7.5.USA-2-detail-a
by Charlie Szoradi
Title
7.5.USA-2-detail-a
Artist
Charlie Szoradi
Medium
Drawing - Ink On Paper
Description
USA 2: Detail (a) Highlights Relevant to Sustainable Design:
Preventive reinforcement is more cost effective than reconstruction.
Mills have come to symbolize a time in American history that seems simpler. Mills are often painted alongside a picturesque creek partially dilapidated with some mossy stones in the foreground. This particular mill from the 1820s is appealing because of the large S braces on both sides. The S is made of forged iron and serves to support the walls from expanding outward by holding the end of a long iron rod that is connected to the other side. Often star-shaped braces serve the same function to reinforce walls and double as ornamentation.
You can sometimes see the stars in brick structures, such as the last building in a row of town houses. This idea of preventive reinforcement is not unlike preventive medicine. Overall, prevention is key to sustainability in that it helps reduce the burden of replacement and reconstruction, which adds debris to landfills and transportation pollution.
The mill wheel itself is perhaps appealing for the same reason as the stars or S curve in that its aesthetic appeal is a by-product of its function. The running water from the stream turns the mill's large exterior wooden water wheel, which in turn moves the smaller interior stone-grinding wheel, which in most cases grinds grain into flower to make bread. The mill wheel has the added advantage of sound and motion to heighten the senses. We largely leave hydropower to the major public works and utility companies, with large-scale projects like the Hoover Dam. However, new technology for tidal power shows some promise where localized power production can yield results in rivers and other areas where water is in motion.
Author and illustrator: Charlie Szoradi is an architect, inventor, and the CEO of Independence LED Lighting. He writes about many other topics related to mill design through his extensive travels around the world.
If you have found this posting online, it is an excerpt from Mr. Szoradi's book Learn from Looking that served as the inspiring seed content for this drawing share resource. For additional drawings and insights on mill design and hydropower, we hope that you enjoy exploring LearnfromLooking.com. You can search via general terms such as sustainability as well as narrower terms such as mill design, hydropower, and wall reinforcement.
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November 27th, 2016
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