10 Commandments of Burning Man Design
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1 LEAVE NO TRACE
Very simple,
do you want to be allowed to come back next year??
You bring it in, you take it out.
Leave the campsite better than you found it.
2 CREATE SHELTER
Damm, it's hot out there, sometimes 100'+.
You shelter should provide shade for you whole team
and be able to withstand 40-60mph winds!!!
Shelter should be a primary purpose of your structure.
Test it before heading out to the desert
3 BE CREATIVE
If your going to do it you might as well make it cool.
The best ideas come from the most unusual places
antique stores, thrift stores, garbage dumps , etc.
Creative structures bring people to you.
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4 BE PREPARED
Start planing 4-6 months ahead of time.
Build at home.
You will get to the playa see naked people and the
last thing you will want to do is build your structure.
So, do all possible preparations at home, bring all tools
and extra materials in case of damage.
There is no hardware store out there.
5 KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID
Sometimes the strongest is the simplest.
A simple structure is easy top assemble, cheaper and
allows more time for creativity.
6 GET SOME HELP
Go with a group of COMMITTED friends to help
set up the structure/ art. This save time and increases new ideas.
When you arrive get your structure up first,
then go get naked.
7 RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH
Study pictures from past years, find out what materials and ideas worked
and didn't work.
Draw up plans show them around to get feedback from others.
Talk to other burnites for tips and ideas.
8 ILLUMINATION
Every 12 hours or so it gets dark.
So will your structure without lighting of some type.
Bring generators, candles,
glow sticks, flashlights or etc...
Generators are loud so create a shell to reduce the noise!!
Most of the fun happens at night.
9 LEAVE NO TRACE
see #1
10 LEAVE NO TRACE
see #1
Good Materials to use
Structure
PVC - cheap, flexible but can break. great for domes and half pipes. Could be used for misting!
Rebar- cheap strong but heavy to transport. makes GREAT stakes but remember to cover tops with bottles so someone doesn't step on them in the dark.
Wood - expensive but very stable, can be burned at the end (but ashes must be removed).
Scaffolding - can be rented to create a high hide. very stable if roped down.
Cars - using several cars or trucks in a circle, put a tarp over the top and add a center pole
Shade
Parachutes - good shade but it is designed catch the wind so cut holes in it.
Fabric - can be expensive but very creative and cool looking
Bed Sheets - My personal favorite, hit the thrift stores for used ones. Cheap, but not much UV protection
Camo Netting - good shade but expensive if you don't know someone in the military
Wood - expensive but very stable, can be burned at the end.
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