What is a Crinkle Crankle Walls ?

The Intriguing Engineering Behind Crinkle Crankle Walls

Journeying through rural areas, particularly in the U.K., it's common to come across curvaceous garden walls gracefully contouring the landscape. These are known as crinkle crankle walls — a term that might elicit chuckles but represents an ingenious engineering solution.

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The Elegance and Efficiency of the Serpentine Wall

Although they might appear like architectural whimsy, these walls are functionally astute. In the U.S., they're often termed "serpentine walls," which hints at their snake-like, S-shaped design. The phrase "crinkle crankle" finds its roots in Old English, meaning "zig-zag."

The sinusoidal (or wave-like) pattern of the wall, alternating between concave and convex curves, is not just decorative. This design was found during the Middle Ages to facilitate the growth of fruit trees in colder environments. The indentations provide protection against wind and capture solar heat, which they then reflect back onto the trees. This microclimate effectively prolongs the growing season.

Image credits: wikipedia

Cost-Effective Engineering

What might initially seem like an extravagant use of bricks is, in fact, a cost-saving strategy. While these meandering walls have a larger footprint than their straight counterparts, they boast superior stability with just one wythe (layer) of bricks. In contrast, a straight wall usually demands double that — two wythes. This means serpentine walls consume fewer materials.

To ensure their structural integrity, the geometry must be precise. The Brick Industry Association, previously known as the Structural Clay Products Institute, in 1958, offered a technical guideline outlining the mathematical calculations for the wall's design, emphasizing measurements in radians.

Historical Roots and International Appeal

These walls likely evolved through iterative "trial and error," gradually adding curves to enhance both stability and visual interest. Although their precise origins are murky, various cultures have utilized the design for several millennia. A notable recent discovery was in 2020 in the "lost golden city of Luxor" in Egypt, where archaeologists unearthed a zig-zag mudbrick wall standing up to 9 feet high, spanning the 3,400-year-old royal city established by Amenhotep III.

Fast forward to the Middle Ages and Renaissance: these walls were specifically employed for safeguarding fruit trees. The concept was introduced to the U.K. in the 1600s by Dutch engineers. Tasked with converting The Fens, a marshy area in East Anglia, into arable land, they constructed drainage systems bordered by these wavy brick barriers, termed "slangenmuur" or "snake wall."

The design's elegance wasn't lost on prominent architects like Francisco Borromini, who incorporated it into the church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane in Rome during the Baroque period.

By the 19th century, this design was prolific in the U.K., especially in Suffolk. In the U.S., Thomas Jefferson championed the style, incorporating it into the University of Virginia's design. He likely gleaned insights into crinkle crankle walls during his European travels and from studying classical architecture.

Image credits: wikipedia

Modern Legacy

The U.S., while home to fewer crinkle crankle walls than the U.K., boasts one of the most extensive — a 7-foot high, 1-mile long serpentine wall encircling part of the Ford Motor Company's Dearborn Development Center in Michigan. This impressive structure stands testimony to the time-tested allure and functionality of the crinkle crankle design.

Frequently Answered Questions

1. What is the main purpose of a Crinkle Crankle Wall?

The primary purpose of a Crinkle Crankle or Serpentine Wall is not just aesthetic. These walls were historically found to facilitate fruit tree growth in cooler climates. Their undulating design provides protection from the wind and captures heat from the sun, reflecting it back onto the trees. This design essentially creates a microclimate that extends the growing season for fruit trees.

2. Why are Crinkle Crankle Walls cost-effective compared to straight walls?

Although Crinkle Crankle Walls may seem to use more bricks due to their undulating design, they are more stable with fewer materials. Serpentine walls can be constructed using a single layer (wythe) of bricks. In contrast, straight walls typically require two wythes for the same stability. Therefore, despite their larger footprint, serpentine walls use fewer bricks and materials, making them more cost-effective in the long run.

3. Where did the design of the Crinkle Crankle Wall originate?

The exact origins of the Crinkle Crankle Wall are not definitively known, but the design has been employed by various cultures for several millennia. Notably, in 2020, archaeologists discovered a zig-zag mudbrick wall in the "lost golden city of Luxor" in Egypt, suggesting that the design dates back at least 3,400 years. However, it gained significant popularity in Europe during the Middle Ages and was introduced to the UK in the 1600s by Dutch engineers.

4. How did the name "Crinkle Crankle" come about?

The term "Crinkle Crankle" is derived from Old English, which essentially means "zig-zag". This directly describes the wall's sinusoidal, or wave-like, design. In the U.S., they are often referred to as "serpentine walls" due to their resemblance to the sinuous movement of a snake.

5. Where can one find prominent examples of Crinkle Crankle Walls today?

Crinkle Crankle Walls can be found in various parts of the world, especially in the UK, where places like Suffolk are home to many such walls. In the U.S., a prominent example is at the University of Virginia, where Thomas Jefferson incorporated the design. Another significant instance in the U.S. is the vast serpentine wall surrounding a part of the Ford Motor Company's Dearborn Development Center in Michigan.

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