This is an exciting time for me, as I'm not only anticipating my impending move to Los Angeles, but also wrapping up my first realized self-directed design project at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, GA. I have been involved in the interior design and provided all of the relevant interior architectural services for two dormitory buildings and a dining hall. Currently, we are in the process of installing furniture. The furnishings reflect the over-arching mid-century modernist theme, which is inspired by the architecture of the Marietta campus's 1961 core. The theme does not necessarily imply a referential design approach, but instead subtly guides proportion, directionality of surface, material choices, graphic patterns and artwork.
With an accommodating budget we really couldn't help but throw in a couple of classic era pieces that designers can still get under license from contemporary manufacturers. Good design is timeless, just so long as you're careful not to fill your space with too many iconic objects. There is, after all, a very very fine line between classic sophistication and theme-park kitsch (on which many well-known designers teeter dangerously...Michael Graves...Leon Krier...John Delaney??? ;)
This is just a teaser, unfortunately...More photos of the architectural work for this project to follow once I get some in higher quality. Stay tuned.
P.S. Don't be afraid to say if my work is crap or not. I'm not here to prance around and profess my own self-admiration, I just have a passion for what I do and I like honest feedback. I really just love to share and collaborate. So if the design is garbage or I'm being a jackass, fire away, I can take it!
Top Image: Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll (original: 1948)
Bottom Left: Bird Chair by Harry Bertoia for Knoll (original: 1952)
Bottom Right: Molded Plywood Chair by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller (original: 1946)
Top Image: Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll (original: 1948)
Bottom Left: Bird Chair by Harry Bertoia for Knoll (original: 1952)
Bottom Right: Molded Plywood Chair by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller (original: 1946)
Prancer! too funny.
ReplyDeleteYour photos aren't doing the design justice--we need to see the ceiling plane, and other elements that define/refine the space a little more. Staying tuned.
Saving up for one of those plywood Eames chairs myself. Very cool.
Yes I'll get there with the more comprehensive photos. I only posted these first because we just did install and they are some cool lookin chairs. Still have some photographic pollution in the spatial frames - construction guys, boxes, etc.
ReplyDeleteJohn:
ReplyDeleteSofa and table on first shot: no!
I am old enough to remember the 1960’s (and my parents’ very modernistic furniture, which lasted until the mid 70’s in their living room): Sofa should be a low wood platform with integral cantilevered, ivory and grey veined marble “side tables”. These extensions must carry tall, columnar lamps in gold or yellow metal. The entire thing should be supported on the four spindliest legs possible. (a “portly” lady sat and broke my parent’s sofa in two once – they had it repaired!). The cushions should be flat, with piped edges, and in strong colors speckled with black. Cream (ivory) and gold are the backbone colors, bright greens and reds the accents. At least that’s how I remember it…
Looks good.
Rafa
Haha of course you know that if you told that story about the portly woman to the campus, they'd recoil in terror at the prospect of students jumping all over the thing. (Although a sofa we used in another lobby is a bit more what you're describing, and I actually like it better) There was no chance that we'd be able to get all mid-century style pieces, not with budget and durability being major concerns, so we had to take what we could get. Furniture selection, as I've found out, is definitely NOT a one-person process that begins and ends with the designer...there's my boss, the specifyer, the campus people, the budget people, the students, etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteNeither could I ever hope to attempt to recreate the splendor of your childhood!