Seth Andrews  - WAS Project Artist

 Seth Andrews (Seth Projects)  is following in the steps of Homeboat in developing the creative, collaborative space of WAS.   He has been a leading force in the adaptive reuse of the barn at WAS.  Additional project work for contribution to Antennae Journal of Nature in Visual Culture.  

As a project artist his creative practice  is rooted in the mission of WAS and expressions of working the land.  The  transformation from conventional agricultural practices to a sustainable, resilient co-habitation with the site ecology has been expressed by the methods, materials and design of the projects at WAS.  Seth's creative work engages functionality as both an activity and expression of the working landscape. 

Corten perforated sheets for south side screen wall. 

Cleaning up the edges on south side extension floor boards

Working on south side extension.  The flow of interior to exterior spaces and building to building and feature to feature are all linked through a series of architectural and landscape elements.   The southside extends the building outwards towards the main trailheads leading to the upper prairie and back to the east facilities.   By extensions it also creates a larger curve and flow around the buildings and increases the experience of the landscape as integral to the structures. 

Drilling holes for the concrete screws to connect metal support brackets to footings.  06/21

Prepping for concrete pour for footings east side extension. 

Setting up form work for footing beam. 

Cutting slots with custom chainsaw jig for natural log posts  6/22/21.

Seth working on North side doors.  Old doors off, new frames well under way and paint drying on new doors.  Saving as much of the existing 90 year old barn but removing part of boards that are rotted or lost structural integrity.  It is pretty amazing how long the wood has held up. 

Seth working on native tree/shrub planting.  12/06/20 .. could be a Ninebark going in here. 

The tower with shou sugi ban rainscreen installed (above) and Seth note from installation process (right).  The "shou sugi ban" is charred pine  as cedar out of budget.  The charring elevates the wood from class C to class fire rating and is rot resistant.  The process is chemical free with minor amounts of propane and boiled linseed oil (from flax) so there is no other alternative to provide the performance or the unique character and depth.

 11/The loft loft subfloorb is in and Seth notes on the assembly (left).  The complexity is due to finding just enough of the rare/expensive "water repellant" plywood to cover the space. This created additional complexities in the joist blocking below but all worked out to a tight finish and a comfy nest above the loft. 11/20/20

Eclectic assembly of reclaimed beams from old powerline crossbracing, recycled barn wood,  trimmed down extension and wide, rough cut pine facing board next to the tower (shou sugi ban on far left) 

Trimmed down loft edge 11/18/20.  Everything it tightly sealed in order to repel everything.  

Deceptively tricky wall framed out  10/18/20  in the loft space (east wall)  

Installing attic vent frame  10/11/20

Building out the small, westside grain room.  07/24/20

Sam and Seth installing "Forcefield"  sheathing in grain room.   Many years ago a resident artist started a sink installation in the grain room.  It was good work but never really came to fruition due to the plumbing challenges.  The rough notches from the sink are now reset and tightly.  

Sister-ing rafters 07/16/20

Design notes for west side "grain room" 

Floor detail with slight angle but tight fit

"Construction docs" 

Some details from new door frame and south wall  06/17/20

Seth and Sam working on floor in small workspace (once gallery) and storage area.  05/31/20

05/17/20  -  Working on the south wall again.  

05/23/20  -  Sam Nordmeyer and Seth Andrews evening of workday on design/rebuild. 

11/19  -  Seth working with drip torch on river field prescribed burn.  

New rough openings cut for windows in the loft (southern exposure)  11/24/19

(above)  Opening into existing room expanded and framed and final piece of floor in the side area before sub  floor is added.  The opening will be trimmed and have a side rolling door added.   (left)  Existing knee bracing removed where new larger overhead beam will be added where the roof sections meet. 

Post and beam intersection awaiting box beam addition

Summer sunrise (WIP)  

7/19/19  -  Human corner post in place. 

07/17/19 -  WIP

07/17/19 -  Base sill plate restored ready for new locally harvested cedar cover plate.  
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(right)  Lining up new center beam  for the new floor addition.  (left)  East facing, South end wall after the plywood (1994) has been removed.  
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New door frame fitted.  The barn is at least 85 years old and absorbed a lot of wear over the years.  The overall structure of the barn is solid but working thru rehabbing frayed areas. 

07/04/19  -  New replacement doors for the barn in progress.  Locally harvested and milled pine from Bearcreek Hardwoods.  

WAS 06/01/18  -  Seth Andrews (Iowa State University Architecture Student)  In May, the rainscreen comprised of locally harvested lumber from Bear Creek Mill has been going up in the barn.