Sense of Place- Street Furniture Project: Peer Comments

Dora Ferenczi- Outdoor Beach Shower



Alexander Chittenden- The Hyde Chair



Lucy Xu- The Rainbow Chair



Matthew Holihan- Illumibin



Alan Jackson- Park Bench Seating with Bike Storage

Sense of Place- Street Furniture Project: Final Submission

Sense of Place- Street Furniture Project: Form Development & Materials Research

Sense of Place- Street Furniture Project: Progress (Week 11)

I made the decision to pursue the noise barrier/reading chair concept  as I believe the solution is cohesive will all three sites and the final product can be adopted in a variety of other noise polluted outdoor settings


most popular of the 7 noise barrier profiles were the organically shaped lounges

fig.1

I also considered reversing the barrier to create a concave shape toward the noise source

fig.2

I find these second lot of profiles a lot more elegant and flowing, however, there may be issues with  noise travelling over the curve and still reaching the user with a near-maximum volume

It is vital that I start to model these potential forms in 3D so that the other elevations (top,back,front) can be determined and the final form can be finalized. 

As there are many curves to alter, I believe that Google Sketch up will be the most efficient way to achieve this c.f. paper or foam modelling.

Other progress this week includes investigation into materials and the sciences behind deflecting sound waves

Peer and Tutor Feedback

Tutor- Do some further research into acoustics. There are 3 ways to deflect sound: Material, Shape, Structure (two walls)

- Also do some more material research

-important to focus on aesthetics, try to create a barrier/ wall that doesn't look like a huge out of place structure

-ve would have been nice to start seeing some 3D concepts

Peer 1- +ve likes the second set of lounge profiles, very elegant, very sexy. 

-ve The shorter barriers may prevent sound waves reaching user

-ve the lounge seat may be difficult for elderly people to use because of their reduced mobiltiy

Peer 2-ve the location of the sound source will dictate the shape too often e.g. if the train line is higher than the product, lower, what about sound coming from all directions?
-ve the first set of barrier profiles will prevent sound from behind  but any sound from in fornt will echo inside the barrier creating an annoyance
- how will it be mounted

Sense of Place- Street Furniture Design Project: Revised Concepts and Further Site Research

As Recommended by my tutor,  I went back to all 3 sites in the evening to observe the characteristics of each site at a different time of day. The discoveries made have driven my new concepts:

Revised Concepts and Further Research

Peer and Tutor Feedback:

+ve The security risk posed to evening pedestrians and the nuisance of train noise are great observations and create good opportunities for concepts. 

-ve for the first concept consider: Modular units, durability, material choice, how light will be projected, how much light is need

-ve for the third concept look into: acoustics (the best shapes/patterns to deflect sound),  materials that best absorb sound,  a ‘universal/modular’ that could be installed behind/around existing furniture, aesthetics

+ve peers took well to the 'wave-like' form; a curved chair will result in a more desirable aesthetic

+ve consider cantileverage, composite layers of material, and how directional is the path of noise i.e. will it bend around a wall?

Sense of Place- Street Furniture Design Project: Research and Concept

Four A3 research posters of my SITE ANALYSIS 

And a few very very rough CONCEPT SKETCHES with annotations:

Prezi: Site Analysis and Initial Concepts

Peer and Tutor Feedback

+ve The street performance backdrop is interesting and shows a high degree of originality

-ve Anything that hinges etc is vulnerable and likely to be broken (usually intentionally) if not made incredibly tough. It is likely to require excessive maintenance too – something it doesn’t look like the council has budgeted for here.

-ve  The ‘Igloo’ concept creates an ‘alcove’ that people could hide in and create a threat to other people during the evening. It also seems ideal for drug/alcohol abusers

-ve nothing innovative about the concept 3

+ve research is good- focus on some key issues about your sites to drive your concepts: 
is there something that could improve the safety (posed by the vehicular traffic) to pedestrians/cyclists moving through here? 
Is there something that whilst providing safety also creates a sound barrier to improve the ‘peacefulness’ of the park making it a more attractive space to spend time in? 
Is there an interesting way you can improve night-time security for those using the parks as a thoroughfare?

