Printed Urban Furniture Charette
Printed Urban Furniture Charette
Project Description
For this project, we were tasked with creating a concept for a "parklet" that would be installed in the courtyard surrounding the Design building and the Arts building at The Ohio State University. This project was sponsored by IC3D; a company in Columbus that focuses on large scale 3D printing. IC3D announced they would be choosing a select few to actually 3D print to scale; because of this, it was encouraged to create designs that uniquely showcased the capabilities of 3D printing. Along with this, the only other materials we were able to use were lumber and rope. Our vision for the parklet was to bring life to a desolate space through the use of dynamic seating, inviting green colors, and the opportunity for vibrant plant life.
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After submitting our designs, our project was chosen by IC3D to be printed at full scale!
Project Information
Project Type: Academic
Project Duration: 3 Weeks
Instructor: Dr. Sébastien Proulx
Date: Spring 2021
Teammates: Blake Charles '21, Allison Cashman '22
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Design Process
Research
Our team used C-K mapping to help us understand the design problem and the constraints/ We then conducted a survey to better understand what students at OSU would want out of this space. User research was vital in creating a space that served the needs of our users.
Ideation
After analyzing the space and feedback from users, we began sketching designs for the gravel lot. We sought to design a dynamic community space for people to connect with friends and take a break from classes.
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After initial ideation, we focused on making this static space have movement. Because of this reason, we went from the idea of a living wall to a set of swings, and eventually modular rocking chairs accompanied by a shelter.
Final Design Solution
Our design solution sought to create a community space for people to sit and talk, connect with friends, and connect with the outdoors. The pergola provides a designated space for gathering and the seating encourages movement; the chairs cannot only be rearranged throughout the space, but also motivates the user to keep their mind and body active through rocking.
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