Project 2 — Research Assemblage

When one thinks of a — study carrel — designed for a traditional library, one immediately acknolewdges its purpose; a carrel or desk that accomodates studying. That explains it’s typological partitions which avoid distraction, an often simple desk and a shelve to organize and feel a degree of ownership over the carrel for the moment while one is studying.

When set with the task to design a study carrel, not only did I contemplate and understood what it’s purpose was; I challenged it, and attempted to adjust and update it. Living in times of digital touch devices, advanced robotic surgery, wireless connectivity, 3D printers, apps, and highly capable software, it’s hard to argue against the fact that technology has changed our lives and the way we do many things.

If there are smart houses, smart commercial airplanes, smart phones and even smart vacuum cleaners; why not smart study carrels, smart work tables, and therefore a — Smart Library ? —

The Study Carrel

In my initial sketches, I started by looking at different forms and shapes that could accommodate the desk, shelving, and partitions while offering possibilities of expansion through aggregation.

My first formal approach for the study carrel as a component, although it had the ‘basics’; the desk, the shelve and some partitioning, I felt it lacked purpose and needed to be further developed.

In my final proposal, the form was redefined and readjusted. With the amount of noise and distraction that a library in such a populated place has around, the form creates enclosure and a barrier for sound allowing the user to be fully enclosed. With extra shelves the user can put out of his way the many things people carry around in NYC.

The Work Table

When I started developing the work table I became more inclined into providing a big enough space for each individual. I wanted the table to have a degree of adjustability in terms of providing options for movable partitions and a mechanism that could allow the desks to be raised or lowered manually.

Through research and consideration of my original intention of having a — Smart Library —, I wanted the table to provide the technology, instead of just being a surface to put the tech (laptop, tablet, phone, etc.) on top of it. Allowing for more interaction I decided to embed 8 touch displays into the surfaces, delimiting each person’s space in the table and providing each with multiple usb connectors and power outlets. By adding a wide display surface in one of the ends of the table, any member of the group can plug his usb or use his own display to connect to it.

The Book Stack

In designing the book stacks, I followed the specifications and measurements provided as requirements; 7 feet high, 3 feet wide and 15 inches between each shelve. The form is based on the human eye, particularly a concave lens, allowing easier readability for the books in the top and bottom shelve.

The Display Case

When designing the display case I wanted it to be adaptable to different spaces and display needs. By using magnetic technology I made every element of the display case dettachable, allowing for multiple combinations and uses.