{"id":8007,"date":"2021-12-26T19:13:38","date_gmt":"2021-12-27T05:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/svtoucan.com\/svtblog\/?p=8007"},"modified":"2021-12-29T16:09:21","modified_gmt":"2021-12-30T02:09:21","slug":"the-house-that-hans-built","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/svtoucan.com\/svtblog\/?p=8007","title":{"rendered":"The House That Hans Built"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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We return from Sorong after our latest visa extension run to find that Hans has started building a new house over the water.  His parents are still away in Waisai trying to sort out the ownership dispute over the nearby small island (Pulau Dayan Kecil), so Hans has singlehandedly managed to build the foundation and frame and has already started on the roof in the one week we’ve been away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Of course, there’s no modern building technology to assist here – all the materials are locally sourced from the nearby forest, including the particular type of vine suitable to make the lashings, and the different species of palm fronds to construct the roof and walls.  No such thing as a pile driver either – so Hans’s solution is a heavy lump of wood fashioned with wooden handles that he uses to drive the supports into the sand, using just his body weight and momentum.  It’s quite something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bundles of palm leaves for the walls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The lashings on the roof are a mixture of string and vines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A bit of a struggle getting up there for us vertically challenged ones!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We’re fascinated to learn more about this traditional Papuan building process, so we offer to help (although in truth I’m sure we’re more of a hindrance).\u00a0\u00a0After the basic framework and roof is complete, the next step is putting the floorboards in. These are cut using only a chainsaw but are remarkably straight and fine.\u00a0\u00a0Next, the frames go in for the walls and verandah – the horizontal wall frames are two pieces of split bamboo lashed together that will hold the palm leaves in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bruce is put to work chopping the ends of the palm fronds to give them a nice straight edge, and then I learn how to slide the palm fronds in between the bamboo frames, overlapping each other and then working upwards to the top of the wall.\u00a0\u00a0It’s fiddly work, particularly for a beginner!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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it’s a bit like a jigsaw puzzle trying to find the right lengths of palm fronds for each section<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Getting a bit faster now<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Debora seeing if our handiwork passes muster<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Bagus! The seal of approval<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Debora cutting the tops off the fronds to finish the wall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a little snippet of video to show you what I’m talking about…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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