Green Gifting Peer Comments

Anuj Dhawan

Anuj, you are increasingly showing your personal design style with every project; Arbor is no exception. Clean, simple, minimalist design but with strong character, precise form and intelligent though process; Arbor is a product I can genuinely see becoming a successful product.
Your presentation was a highlight for me also. You were able to say everything you had to in a clear, concise and casual manner and did not run over-time. I also enjoyed how you justified your material choice and cutting method as well as justify the 'need' for a decent table center piece and coaster storage.
I am unsure about the name for the gift product, does it translate to something?
Also your 'in situ' poster may have been executed with more clarity. All in all a great result in the short time frame we had for this brief, well done.


Alan Jackson

Alan, Your product presented today was well researched, we;; thought out well executed. The number of ways in which you product reached the brief requirements was outstanding. The two things I enjoyed most about your design solution were the material used (recycled flooring) and the form. It was great to see you succeed in using this reclaimed material and the form of the birdhouse sits in surrounding environment and mimics nature is some aspects.
Area you my have improved for this project could perhaps be you presentation content i.e. explaining the most important aspects to avoid going over time, and also your communication of the final design solution; although the photographs in use are great communicators of how the products functions in it's environment, a hero shot of the product on it's own may have been a powerful tool as well.
Great result Alan

Tila Chamlian

Tila, a very beautiful design solution presented today in studio. I can see a lot of hard work and intelligent thinking has gone into your final outcome. The compact design with multi-functional aspects is clever and inspiring. By minimizing the volume of room product takes up in the home, you have enabled receivers of eh gift to have options as to where they place their table.
Your exploration is very thorough and it is good to see that you were selective in your form and colour choice and justified why you designed it that way. The use of cardboard in the product was also very impressive and meets the brief requirements on many levels. Great work Tila.


Dora Ferenczi

Dora, Great presentation and great design solution. Your model was outstanding and your communication posters were among the best I saw. I really love this kind of intelligent, problem solving, practical and useful design that you displayed today. being a rental tenant myself, I am aware of the last of suitable storage methods that don't destroy parts of your apartment walls.material choice was extremely beautiful and practical; the use of seat belts was very clever and I agree with you in keeping that contrast with char burnt edges for the timber. Please update your blog so we can see this beautiful product again! Great work.


Constance Docos

Constance, awesome design solution and gift idea. This outcome achieves on so many levels, it's aesthetically appealing, it serves a true function, is made of renewable long lasting material and most importantly gives the receiver options as to how they use the product. Because your products allows receivers to create they're own orientation for their photo display as well as add or subtract the amount of frames, it gives users a sense of emotional connection to the product, and makes them feel like they're designing the display. this subtle feature is what really makes your product stand out over it's competitors. You produced a nice, clean model, appropriate hero shots and effective communication poster. There is an issue of how multiple cork frames would be mounted on the wall, and the fact that string and hooks are involved may deter some potential buyers. Never-the-less a really nice outcome and solution to the brief.

Green Gifting project- Final Design Solution

Second Skin TEA CUPS 

“Some people will tell you there is a great deal of poetry

and fine sentiment in a chest of tea.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Designed by Peter Calaitzopoulos, Second Skin Tea Cups enable users to enjoy tea and coffee with maximum sensory stimulation. 

Encouraging the use of all 5 senses when drinking tea, using a Second Skin Tea Cup often results in  an emotional connection to product  and soon leads a personal affinity for the cup; making it a perfect gift idea.

Second Skin’s form, (as the name implies) is made of two parts; the porcelain tea cup, and the 100% recycled cork skin. 

Together, these two environmentally friendly materials, allow the users to fully experience the joys of tea, with the cork sleeve acting a protective insulating wall; preventing contact with the hot ceramic.

The ability to grasp a hot tea cup by its body, and bring the cup close to face comfortably is seldom seen with other tea cup products commercially available.

The unique egg-shaped from of the combo-cup invites users to pick up a cup of hot beverage from the undersides of the cork skin; making tea consumption a more fun and personal experience.

The opening of the cup is also proportioned appropriately for consuming liquids much in the same way our hands cup water when drinking from a fresh river.

Second Skin tea cups are easy- stack, easy-store and easy wash, with the porcelain insert suitable for both dishwasher and hand wash, and the cork exterior wiped with a damp cloth.

