THE MAKING OF THE CUBE
Environmental Design
Firepit The shape of the firepit was determined by needing to be a cube—of course—and also needing to be made of cement blocks, in keeping with the aesthetic of building's surroundings. Lighting a fire inside a stack of cement blocks will cause them the fracture, so the inside of the firepit had to be lined with special heat-resistant bricks. The firepit also had to be far enough away fro the edge of the cliff so as not to topple onto the beach, and far enough away from the wood-clad Cube not to set fire to it.
[above] Beginning in 2022 enhancements to the outdoor living experience at the Cube included a firepit, hand-made outdoor furniture, extended cement block patios and landscaping. Click the slideshow link to see how these improvements were made
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[above] 1. Building the firepit with the same type of cement blocks used for the patios and parking area. the inside will be lined with fire bricks to prevent cracking; 2. Tess and Dan place candles on the rim of the completed firepit; [above right] 3. A moonrise over the firepit; [left] 4. Gregory and Ben warm their toes on a chilly spring evening
[below] A rendering of the cube chair. The chair measures 24 x 24 x 24 inches and is designed to be made entirely out of 2 x 3s
Outdoor furniture in 22021 I began to prototype a range of outdoor furniture that would fit in with the visual language of the Cube building, being itself a cube in overall shape. The chair had to be sturdy and comfortable—suitable for outdoor eating and drinking, and without the kind of legs that would sink into the sand. And it had to fit a standard cushion from IKEA. It took a couple of tries to get the mortised corner joints to work properly with a radial arm saw, but the frame proved strong enough.
The matching lounger had to fit a standard Walmart cushion and have an adjustable height backrest. Like the chair, it was made entirely from 1 x 3s. The backrest elevates to 45° with a dowel pivot. The lounger is very comfortable but is a little heavy to move around. Tess and Dan would like to make a twin version of the lounger, and if they do I would recommend adding wheels to make it possible for one person to move such a beast around..
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[tpp] 5. The prototype Cube lounger. Note the Cube logo wood-burned into the side of the base rail.
[above] 6. The prototype Cube chair. The base is made in such a way as to prevent the chart from tipping over in soft sand
[top] 7. The lounger in position in front of he Cube with its Walmart cushion. A perfect place to lie in the sun and dry off after a swim [above] 8. The Cube chair complete with an IKEA cushion by the firepit.
Trees and shrubs Ever since an unsuccessful attempt to grow two palm trees near the Cube in 2005 it has been our ambition to establish trees and shrubs around the building. The environment is harsh with very low annual rainfall, sandy soil, strong winds, and seacoast salt air. The locals say that the best time to plant trees is in September, and that one should expect 50% of them to perish in the first year.
So it was during that month in 2023 that a major planting took place at the Cube.
Most of the plants were the hardy ocotillo that had been brought in from the surrounding desert. The other plants included salt cedar trees (tamarisk), chino, and guaje. We were warned not to plant salt cedars too close to the house because they attract bees.
[below] Salt cedar saplings are growing on the North part of the Cube lot, facing the wash. Beyond is a wrought iron bench which belonged to our beloved neighbor, David Groeger, who died in 2023. In the background is one of the ocotillos
[left] A remote controlled irrigation system with a pump housed in the shed. The water supply is from the three 2,500 liter tanks nearby. Two stations supply six bubbler heads, making it possible for newly-planted trees to grow while the Cube is unoccupied.
[below] Map of the tree planting at the Cube in 2023
Salt Cedar
Ocotillo
Chino
Guaje
[below right] 9. Two salt cedars planted near the wash which should grow into large trees if they survive; 10. Two newly planted guaje trees near the top of the driveway. Unfortunately, these trees did not survive the battering that they received from the North wind; 11. A guaje tree on the South side; 12. A chino tree at the Southwest corner of the Cube near the outdoor shower
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[left] A pair of ocotillos planted in the dunes near the edge of the cliff frame the early morning sun
Cement block patios and sleeping benches Starting in the 2020s, the cement block patios have been added to in all directions to allow better circulation around the building and the reduce the amount of sand tracked into it. Recently, Tess and Dan have embarked on a mission to provide the outdoor spaces surrounding the Cube with benches made of 2 x 12s and cement blocks, which are essentially giant Legos. The wooden planks have notches at both ends so that they fit snugly into the the cavities in the blocks.
[above] A sleeping bench facing the firepit.. Note the notched stacking of the the blocks on the left side of the bench, forming a ledge for drinks and plates. the stack of blocks behind the bench serve the same purpose
[below right] 13. Dan cuts notches in the ends of bench planks; 14. A pair of sleeping benches at the Northeast corner in an L configuration; 15. The same benches viewed from the North; 16. The bench near the firepit without the notching effect on the side. Blocks can be easily rearranged to suit various purposes.
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[right] Dan and Little Man are sunning themselves on the South side during January. The wooden slats below the bench form a cover for a graywater drain. To the left of the bench is a tiny bathroom
