We are so thrilled to have been notified by Westbank that we won 2nd place in a design competition called This Is Not A black Box.
The design proposal we submitted was titled ‘Meet Up For Coffee’. Essentially, the structural design is a giant coffee cup. Big thanks for our studio manager Aiken Lao for putting the proposal together despite the tight deadline we were working with.
The challenge is to come up with a structure that will increase the diversity of events that can be held in the atrium in the Woodwards building by challenging the current restrictions that the space presents. Westbank was looking for a structure design that is aesthetically pleasing, multi-purpose, modular, transportable. A structure that will challenge restrictions and enable the following events to take place:
A. Security: The structure must be secure given that it’s in a public space.
B. Business Activity: The structure must minimize any disruption of the business activities of the two retailers on site: London Drugs and Nesters Market.
C. Privacy: The structure must enable privacy to the attendees, if that is a requirement of the event.
THE CHALLENGE
The challenge is to come up with a structure that will increase the diversity of events that can be held in the atrium by challenging the current restrictions that the space presents.
OUR SOLUTION
We are proposing an art installation called “Meet Up For Coffee” that has dual functions as an event space and as an art piece for the public. This multifunctional space works as a stage and private area for events like art exhibits, retailer pop-up, fashion show, and more.
SECURITY The installation has glass doors with locks to ensure the space inside is secure. A custom tarp can be made to keep the installation clean from graffiti.
BUSINESS Activity Installation does not cause a disturbance to the local businesses in the space as it stays contained to its own area. The installation is movable on wheels so it can be put away for storage or to be moved in the outside area of Woodward’s.
PRIVACY Doors can be open and closed to create a public and private space inside the coffee cup. The sleeve can be extended to reveal a food-truck style opening to serve as a bar and acts as an extension to create a larger private space for events. Screens on the outside of the sleeve can act as branding and signage for an event, or a temporary advertising space when acting as art installation for the public.
SPECIFICATIONS The structure will be about 2.5 metres tall to be able to fit through the doors and moved to the outside atrium area of Woodward’s if required. Wheels with locks will be installed for mobility purposes. The container will be built with a mixture of wood and PVC plastic to keep it stable and lightweight.
