World Record Eco-Tree (Crafted from Recycled Materials)

This is an initiative intended to challenge perceptions of local craft and also to create an iconic sculptural item that will generate local and international interest. The tree will be constructed largely from recycled material with the help of the Durban community in collecting recyclable items and "chipping in".
The Tree is dedicated to the Memory of our good friend and long-time supporter Jim Smale who passed away in 2009. His family are kindly raising funds to assist with the building of the tree.

[Nov 2009] Photos of Eco-Tree Progress:

Siyakudumisa Mavume (Umcebo Crafter)
works on the Eco-Tree

Detail of the recycled material being
used to clad the Eco-Tree

Siyakudumisa Mavume (Umcebo Crafter)
works on the Eco-Tree

[Nov 2009] Eco-Tree Starts Taking Shape:

Above: Dick Whittington works out measurements on the tree structure.
Above: The internal structure of the tree involved a complex structure to ensure maximum strenth and safety.	Above: To view of the base of the tree structure.
Above: Umcebo staff working on the tree structure	Above: Dick Whittington (Eco-Tree Engineer) works on the tree structure
Above: Mululeki Madlala (Umcebo Shop Manager) drills into the tree base	Above: Siyakudumisa Mavume (Umcebo Staff) works on the tree wirework frame
Above:Mululeki Madlala (Umcebo Shop Manager) , Di Ching (Umcebo Administrator) and Siyakudumisa Mavume (Umcebo Crafter) admire the progress so far on the tree	Above: Umcebo Crafters Bongani, Siyakudumisa and Sithabile work on the tree structure

In November 2009 the Eco-Tree finally started taking shape.

Here are some photos documenting the first phase on construction.

[Oct 2009] Eco-Tree Artists Impressions

Click on the above image to see full size

Click on the image to the right to view a PDF of artistic renders of the Eco-Tree created by Mike McFadyean (Digital Artist).

Mike used photos of the Umcebo Trust shop front at uShaka Marine World together with photos of crafters and generated a realistic artists impression of how the tree will look during construction and when finished.

The final page is a fantasy composition created by Mike.

[Sept 2009] RECYCLE BULLETIN:

WE NEED THESE BOTTLES !

Please keep all your empty 2 lt Coke, Sprite, Ginger Beer, Lemonade bottles and Wine corks. These will form the raw material for our Eco-Tree beads.

You can contact Robin Opperman (083) 7933408 to arrange collection / drop-off.

Please note that due to our limited resources, we cannot make "house-calls" to collect your recycle material; however, depending on the volume you have collected, we can "make a plan".

[Sept 2009] Recycled Bead Making Workshop:

Click on images about to see Full Size

The Eco-Tree will mostly be clad in large plastic beads made from 2lt Coke, Sprite and Stoney Ginger Beer bottles. We will be able to generate about 4 to 5 beads from each bottle. We estamate that we will need a minimum of 25000 beads for the tree. This means that the tree will be recycling approximately six thousand bottle. These are bottles that would normally end up in the environment as pollution and litter.

We held a workshop last week (Sept) at the Trust where people from Claridon Home spent the day learning how to make the beads from plastic bottles. This is with a view to eventually creating many satellite bead making operations around Durban where we can supply bottles and get beads made and pay people for the bead manufacture. Therefore the Eco-Tree will not only be recycling plastic bottles, but also helping with income generation. if this model proves successful, we hope that the Eco-Tree will lead to many more such projects - all aimed at recycling and income generation.

Special thanks to Di Miller (eThekwini Cluster-Dept Arts Culture and Tourism) for helping co-ordinate the workshop and providing sponsorship.

[Sept 2009] Mercury Article:

Click to see Full Size

The Mercury newspaper featured an article about the Eco-Tree in September.

The work of the trust was discussed, and our work on expanding our exports was highlighted. This is important exposure for us and our work, and we are extremely grateful to Nicola Jenvey for her generous article.

[Sept 2009] 3D Design / Render of Eco-Tree:

Click to see Full Size.

The two images here were created by Mike McFadyean (3D Digital Artist) as a visualisation of the Eco-Tree structure and final product.

These renders will be used by the engineers and crafters as a reference when creating the actual tree.

Thanks to Mike for his time in generating these images.

[Aug 2009] Umcebo Starts Construction of Eco-Tree:

There is great excitement as the Umcebo Eco-Tree is about to commence construction. Our thanks to Diane Ching (Umcebo Administrator) for sourcing and transporting the PVC piping seen here in the photo; and also Sizabantu for the donation of off-cuts of PVC piping.

This will be used for the structure of the tree, which will be clad in a variety of recycled materials and eco-beads (made by recycling plastic softdrink bottles).
Our thanks also to our Technical Expert Dick Whittington for assisting with the collection and delivery of the PVC pipes. Dick will be bringing his years of technical experience as an Retired Technical Director of Dunlop, to assist us in building the tree structure. He will also be joined by Linda Ness, our Consulting Engineer. All these people will be giving freely of their time and expertise, and we cannot thank them enough for this. We will be reporting regularly on our progress, and will take pictures of the tree as it develops, to share with you all.

[[Aug 2009] Animation:

Image Caption

To view our tree animation, click on the picture to the right.

The animation was created by Mike McFadyean of Sheer Design Training as an inspirational piece to promote the idea of the Eco-Tree and it's genesis.