The project was organised by Parabow as part of its pan-european funding remit to encourage the preservation and reconstruction of ancient wooden buildings. After the reconstruction of the Icelendic Church ( see http://www.grampus.co.uk/parabow/projects/building/iceland/turfhouse.htm) this was Parabow's second venture into a complete building from scratch. Unlike the Icelandic project, however, Germany, and especially the former East Germany, lacks a highly developed structure of local government funding supporting heritage reconstructions. For this reason the proportion of organisation and funding provided by Parabow was higher than usual; -this was very much a test of Parabow's capabilities as a "whole project" undertaker.
The project was organised in three parts. First, preliminary organisational work to determine the design, obtain local authority approval, to advise the local community that the work was due to take place, and to make all the necessary arrangements for travel and accommodation. Secondly, the procurement and preparation of the timber, and, thirdly, the construction work.
This Preliminary organisation provided an effective platform for the later stages of the work. All the necessary consents were dealt with by Peter and Axel, and there was no evidence of reluctance on the part of the local community to see the project go forward. On the contrary, the more the project came out the ground, the more enthusiastic local people were about it. Latterly there was a steady stream of interested inquirers, including a sizable representation from various members of the Media. While we were there the project appeared in a local newspaper , “ Die Leipsige Volkszeitung”,- and some people got interviewed by the television.
Local people were initially quite reserved, but latterly, after we’d all been invited to a local “Schlachtfest” - literally “slaughter party” but more accurately described by Peter as “ first they kill a pig, and now they eat it”, much of the mystery surrounding the group was dispelled as it was revealed to have all the usual human weaknesses- fondness for drink ( Scots) and dancing ( Danes). Thereafter it was interesting to note that encounters with the locals became much less constrained. Lastly, the pre-project visit to Authausen by the Parabow project manager seemed to pay off. Whether her presence struck fear into the hearts of the Germans, or whether it was simply her innate charm, for one reason or another itconcentrated minds to have everything teed up prior to the arrival of the Carpenters.
1.2 Timber procurement was excellently managed and for this we have to thank Mark and the students with whom he worked. All the material that was asked for was there, and, as far as it was practicable to do so given the limitations of the funding, in the correct section sizes. The importance of this preparatory work cannot be overemphasised. No timber obviously means no
building. All concerned can therefore be justly proud of themselves for having stuck to their tasks and in so doing having provided an indispensable basis for the third part of the project.
1.3 The Construction of the project started on Monday, November 8th with the arrival of the Carpenters. Apart from one day’s respite on the 13th, it continued uninterrupted until the their departure on the 17th , and thereafter for a further two days by the students alone on the 23 and 24th November. By and large therefore we are talking about 8/9 days’ work. The weather was mixed. On four days out of the eight it rained , the remainder of the time it was clear, cold and windy. As the Carpenters left it was beginning to snow. Probably, therefore, this was about as late in the year as it would be possible to carry out a project of this kind in this or a similar location; any later runs the risk of serious disruption due to bad weather.
2. The Construction Project: In eight days the building was taken from tree sections, felled, trimmed and stripped of their bark but otherwise unworked, to a structural frame complete apart from roof rafters and battens.
The of overall plan size of the building was 10.4 metres long by 5.3 metres wide. The site was located in a farmer’s field about one hundred metres from the nearest farm buildings and the points at which the timber had been dropped off. The site was nominally flat. In fact it had a fall on it of about 10 cm. No prior preparatory work had been done on the site.
The progress of the works fell roughly into two parts: a preparatory phase lasting two days in which the first structural members were marked out and cut, and a second phase in which elements were constructed. Obviously there was a considerable overlap; some parts were being put up while others were being worked, however it is important to note that it took two days to get to the point at which building could start .
The rough chronological order of events was as follows: