An interview with Timothy Johnson
Photo Courtesy of Timothy Johnson
Part of the Burning Man Series
With an influx of people, Burning Man’s infrastructure has changed over time. Notably, the festival has created a sustainability initiative. “The design initiative was to create sustainable architecture that utilized solar, geothermal or things that were regenerative.”
Johnson says that this initiative “probably hasn’t moved as fast as it could….We have a couple of 48-foot semi-trailers that that we could put solar panels on.” Smaller camps are even discussing solar generators, or hydrogen generators without emissions. In regards to the problem of heat in past events, “how we’ve adapted is to create shade structures and then with power systems, we have air conditioning.” However, it has made big changes to how both art and transportation are created. He sees this goal as, “creating things of beauty that are both useful utility and self-sustainment.”
An example of one of these creations is the “mutant vehicle,” a massive, glowing bus that runs on mostly renewable energy. “We have six 300 amp hour lithium-ion batteries. They manage to run the sound system and the lights for about six and a half hours, with only two of the batteries being about three quarters charged. Once the system is fully set up, it will be able to power everything overnight. Johnson also has four solar panels attached to the side of the bus which he hopes to get connected to the charging system.
Besides an uber cool spaceship bus, Johnson has created his own portable art structure to house an interactive meditation practice. He calls it “The Time Travel Lounge.” Built out of both the panels that frequently house the “mutant vehicle” and art vinyl, the lounge is a sight to see. However, Johnson has had to adapt his creation to the environments of the numerous festivals he attends. Johnson would have to rain-proof his lounge.
“The first year we tried to just stretch some plastic across it. But when the rain came, it wasn’t rolling off the back fast enough,” he recalled. “So then the next year. I added those wavy acrylic roof panels.” Johnson had a specific reason for why he needed a clear covering. “One of the beautiful things about this installation is that it’s the ceiling. When sunlight comes through the ceiling, it looks like stained glass,” Johnson says. “Having to think about the potentiality of rain definitely impacts the artwork.”
Johnson faced similar problems when it came to Hurricane Hilary this year. “All of our structures were not waterproof. We’d never had to worry about that.” Johnson thinks that the experience will impact how people build infrastructure at Burning Man in the years to come. “This year is going to impact how people set up their camps next year,” he says.
When it comes to sustainable architecture, Johnson believes that there is always room for improvement. Purposeful and sustainable architectural planning is a great way to tackle the effects of climate change. Through trial and error and adaptation, we can find a way to make infrastructure work for people and our environment.
About Author