Second Skin is 100% Australian made and owned, with all raw materials used for the ceramic sourced in South Australia, and all cork skins are made of recycled Wine and champagne bottle stoppers from the Barossa Valley Region.

The cork skin may also be grasped from the front and backsides of the egg-shape and consumed from the wide side of the cup,

Or, it may simply be held in one hand either on the underside or a side wall

The complementary colours and textures of cork and porcelain give Second Skin Tea Cups an elegant and timeless aesthetic. The Cups make great gifts and many customers

Many customers often purchase two Second Skin cups, to have one for themselves as well as the gift receiver

“experience the moment....”    - Peter Cal

Progress Week 8- Green Gifting Developments- Model Making Process

The first step in the model taking process was to mock up card model to scale

front

side

bottom

top

The Templates were drawn with Draftsight, printed straight onto card, cut with a blade and super-glued.

The second at perhaps most important step in the process was creating a MDF mould the exterior surface for the mug

MDF mould

The above result was achieved by cutting the profiles (shown in the card model) out of a rectangular block of glued MDF sheets. After each cut, the block had to be taped back together so that I was always cutting a flat surface. Once all the cuts have been made, the tape is removed and the result resembles the above image BUT a lot rougher. Lots of filing and sanding is then done to achieve the perfect mould for Thermo-Vaccuum Forming.

A couple of tests are done with thin polystyrene to ensure the mould is correct and the from is nicely finished.

Mould and thin styrene vac-forms

Once the testing is complete, thicker (1mm) polystyrene is obtained and vac-formed over the mould. To achieve desired thickness in the material and also to create a curved 'lip' surface at the opening, a second sheet of polystyrene is vac formed over both the mould and the initial sheet; this gives the entire formed polystyrene a thicker body and more realistic rigidity.

final model of porcelain insert (polystyrene sheets)

The two sheets fit together snug and so no glue is needed. The sheets are then cut away form the rest of the polystyrene and sanded to desired finish.

The next step in the process is to model the cork sleeve from recycled cork sheets.

A number of elliptical templates are drawn in Draftsight and stuck onto the square cork sheets which are 6mm thick.

These templates were then cut our roughly with a cordless jigsaw. every template was then cut more precisely with a cutting blade.

templates roughly cut

cordless jigsaw

final templates cut with blade

All the templates were then taped in layers on top of each other with reference points determining their exact positions.

taped cork layers (6mm)

Lots of sanding is then required to achieve the correct exterior surface (similar to the MDF mould).

sanded cork sleeve exterior

The layers are then separated 

and the tape is peeled off the cork. CAD templates are again used chisel out a rough cut of the inside oval hole for each template. these layers are then PVA and super glued with reference points and allowed to dray. The result is a sleeve with a very rough inside surface.

cork sleeve inside not sanded

The inside surface is then sanded to achieve the desired thickness for the sleeve and leave a smooth finish

all cork layers sanded to correct shape a glued together

The final test is ensuring that the cork sleeve fits perfectly over the plastic insert

Progress Week 8- Green Gifting Developments- Materials & Manufacturing

The possibility of using only Cork Material for the Cups was explored. having a Mono-material product is beneficial as it does away with the need for material separation during recycling as well reduce the amount of raw materials extracted and manufactured.

Top left shows Portuguese Design Company Simple Forms using both Natural Agglomerated Cork and a Cork-Rubber Composite for wash basins.

The idea of using just agglomerated cork for a product that's constantly in contact with moisture as well as the properties it must have to ensure hygiene standards was intriguing

Below are images of various cork bowls; it was found that these bowls are not dishwasher safe, and most of the time are for display use only e.g. fruit bowl.

The collection of cork vessels from Detroit designer Nicholas Stawinsky seem to be functional cups and bowls for use in a dining context, however, after email Nicholas without reply, this assumption can not be confirmed.

Without confirming any cases where cork is the sole material used as a drinking vessel, it was determined that the design of cork tea cups had to be a multi-material product.

To abolish the need for separation in the recycling process, it was decided to design the tea cup as two separate components: the cork exterior providing aesthetics, insulation and grip, and a porcelain insert that can be removed for washing.

