Commentary
"The project was very intimidating at the beginning as it was our first live project as a group. We approached the brief in a systematic way by splitting the whole group into 3. We did this to generate ideas quicker due to the time frame given. The brief specified to build a U-shaped bar that 5000mm in one run, a height of 1100mm and a depth of 600mm. The main material to be used in this project was timber however we were also allowed to use other materials such as plastic and metal.
We underwent a series of iterations of the design which were produced to meet the requirements of the client. Observing the pros and cons of each design we picked certain features of a concept and included them into the mix of ideas that could possibly end up in the final product. Using the aid of CAD to put the selected design into context we got a sense of how it would feel. Once the idea of basic framework and structure was completed we had the flexibility to place something creative on the exterior of the bar. The idea of not letting any off cuts go to waste constantly popped up in team meetings. Since most of the off cuts were straight rectangular pieces of timber, the idea to compose this with translucent pieces of acetate and metal that were collected would create the perfect skin to the standard structural frame.
We observed the fact the small squares of acetate were constantly picked up and looked out of by the team so that was when the suggestion of fluorescent light tubes came into play. We placed them behind the "soundbars" like configuration to create a diffused glow and backed it with scratched metal slabs to introduce some reflection. We made sure the bar's theme was consistent throughout each side so we made transitions from metal to wood on either side of the bar, where metal was condensed towards the front of the bar and the wood would intertwine with the metal and let go of it towards the back of the bar.
Whilst building the bar we had 3 groups of which would contribute to the 3 main portions of the project DESIGN, MAKE, BUILD they were obviously allowed to interconnect with each other to build exceptional communication skills; vital to make a project like this successful. The team leaders also took into consideration that those who had the skills for each of the fields would assist those who picked to join that specific team. This allowed those who wanted to acquire a new set of skills to achieve them whether it's designing, building or making. The system ensured that everyone played a part in the making of the bar.
Working as a team definitely boosted our team working skills and interacting with each other only sped up the process with creating the bar. With learning about what structural solution would be suitable, to looking at what the limitations of timber was and to experiment with a composition of materials the project taught us not to be afraid to take a dramatic step in the designing procedure. Yet we kept it very simple from a structural sense evident in the modular parts which formed the bar's rigidity.
It was unquestionably a project that we all thoroughly enjoyed."
-Mozakir Ali
Blog editor
We underwent a series of iterations of the design which were produced to meet the requirements of the client. Observing the pros and cons of each design we picked certain features of a concept and included them into the mix of ideas that could possibly end up in the final product. Using the aid of CAD to put the selected design into context we got a sense of how it would feel. Once the idea of basic framework and structure was completed we had the flexibility to place something creative on the exterior of the bar. The idea of not letting any off cuts go to waste constantly popped up in team meetings. Since most of the off cuts were straight rectangular pieces of timber, the idea to compose this with translucent pieces of acetate and metal that were collected would create the perfect skin to the standard structural frame.
We observed the fact the small squares of acetate were constantly picked up and looked out of by the team so that was when the suggestion of fluorescent light tubes came into play. We placed them behind the "soundbars" like configuration to create a diffused glow and backed it with scratched metal slabs to introduce some reflection. We made sure the bar's theme was consistent throughout each side so we made transitions from metal to wood on either side of the bar, where metal was condensed towards the front of the bar and the wood would intertwine with the metal and let go of it towards the back of the bar.
Whilst building the bar we had 3 groups of which would contribute to the 3 main portions of the project DESIGN, MAKE, BUILD they were obviously allowed to interconnect with each other to build exceptional communication skills; vital to make a project like this successful. The team leaders also took into consideration that those who had the skills for each of the fields would assist those who picked to join that specific team. This allowed those who wanted to acquire a new set of skills to achieve them whether it's designing, building or making. The system ensured that everyone played a part in the making of the bar.
Working as a team definitely boosted our team working skills and interacting with each other only sped up the process with creating the bar. With learning about what structural solution would be suitable, to looking at what the limitations of timber was and to experiment with a composition of materials the project taught us not to be afraid to take a dramatic step in the designing procedure. Yet we kept it very simple from a structural sense evident in the modular parts which formed the bar's rigidity.
It was unquestionably a project that we all thoroughly enjoyed."
-Mozakir Ali
Blog editor
The Team:
Thomas Willington
Aron Walters
Koto Usifo
Simon May
Denisa Bumbas
Liam Schulz-O’Connell
Ryan Steed
Rasna Mall
Karol Andrea
Amrit Thatti
Hassan Al-Hashimi
Haroon Mehrban
Natasha Grapes
Abdul Azeem
Mozakir Ali
Charlotte Arnold
Charlotte Taylor
Jessica Turner
Aron Walters
Koto Usifo
Simon May
Denisa Bumbas
Liam Schulz-O’Connell
Ryan Steed
Rasna Mall
Karol Andrea
Amrit Thatti
Hassan Al-Hashimi
Haroon Mehrban
Natasha Grapes
Abdul Azeem
Mozakir Ali
Charlotte Arnold
Charlotte Taylor
Jessica Turner