The Front Tyre Wall was a tyre wall in the Front Entrance of Base β, or Gilnar Base. It was first built on 2023-03-20; it went through seven iterations, before being finally destroyed on 2023-09-28.
This makes it the second longest-lasting Bridgian structure – at 173 days – excluding mines and small, forgotten constructions: the Compost Bin in Bridgehaven would easily beat it, if counted. That’s if measured by total time standing, over all iterations, not by the period between first build and last fall. (The Bridgehaven Treehouse beats it by both metrics, due to the fact that there were really two Treehouses.)
A “tyre fence” (with tyre towers connected by wood-beams) began construction across Base β’s Front Entrance on 2022-11-25. However, it was never completed due to its length – it was planned to go across to the East Bight. It only reached two tyres high before being dismantled on 2022-11-29.
Again in Base β, a “door frame” (two tall tyre towers topped by a connecting beam) was assembled in the Front Entrance. It was built on the same day as the former’s destruction, and would be knocked down on 2022-12-07.
A very important precursor to the Front Tyre Wall was the Flank Entrance Tyre Wall. This was the first true multi-tower tyre wall; it was constructed, across Base ρ’s main entrance, less than a month before the Front Entrance’s one; much of the materials were aquired from there.
The first iteration of the Front Tyre Wall was constructed on 2023-03-20. It was in a “pyramid” (or more accurately, triangle) shape, with each tyre being supported by two beneath.
The image on the right (badly) illustrates the “new” pyramid design, as compared to the Flank Entrance Tyre Wall’s tower design. This was taken from an illustration in the Bridge Base Log (pg. 265; 2023-03-20).
The Front Tyre Wall’s first iteration was destroyed just two days later, on 2023-03-22.
The second iteration of the Front Tyre Wall was constructed on 2023-03-27. Not much is said about this iteration in the Bridge Base Log; however, it can be assumed that the second iteration was much like the first.
The Front Tyre Wall’s second iteration was demolished (to make way for the third) on 2023-04-18 - just after the Easter Scare.
The third iteration of the Front Tyre Wall was constructed on 2023-04-18, the same day as the second’s destruction. It was the first occurance of the Tarp Roof’s tarpaulins being supported by the Front Tyre Wall.
Later the same day, the beginnings of the rear platform were set up: a pallet, supported by two wood-beams, behind the Tyre Wall. It would be finalised on the 19ᵗʰ, being put atop tyres rather than beams.
Unfortunately, the Front Tyre Wall’s third iteration collapsed on 2023-04-21. It was allegedly due to “high winds”, though I debate that given the breaking of a pallet (with nothing atop it) at the same time. The event is much more likely to be of internal or Beryllian origin.
The fourth iteration was constructed on 2023-04-21, swiftly after the third’s “collapse”. It also included the rear platform, with beams up to it acting as ramps.
On 2023-04-24, it was covered with a tarpaulin – one of a number which would do this. However, it was dismantled the following day.
The fifth iteration of the Front Tyre Wall was constructed on 2023-04-25. As with the former rebuilds, this was on the same day as the previous iteration’s dismantling.
The initial benefit of this iteration was the inclusion of a “door” on its south side. It allowed easy entry and exit under a beam put across from the main, “pyramid” wall to a tower at the southern end.
On 2023-04-26, a tarpaulin was set up afront the Wall, across to a “pillar” (tyre tower) by the Near Gilnar Tree. Beams were then placed in the “triangle” formed by the Wall, the tower, and the pillar; this composed the Entrance Office (which was rebuilt on the 27ᵗʰ and 28ᵗʰ, with a second pillar on the latter one).
A rear platform (albeit smaller than the third and fourth iterations’) was constructed on 2023-05-02. This can be seen in the image on the right, taken from the Bridge Base Log (pg. 283; 2023-05-02). Note that the Near Gilnar Tree is, for some reason, excluded – it should be to the right of the tyre pillars.
The Front Tyre Wall’s fifth iteration was destroyed (by internal factors) on 2023-05-03.
The sixth iteration of the Front Tyre Wall was constructed on 2023-05-04 (though a small start was made on the previous day).
It had a pyramid-style wall on the west side (with a rear platform like the fifth iteration’s), and a tower-style wall on the south-east. Beams were put between the south of the pyramid wall and the south-west of the tower wall – people would enter and exit Base β beneath this.
A pallet was put as a “gate” between the pyramid wall’s centre and the tower wall’s north-east, blocking access when it was shut. See the illustration on the right (from pg. 286; 2023-05-04) for clearer information; once again, the Near Gilnar Tree has been ommited.
The Entrance Office was, again, set atop the Wall on 2023-05-05; it was rebuilt on 2023-05-11 due to instability from excessive use. This rebuilt Office had the beams beneath the tarpaulin (which was put between the two walls), rather than atop it.
On 2023-05-25, a “ladder” (a pallet leaning against the tyres) was installed on the exterior of the Wall. This made the “bridge entrance” (access to Base β via the Entrance Office) competitive with the usual “tunnel entrance”.
After the placement of “tyre chairs” (short tyre towers) on the Entrance Office caused instabilities, the whole Office was rebuilt – again. The tarpaulin was also removed during this operation on 2023-06-07.
After an eventful history, the Front Tyre Wall’s sixth iteration was demolished in the First β-Collapse, on 2023-06-29.
The seventh, final iteration of the Front Tyre Wall was constructed on 2023-07-11. It was divided into two sections (northern and southern), on either side of the Near Gilnar Tree.
This iteration was mostly a tower-style wall, though the upper part of the wall did incorporate pyramid-style tyres. It also used only one wall, with no “tunnel” through, allowing the area between the Front Entrance and N.G. Tree to be utilised. (That inner area was called the Courtyard.)
A door (a gap in the wall, with sticks supporting an upper tyre) was placed into the rebuilt northern wall on 2023-09-05. See the image on the right – from page 333 (2023-09-05) of the Bridge Base Log – for details.
On 2023-09-15, the Welcome Sign was put on the northern Tyre Wall, on the outside, just to the east of the door.
The Front Tyre Wall’s seventh iteration would be demolished in the Second β-Collapse, on 2023-09-28. This put an end to the history of the Front Tyre Wall, as at that point the Foundation moved to Bridgehaven.