This design concept links back to the initial inspiration Brr Mugs by Delta Faron (see bottom left in the above image).

Materials Research

Cork

•   ^expansionà^insulation
•  Sustainable (regenerates every 9 years for harvest
•  Sophisticated, natural touch, unique sensory experience
• Recycled cork
•  Natural agglomerate cork
• 100% recycled cork, biodegradable, heat resistant, local
• Plastic Inner casing

Source: Sustainable Vision 2-Cork Design, Matrec, 2012

• Cork is composed of dead cells that accumulate on the outer surface of the cork oak tree.

• An incredibly versatile natural material, cork is harvested from living cork oak trees somewhat like wool is gathered from sheep. The trees are unharmed by the process, and they continue producing cork for an average of 150 years.

• honeycomb-like structure, cork consists largely of empty space

• cork consists of irregularly shaped and spaced cells

• empty cells =(40 million per cubic centimeter),

• microscopic Bubble Wrap

•  large amount of dead-air space makes cork an effective insulation material for both temperature and noise.

• Fire retardant; no toxic fumes are generated

•  Non slip

• Flexible

• Resilient to wear

• Cork absorbs neither dust nor moisture, and it resists both rot and insects

• American named John Smith developed a technique for producing pure-cork agglomeration out of waste material by subjecting cork particles to heat and pressure without adding any binder.

• evergreen Quercus suber or the deciduous- Quercus occidentaliscork oak trees

• Portugal's cork forests are the most productive. Accounting for 30% of the existing trees, they produce half of the world's harvested cork.

• first harvest is of poor quality, and can only be used to make agglomerated cork products.

•  Production of compound agglomerated cork involves adding a binder or adhesive agent to cork granules

• Different binders are chosen, depending on the qualities desired in the ultimate product (e.g., flexibility, softness, resistance to wear). Among those frequently used are asphalt, rubber, gypsum, glue, and plastic.

Source: Made How 2013, Advameg Inc, Accessed on 29 April 2013, 

<http://www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Cork.html>

- cork life cycle, from production to recycling, is a clean one, without any by-products

- all waste from production; lower quality material or obsolete product is grind to obtain the granules from which are made recycled cork blocks

- water in which the material has to be boiled after collected is not polluted by the process; all means to work and prepare cork are mechanical based and even the dust resulting from this is used to generate electric energy.

-  present in everyday rituals and objects – from drinking vessels (which shape is directly cut off the tree) to seating benches.

-  structure and chemical composition of cork give it remarkable properties: its tissue is 89,7% comprised of an air-like gas that makes the material very lightweight (0,16g per cubic centimeter) and low density; impervious to liquids, a very good thermal insulator; chemically stable and mostly unaffected by microbial activity – highly resistant to humidity and oxidation.

- honeycomb cellular structure

•   Chemical composition:

45% suberin (responsible for corks resilience), 27% lignin (the binding compound), 12% cellulose and polysaccharides (cell wall compounds that help define cork texture), 6% tannis (compounds responsible for colouring), 5% wax (hydrophobical compounds that assure the corks impermeability), 5% ashes, among other elements like mineral water, glycerine, etc).

•   Suberin is the natural waxy substance responsible for making cork anti-allergenic (mold, mites and even termites are repelled by cork) and fire (it is a natural fire inhibitor and also does not release any toxic gases during combustion).

Suberin also prevents cork from rotting even when completely submerged under water for long periods of time.

•   The montado ensures the life of its population in areas of hostile climate and poor grounds, as well as it sustains a biodiversity greater than any other agricultural system. Therefore it has a large ecological, economical and social importance.
•   Portugal has the largest cork production (21% of national forest area) and transformation industry of today.

