This office projects is for engineers who develop new software. The requirement was not to spend money for restoring space to the original condition at the end of lease. Therefore I keep the floor, wall, and ceiling as it was and design the whole space by furniture itself. However original condition was very ordinary office space that the floor are filled with grey color carpet, wall and ceiling are covered by white wall covering, and whole space was lit by fluorescent lights. It was hard to wipe away an image of old-fashioned office space even if I add a little design essence to the furniture. To encounter with taking off old-fashioned image, We compound all expected function, such as desk, shelf, cabinet, and etc, into one significant volume as a key design element.
For the image of the volume, we chose “movement” and “modification” as a design concept. Because their profession is engineer, most of the workers in this office need to face to their computer desk for a long time, so there are only few movements through whole space. Therefore office tended to have oppressive atmosphere. To avoid being that kind of atmosphere, we designed new furniture with the concept of “movement” and “modification.” We try to create a space, which you cannot find two of the same view in any standing point. You will enjoy every single different view around the office, and even within one step, you will be able to feel the change of environment and your mood.
Because piled up cubicle boxes are cut off its edges along 3-dimentional curvilinear, the shape of each boxes are different by where it was cut. Therefore each of the piece is used in different way. In other words, different shaped box units turn into shelf with variety of use. “Here, it has small opening with nice deep space, so I will use here as secret hiding box” “This space doesn’t have enough depth, so it will be the display area for my collection.” “I will put larger size files in here, because it remaining a nice square shape.” People can freely manipulate their own desk. Infinite variety of use give rich expression to the furniture , and it brighten up the whole space.
This idea of space organization, which does not limit the way of its use, and the idea of kid’s secret tree house in the forest are slightly alike. Boys will pick one favorite gracefully shaped tree and create floor, wall, and ceiling by lots of branches and cardboards. Enjoying a view from their tree house, “ secret base station,” boy might fell like he is already grown-up and became the king of the world. This office space project and tree house memory has some idea in common. May be that was a reason why I was little bit excited.
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