Concept:

This is a temporary accommodation for two strangers on an overnight layover to come rest and journey from strange to familiar with an unfamiliar person through the interactions created by the room.

Angle:

The design encourages communication and interaction to create a comfortable rest space with the use of interactive elements that move and shift in the space affecting both guests over the course of their stay forcing them to communicate to achieve the most affective use of the space.

Object:

The strangers sleeping and eating platforms must coincide with one another as the chosen levels of each platform affects the accessibility and use of the other platforms. For example, if one stranger was sitting on the end of their bed and using the table to eat off from their bed, the other stranger will be unable to sit on the seat and use the table to eat their meal. Another example would be if the strangers didn’t get on well, they would then stager the sleeping platforms so that they weren’t sleeping side by side. To do this, one guest would need to settle on their sleeping platform whist the guest winches their platform higher than their own before settling onto their sleeping platform. They must communicate their needs to each other to optimise and alter the space.

The entrance and exit are designed to be moved inward to enter the space. The whole window moves on tracks in the floor and ceiling, but this is not clear from outside the space. This is to encourage the strangers to enter together through working out how the entrance works. If one of the strangers is weaker than the other, they may need assistance from the other to move the window inward. This helps to start the convosation between two strangers at the very beginning of their stay drawing them through the threshold from outside to inside as well as through the threshold of strange to familiar.

The mirrors in the space provide some privacy from the outside whist also drawing light in and bringing the city in. These mirrors are also on tracks allowing the guests to manipulate the images that dance around the room. Because mirrors bring light into the space the strangers will need to communicate how much light they want in the space in order to be considerate to each other. The position of the mirrors can affect how cramped or spacious the space is. To discover what is most comfortable for each other they will need to work together to move the mirrors in to their desired positions. The gallery space is their stage and they are the directors.

The bathroom is tucked off to the side of the gallery allowing for some privacy. However, there are no doors in the bathroom. The use of walls provides enough privacy to bathe and use the amenities but means that the strangers need to communicate where they are within the bathroom to avoid any unintentional run ins continuing the need for communication into the bathroom. 

Recap of concept and angle:

As a result of the design features in this space the two travelling strangers will leave this space to continue their adventure rested and with a new acquaintance or friend as a result of their overnight experience.

Here are some photos of my final presentation:

The feedback I got on my project was to further explore the idea that even at the end of a day there is still work to do. This reminded me of the saying ‘no rest for the wicked’.

I was challenged to consider weather that way of life is a positive or negative way of living and how this could be amplified in my design if I was to take this idea further.

Need to develop my drawings

My drawings need more work as they were the pieces that let my presentation down. Going forward I think I will do my construction drawings digitally as drawing is not my strong suit. This will enable me to lift the quality of my presentation.