Playing

I don’t know what exactly they are playing for; but it seemed so fun for them.
My entry for The Weekend in Black and White

Vegetable Seller Cart

Another cart photo from me. Here, most vegetable sellers use 2 wheeled carts to bring their things. Only a few sellers have used motor bikes. It’s not only vegetable; you can also find fish, chickens, fruits, and spices. For our daily meals, I often buy things to cook from them. I have subscribed to one seller for years. He passes by our home every morning.

Desk and Bench

This timber deck creates an entertainment area perfectly in sympathy with a sloping, bushy or rocky site. It incorporates a bench that doubles as a handrail. The deck is constructed in a series of platforms which descend in 150 mm steps. A drop of this size is ideal; anything smaller is difficult to see and could cause the unwary to trip.

The diagram shows the basic construction with recommended timber sizes and spacings. Instead of being solid, the posts are built-up which allows the braces and seat supports to be easily and firmly fixed between them with galvanized nails or bolts. The joint between the top of the brace and the seat support should be epoxy-glued and screwed with 75 mm galvanized or brass screws.

The back rest doesn’t have to be vertical; if you would prefer it to be tilted, cut a slight bevel on the top of the posts. The posts are held at the bottom with post brackets and coachscrews. The finishing of the deck is optional. In this instance, the timber was left untouched so that it blended into the natural surroundings. If treated radiata pine were used, this could be a problem because it twits and cracks alarmingly in external applications. Tallow wood or brush box will better withstand the elements but all timbers are affected adversely by direct sunlight.

A Research Institute

This ‘house’ is actually a research institute, located in my city (Bogor, West Java, Indonesia). Looks good in black and white, right?

My entry for The Weekend in Black and White

Lights at Night

I capture it from a mall terrace at 3th floor (Bogor, West Java, Indonesia).

Just share the beauty of lights in the dark night.

Fencing (3)

This post is still about fencing, but this time I mention about metal and masonry fencing.

Metal

Chain wire
The type of fencing is easy to see through yet, if fixed properly, it provides a secure barrier which cannot be blown over. Unfortunately, it is not a great visual delight. It’s a question of function versus appearance.

Weldmesh
With its turned-over top and criss-cross pattern, this makes a solid, cheap, no-nonsense fence. It can be left galvanized or bought already painted. Don’t try painting it yourself unless you have considerable patience.

Metal framework
There is a large variety of aluminium and steel fencing which comes in rails and posts. Most are pre-finished in an assortment of colors and have plain or fancy tops. Your choice will be determined by whether you want to feature your fence or have it remain an inconspicuous part of your out-door environment.

Metal panels
In high wind areas the chances of the assembly being blown over or buckled are an unfortunate reality. However, if you wish to avoid having to paint and you want total privacy, metal panels are useful and relatively cheap. Plants and shrubs can soften the uniformity.

Masonry

Bricks
Properly laid and placed on a firm foundation, bricks have an enduring quality that requires no maintenance. Brick is the most expensive of fencing mediums because of the high unit cost and the even higher cost of laying.

For example, a brick wall will cost more than 10 times that of the equivalent height of paling fence (1.8 meters). The effect can be heavy and factory-like unless there are variations in the height, or steps of feature nooks are included in the face of the wall.

Palisade
A cheaper way to have at least some masonry is to create a low brick wall between a series of brick columns. The gaps in between them are filled with metal posts. The bricks can be left as they are or rendered.

The cost of such fencing is about half that of solid masonry. The effect can be striking, especially if you have an older style home.