Has anyone tried playahuts?

[watchyourfeet]

http://thisisblackrockcity.blogspot.com ... rds-3.html

This looks like it would be easier and cheaper than a Hexayurt H15. Has anyone tested them? They look like they wouldn't handle the wind as well with that large vertical face. Thoughts on mitigating that?

Thanks.

[GreyCoyote]

While these are interesting structures, I think they sort of get away from the design beauty of the tried-and-true Hexayurts. As you remark, there are a lot of panel faces there that will tangle with the wind.

Will they work? Yep, I bet they will. Will they work WELL? Try it and see and report back, but I'm not at all hopeful they would survive a playa-sized storm.

If you do try this, have a backup plan "just in case".

[watchyourfeet]

Yeah I'm inclined to agree. The advantage seems like it would be less materials in general, and less wasted tape each time you set it up. But all that isn't worth anything if it doesn't hold up to a strong playa storm.

Thanks for the response, GreyCoyote!

[Mojojita]

Even the original hexayurt style, strapped down to rebar, is vulnerable to the playa wind (our camp having lost two last year in the pre-event storms).

[trilobyte]

...I think they sort of get away from the design beauty of the tried-and-true Hexayurts....

Beauty is relative - I think that whole category of structure is something of a blight on the city. Cheers to the very few who do something to make them somewhat artful.

[FossaFerox]

Mojojita, mind if I ask the length and type of rebar used to stake it down? And did you go with 6 tie downs or just three?

[GreyCoyote]

...I think they sort of get away from the design beauty of the tried-and-true Hexayurts....

Beauty is relative - I think that whole category of structure is something of a blight on the city. Cheers to the very few who do something to make them somewhat artful.

Hard to argue with that, Trilo. But I was thinking more along the lines of the physics/engineering aspects of the original hexayurt.

To me the structures themselves are a bit of an eyesore sometimes, but the underlying design, the zero waste aspect, the field-expedient assembly, and the way the structure deals with its loads is, well... beautiful. YMMV.

[Elderberry]

...I think they sort of get away from the design beauty of the tried-and-true Hexayurts....

Beauty is relative - I think that whole category of structure is something of a blight on the city. Cheers to the very few who do something to make them somewhat artful.

And to think, all this time I thought I was being more participatory by building my living structure on the playa. Since all seems now for not, I guess I'll just have to either get one of them fancy RV's or maybe have one of them pre-fab units delivered--complete with toilet, shower and a/c. (oh wait, that's what our hexayurt has. )

[TT120]

I like them but I'm not sure how well they would do in a BIG wind. Probably not so good.

I don't think they take away from the beauty at all, in fact, any shelter that was built out there is beautiful to me. I love the ingenuity of people.
RV's don't bother me much, I just don't pay attention to them.

[Eric]

Hell, the whole city pretty much looks like a refugee camp during the daytime.
I don't worry what others live in, as long as it works for them (and, if for some god-awful reason I had to give up the RV, I would probably go with a hexayurt, because I like my comfort, dammit.

[GreyCoyote]

Hell, the whole city pretty much looks like a refugee camp during the daytime.
I don't worry what others live in, as long as it works for them

This. Is. Truth.

But maybe we do need an architectural review board. You know, some body of enlightened folks who issue permits for structures based upon models, paint samples, and swatches. Just kidding, obviously.

[Canoe]

Even the original hexayurt style, strapped down to rebar, is vulnerable to the playa wind (our camp having lost two last year in the pre-event storms).

Mojojita, mind if I ask the length and type of rebar used to stake it down? And did you go with 6 tie downs or just three?

And which tape, how wide was the tape and how did you attach the tie-downs?

[forty_eight]

A Coto de Caza at Burning Man ... that would be perfect.

With nightly radical self expression review board meetings!

[Eric]

A Coto de Caza at Burning Man ... that would be perfect.

With nightly radical self expression review board meetings!

Good lord, this could be a fun bit to walk around a neighborhood doing - the BRC Architectural Style Systems Heightened Over-site Local Enforcement Service. Carrying clipboards with piles of paperwork, lots of boxes to check and areas to initial, and an official place to enter a bribe.

[BoyScoutGirl]

"We're with BASSHOLES, you have to show us your girders."

[Eric]

"We're with BASSHOLES, you have to show us your girders."

I was thinking "We're BRC ASSHOLES, you have to show us your girders"...

[forty_eight]

Good lord, this could be a fun bit to walk around a neighborhood doing - the BRC Architectural Style Systems Heightened Over-site Local Enforcement Service. Carrying clipboards with piles of paperwork, lots of boxes to check and areas to initial, and an official place to enter a bribe.

"Sorry, your rebar finials are not in compliance. At a recent BRC ASSHOLES meeting, the square top was ruled to lack desirable aesthetics. The rounded top finial has been approved, and WE'RE SURE YOU'LL FIND IT MORE APPEALING, TOO! The good news is that your fine is only two warm PBRs, payable now!"

NO:

YES:

[BBadger]

[FossaFerox]

Oh man, this idea is amazing. In addition to the clipboards may I recommend a hard hat version of those beer drinking hats?

[Eric]

Good lord, now I'm going to have to spend time making Official Documents that are hysterically funny (to me) in extremely fine print that no one will ever read. Just because I'm thorough that way.

[chuckularone]

Good lord, now I'm going to have to spend time making Official Documents that are hysterically funny (to me) in extremely fine print that no one will ever read. Just because I'm thorough that way.

And tickets! Complete with bizarre and outrageous offenses and fines to check off.

[theCryptofishist]

this gives me a little twinge of regret...
It's brilliant.

[dragonpilot]

*parks RV...cracks open a cold Tecate from the 'fridge...contemplates taking a shower before introducing self to neighbors*

[some seeing eye]

How are you going to recycle or reuse all that foam?