Gabion Wall

Great to see sustainable design ideas using gabion baskets! Here is a recent project we did with the University of Memphis, Department of Architecture Students. They want to show the importance of recycling by building a wall of recycled concrete material! www.gabionbaskets.net

The first time I saw these rocks in a cage they were used to stabilize a lake shore bank erroding near a road. At the time I thought what a pathetic substitute for the huge cut rock blocks that had been produced in our local quaries 100 years ago. My opinion has not changed much. If you can't afford to have cut stone trucked in and you can't afford a mason or perhaps can't find a stone masson with the skill anymore to build large rock walls that will last, then I guess rocks in a cage will have to do.

The area I am referring to is on the north east shore of Lake Ontario. We were blessed with Italian immigrant masons of exteamly high skill and vast areas of lime stone on the shores of the lake and on Chaumont Bay. Examples of the limestone houses, bridges, breakwaters and retaining walls still exist in beautiful condition.

Ranchers in Oklahoma use these to stabilize corner posts out in the country. I think this is a very clever use of simple, available materials. They are not particularly beautiful in the examples that you show but perhaps they could be prettier ?