Boral Timber has sponsored a University of New South Wales student project to produce a scheme for the design education conference ConnectED 2007.
Responding to the brief, students from three separate UNSW faculties – engineering, architecture and fine arts – submitted ideas and a giant snake structure was finally decided upon.
After five months of planning and construction, the snake – nick-named Ed – was installed on the main UNSW campus where it remained for the month of July.
Boral Timber was approached by the students during the planning stage and asked to provide a quantity of plywood and pine framing to build the snake’s body.
Boral Hancock Plywood was requested for both its durability and appearance, as well as its sustainability benefits, which the students were required to take into account when choosing materials. The Boral Pinegard Blue framing is a termite resistant treated (LOSP) structural building timber that is kiln dried, accurately gauged and machine stress graded.
“Boral Timber is delighted to be involved in this type of project, which has been a great learning curve for the students as well as a real test of the materials employed as a result of the recent weather conditions,” commented Dave Angus from Boral Timber.
“Battling against wind and rain, the materials have proved to be structurally sound and able to withstand the elements, which is a good endorsement for us.”
The completed sculpture features a head, three arched loops representing the body, and a tail. Once the structure is removed from the campus, the snake is planned to be reemployed as the arches of a new art building being built by UNSW.
Other sponsors of this project include Visy Board, OneSteel and The Ove Arup Foundation.