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August 3, 2006
Adventures in Fence Building: Going Horizontal
Yesterday evening, we visited some architect and designer friends who bought their house in Crown Heights last winter and are just starting to make some headway on their backyard. We thought this was an interesting twist on the vertical slats of a more traditional cedar fence.
Comments
It's a beautiful fence, but nothing says, "I want to keep myself isolated from my neighbors" like building The Great Wall of China in your backyard.
Posted by: Meryckawyck at August 3, 2006 9:41 AM
If it's the same height as other fences, but just horizontal, what difference does it make?
Posted by: yveskleinblue at August 3, 2006 10:23 AM
it's beautiful! i really like it.
we're planning to re-do our chain link fences some day, so i will keep this in mind.
i do like having conversations over the fence with our neighbors, so i'm wondering about that too...
Posted by: lc at August 3, 2006 10:25 AM
damn fine looking fence!!!
Posted by: Armchair_warrior at August 3, 2006 10:58 AM
I agree with Meryckawyck. I think you could repel the Cossack Hoardes with this one. I like the basic privacy ideal, but I would break it up with a couple of small gaps or cut outs so it's not so in your face forbidding to your neighbors. Actually, just making it a bit lower would do it.
Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at August 3, 2006 11:21 AM
It's more Berlin Wall than Great Wall of China.
Posted by: Shahn Andersen at August 3, 2006 11:29 AM
Hey - I'm one of the designers of the fence, so I thought I'd chime in with our rationale, just so you guys can mull it over while you love or hate on the fence. The fence is 8 feet high, and the goal was to make it high enough that we could stand on our deck (low, platform, about 12" off ground at its high point) without looking into the neighbors' yard. Privacy and sound transmission are two-way streets in our minds, and we didn't imagine our neighbors (who are a bit stand-offish) wanted to watch and listen to us BBQ and so on. Eventually the bamboo at the back of the yard will be a continuous grove running the length of the fence. So there you have it. Chat away.
Posted by: fencer at August 3, 2006 12:33 PM
fencer where can i get some nice bamboo those tall ones?
i'm thinking either of bamboo or wild rose bushes to run along my yard.
Posted by: Armchair_warrior at August 3, 2006 12:42 PM
I have a horizontal fence that my architect built - it steps down in height from 8 feet (closer to the house) to 4 feet at the back. (So we wouldn't look stand-offish ourselves...) Architect came up with the brilliant and cheap idea of purchasing 8-foot sections of cedar picket fencing from [shudder] Home Depot, cutting off the tips, and turning them on their sides. Have had the fence up several years now and it's still in fine condition, and the cedar turned all silvery.
Posted by: ML at August 3, 2006 1:09 PM
I'm not the guy who did the bamboo research, but we've gotten it from a place called Bamboo Sourcery (prob available on the magical internet). They've proven very easy to deal with and knowledgable (so the report goes). We tried two varieties and the Vivax is the winner so far.
Posted by: fencer at August 3, 2006 1:36 PM
I think the fence looks great. Hopefully, your neighbors love it as well. If they decide that they are not that enthralled, they could turn you in to the DOB because it's 2' too tall. When we installed our fence 2 years ago, we checked with the DOB and was told 6' was the max height.
Posted by: kensingtongal at August 3, 2006 1:55 PM
thanks fencer :). i found alot of sites on the net selling these giants.
Posted by: Armchair_warrior at August 3, 2006 3:58 PM
What kensingtongal said.
Also-- don't the root systems of bamboo completely take over the soil, far beyond where it is actually planted (like, into lawns, planting beds, and adjoining yards)? I seem to recall that its quite aggressive and invasive. Maybe there is a way to keep it under control, but do beware.
Posted by: naomi at August 3, 2006 4:03 PM
I kind of like the way it looks, but imagine if its a brownstone, it might be a bit much... it would look great with a case study house tho'...
And wow 8', now I understand why one might want that height, but can't believe you've gotten away with it...
Also isn't it the rule that you put the less attractive side of the fence facing you, the fence builder, that is the side with the posts... Unless this is double sided, it could look more like barracks from their side?
But if you're getting away with it... it does make a statement.
Posted by: SeamusMacD at August 3, 2006 5:00 PM
@Shahn Andersen
i think it's a lovely fence and just as importantly, an interesting solution.
we just bought brownstone in crown heights and are looking for an innovative architect to work with...
if you are interested in talking, or if anyone has any great recommendations, please drop me a line-
thanks,
notadreeme@gmail.com
Posted by: neene at August 3, 2006 10:16 PM
I'm not an architect, but I know two very good designers who I'll pass your email on to.
As for the bamboo root issue - the key is to put an impermeable barrier around that very aggressive root system. Again, the people at bamboo sourcery were helpful with educating us about the finer details about that, but there's a lot of information on the net about it as well.
Posted by: fencer at August 4, 2006 10:15 AM
I guess I'm the only one who thinks that fence is plain...ah...uncompelling?. Paint it grey and it could simulate a freeway abutment. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
Posted by: cmu at August 4, 2006 5:34 PM
I'd love to get the name of the person who installed that fence for you. It's great.
Adam@byadammatthews.com
Posted by: Adam at May 28, 2007 12:10 PM
I'd love to get the name of the person who installed that fence for you. It's great.
Adam@byadammatthews.com
Posted by: Adam at May 28, 2007 12:10 PM
I'd love to get the name of the person who installed that fence for you. It's great.
Adam@byadammatthews.com
Posted by: Adam at May 28, 2007 1:34 PM
Many months on...... but I'd like to know who erected that fine fence too. please email me if you can help me out.
ncphoto@hotmail.com
Posted by: Nigel at July 4, 2007 9:27 PM
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