>>> there isn't 1/4 EMT, it was 1/2" EMT and 1" panels >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> http://m.homedepot.com/p/Allied-Tube-Conduit-1-2-in-EMT-Conduit-101543/100400405 >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2015, 15:03 Alex Gorbatchev < >>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Sorry for the delay, I'm traveling ATM... >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> The triangle's are 8x4 panels cut diagonally, so each side takes 2 >>>>>>>>> panels. This makes each side 12 feet long, for total of 144 sqft. >>>>>>>>> This is a >>>>>>>>> bit smaller than similarly sized hexayurt, but more practical imo >>>>>>>>> because >>>>>>>>> the space is square in shape. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Here's the 1/4" EMT pile >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> http://m.homedepot.com/p/Allied-Tube-Conduit-1-1-4-in-EMT-Conduit-101576/100400410 >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I chose this size because its thinner than the 1/2" panel. So when >>>>>>>>> you cut out a small triangular groove on the side of the panel, the >>>>>>>>> 1/4 >>>>>>>>> fits in very snuggly. Then using the 6" tape you get about two inches >>>>>>>>> of >>>>>>>>> grip on the panel on each side and this holds the EMT pipe very well. >>>>>>>>> I the >>>>>>>>> covered the bifilament tape that would be exposed to the sun with 3" >>>>>>>>> aluminum foil. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Sorry, I'm still trying to dig out my original 3d sketch for the >>>>>>>>> yurt. I'll follow up when I do. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Please ask more questions, I'm happy to answer :) very surprised >>>>>>>>> to see this much interest in this design. People were pretty >>>>>>>>> dismissive of >>>>>>>>> it when I was originally posting the sketches :) >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2015, 14:54 Steve Upstill <[email protected]> >>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Just a clarification, please: I don't see how you can construct >>>>>>>>>> this out of 9 4x8 sheets. Each face uses one sheet whole, and two >>>>>>>>>> 2x8 right >>>>>>>>>> triangles. To get eight 2x8 right triangles don't you need two whole >>>>>>>>>> panels? >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> ...and 1/4" EMT pipe? Really? 1/2" is the smallest I can find. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>>>>>> Steve Upstill >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Jun 26, 2015 at 2:49 PM, Alex Gorbatchev < >>>>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Hey friends! >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Want to share my shelter / "hexayurt" from Burning Man 2014. >>>>>>>>>>> This was made from 9 standard 8x4' RMax 1" panels with a custom >>>>>>>>>>> roof and a >>>>>>>>>>> wind mill exhaust. I added 1/4 EMT pipe to each vertical panel edge >>>>>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>>>>> connected all panels with heavy duty zip ties which made assembly >>>>>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>>>>> disassembly possible in 10-15 minutes. It's about 7.5' tall in the >>>>>>>>>>> middle >>>>>>>>>>> and 12x12' wide. Comfortably held a queen size air bed, small table >>>>>>>>>>> with >>>>>>>>>>> two benches 4 crates with clothing. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> The windmill worked amazingly well. During stronger winds and >>>>>>>>>>> dust gusts it was actually sucking out more dust from inside the >>>>>>>>>>> yurt and >>>>>>>>>>> kept the place even cleaner. There are two small air filters >>>>>>>>>>> installed in >>>>>>>>>>> walls opposite to the camera view. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gSdNEKPgpdI/VY3Ho3mkogI/AAAAAAACHf8/1eOLjk91MLU/s1600/P1050857.JPG> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>>>>>>>> Google Groups "hexayurt" group. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hexayurt. >>>>>>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic >>>>>>>>>> in the Google Groups "hexayurt" group. >>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/hexayurt/I8XXijf_jgg/unsubscribe >>>>>>>>>> . >>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email >>>>>>>>>> to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hexayurt. >>>>>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>>> Groups "hexayurt" group. >>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hexayurt. >>>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in >>>>>>> the Google Groups "hexayurt" group. >>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/hexayurt/I8XXijf_jgg/unsubscribe. >>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hexayurt. >>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "hexayurt" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hexayurt. >>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>>>> Google Groups "hexayurt" 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