Project Three: Finishing the Assembly

CC Assembly: (above) - view of interior space, with latter (scale). And below, several shots taken during the assembly.

Project Three: Layes of a sealed space

latex paint - black and red




Standard 4' X 8' sheets of OSB determine the limits of the space




Vapour Barrier and Foil and Heat Gun - making a continuous seal




Detail of Vapour Barrier heat seal from initial testing- some shrinkage!


The structure is a stud wall construction. Two layers (permeable and impermeable) make up the "original" building envelope: sheathing (interior and exterior finishes) and Vapour Barrier.
The latter layer seals the interior space from the forces of air and water existing in the exterior environment. And it establishes, alongside the perceived rigid and generic form of the wood enclosure, the parameters of equilibrium between interior and exterior space. So long as the Vapour barrier remains a sealed, no moisture can pass between the wall, and into both spaces.

To ensure that this is properly made, I have heat sealed the vapour barrier at the intersection of wall to wall, wall to floor and wall to roof connections. Rather than risk breaking the seal with nails traditionally used to fix the Vapour Barrier to the stud wall, I have welded the different plastic frames together.

I have also distinguished the two sides of sheathing. The exterior is painted black, and the interior faces painted deep red. Though both surfaces are the same material, I want to establish a clear difference between the homogeneous interior space's enclosure from the exteriors facade. Starting with the appearance of a solid, form from the outside, I will soon discover, after entering the space, that is is fact a composite envelope.