Float island. Joint Forces. A „Hands on“ project. Strafford. New Hampshire. US
TEAMSPIRIT & COLLABORATIVE ENERGY
The Beam Camp located in an idyllic lake- and forestscape in Strafford, NH, USA is a unique summer camp focused on collaboration and creativity. It offers young people between 10and 17 years the chance to develop skills in design, problem-solving and innovative thinking. The Camp enjoys creating together, fostering team spirit in the process.
FLOAT ISLAND
The project takes up the idea of collective and participatory art. 100 enthusiasts, young and grown up, join forces to createsomething that subsequently floats on the lake.A lightweight, filigree but resiliant raftsculpture, whose appearance is perpetually reinvented by the players interactions. Its shape getsinfluenced by the shifting placements of the rafts. The different structure of games will mirror the fluid, geometric exchange of communication between the actors. Imagine a relay race where kids and teens on the bamboo rafts, pulling themselves along a rope across the water, cheering each other on. A thrilling, team-building adventure filled with excitement, challenges and loads of fun! On another day a cozy joint giant picnic might take place with all boats united as a large island in the middle of the lake.
JOINERY & JOINT FORCES
BARE BAMBOO
Joinery & Joint Forces is our proposal for this years summer camp, echoing traditional methods like boatbuilding and bamboo construction. This season’s camp sustainability will meet traditional building craftsmanship. In traditional bamboo construction, joinery typically involves simple, yet effective methods such as lashing (using rope to bind bamboo poles) and interlocking (cutting bamboo nodes to fit together like puzzle pieces). These methods create stable, durable structures without the need for nails or metal fasteners, which makes them environmentally friendly. Bamboo is strong, lightweight and flexible, which makes it an excellent material for construction. It has been used for centuries in traditional architecture. Bamboo is a sustainable and ressource-efficient solution. Known for its rapid growth—some species can grow up to 35 inches per day—bamboo is highly renewable and requires little water. Its versatility, its ability to regenerate quickly, its environmental benefits make it a unique material. Learning the traditional and minimalist construction methods of bamboo is a great foundation for nature-conscious education.