Source: The Home Project Design Studio 2013, Accessed on 29 April 2013,

<http://www.the-home-project.com/exploring-cork/>

The Manufacturing 

Process

• 1 Using a specially designed hatchet, the harvester slices through the cork layer on the trunk of the tree, taking care not to cut deep enough to damage the living portion of the trunk. Horizontal cuts are made at the base of the trunk and just below the lowest branches. A few vertical cuts separate the circumferential cork ring into sections of an appropriate size. Using the wedge-shaped handle of the hatchet, the harvester strips each panel of cork from the tree. On some large trees, cork is also stripped from the lower branches.
• 2 The cork planks are stacked outdoors and left to cure for a time ranging from a few weeks to six months. The fresh air, sun, and rain encourage chemical changes that improve the quality of the cork. By the end of the curing process, the planks have flattened out and lost about 20% of their original moisture content.
• 3 The planks are then treated with heat and water to remove dirt and water-soluble components like tannin, and to make the cork softer and more flexible. This process typically involves lowering stacks of cork planks into large copper vats filled with boiling water containing a fungicide. Heavy weights are placed on top of the cork to keep it submerged for 30-75 minutes.
• 4 When the planks are removed from the vat, a hoe-shaped knife is used to scrape off the poor-quality outer layer of cork, which amounts to about 2% of the volume of the plank but 20% of its weight. The planks are stacked in a dark cellar and allowed to dry and cure under controlled humidity for a few more weeks.
• 5 The cork planks are trimmed to a uniform, rectangular shape and are sorted by quality. The finest quality material will be used to make natural cork products like wine bottle stoppers. Poorer quality material will be ground and used to make composition or agglomerated cork.

Boffle corks

• 6 Cork slabs of the desired thickness are placed in a steam chamber for 20 minutes to soften them. The slabs are then cut into strips whose width corresponds to the intended length of the bottle stoppers. The strips are fed through a machine that punches hollow metal tubes through them, removing cylinders of cork.
• 7 Although some beverage bottlers want cylindrical corks, others want tapered ones. To achieve this shape, the cylinders are arranged on a slanted conveyor that carries

• 8 Both cylindrical and tapered corks are washed, bleached, and sterilized in large vats. Rotating wooden paddles continually push the corks down into first a washing solution and then a neutralizing solution.
• 9 After being dried in a large centrifugal dryer, the corks may be marked with an identifying label (with ink or a hot-metal stamp). Some are also coated with a sealant such as paraffin or silicone. Then, they are packed in airtight bags in quantities of 1,000 or 1,500; the air is removed from the bags and replaced with sulfur dioxide (SO ₂ ) to keep the corks sterile.

Agglomerated cork

• 10 Waste cork is passed through a machine that breaks it into small pieces. The pieces are washed and dried, and then sent through two successive grinders to further reduce the particle size. After another washing and drying process, the particles are screened for uniform size.
• 11 Pure agglomerated cork is formed by packing cork particles into a mold and covering it securely. Superheated steam (600° F or 315° C) is passed through the

12 Compound agglomerated, or composition, cork is made by uniformly coating the cork granules with a thin layer of an additional adhesive agent. The coated granules are pressed into a mold and slowly heated (the temperature varies, depending on the adhesive used). When removed from the mold and cooled, the blocks are stacked to allow air circulation and are allowed to season.

• 13 The agglomerated cork is cut for its intended use. For example, sheets may be cut from rectangular blocks. Or if a tubular mold was used, the resulting cork rod may be sliced into discs. A large, cylindrical block might by revolved against a knife blade to shave it into a long, continuous sheet that is rewound into a roll.

Byproducts/Waste

Cork waste generated during the manufacturing process is ground and used to make agglomerated cork products. Cork powder that is generated by the grinding process is collected and burned to help fuel the factory.

 Source: Made How 2013, Advameg Inc, Accessed on 29 April 2013, 

<http://www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Cork.html>

Recycling

-  Off cuts from cork production can me combined with granules to make lower quality cork products

-  Dust can be used as fuel to power factory

-  Water not polluted, used over and over

-  water in which the material has to be boiled after collected is not polluted by the process; all means to work and prepare cork are mechanical based and even the dust resulting from this is used to generate electric energy

-  Chemical components removed from cork during its processing can be recovered as useful byproducts and include tannin (used for curing leather), hard wax (used in products like paraffin, paint, and soap), resinous gum (helps vanish adhere to copper and aluminum), and phonic acid (used to make plastics and musk-scented toiletries).

-  Cleaned, shredded, combined with adhesive, used to make other products

Source: Cork Recycling Program 2007, Web Video of Money Wise (TV Program) News Report, Accessed on 29 April 2013, 

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VztmUBKvf6I>