Friday, November 30, 2012

_Entrega Final

 
Urban Hammock
Designer's Biography
Originally from Mexico City, Juan Carlos Bosch is an architecture student who likes to explore the connexion between Architecture and industrial design, and how they relate to human need for comfort and aesthetics. In year 2011, he took a course in Industrial Design and fabrication techniques, which have let them grow both, as an architect and a designer.

His work is mainly centered in the creation of spaces defined by a sole, simple and aesthetic structure, which can capture the essence of light. This is the main reason why he considers architects Santiago Calatrava, Louis Kahn and Luis Barragan as role models.

In the near future, he would like to study a degree in Lighting Design in Parsons. He has worked for architectural firm SL Arquitectos, and is currently trying to create one of his own with architect Francisco Villalon.

Design Process
The whole concept of the bench is based on the treatment of color as light. Mexican artist Gabriel Dawe treats this in his various installations of color strings as the density of light. Also, architect Luis Barragan reflects in his work that color is light. I decided to create a bench that would contrast with the Industrial context, yet embrace it symbolically by the use of recycled thermo mechanically treated (TMT) steel bars from demolished concrete buildings.

The structure was a bit more challenging because I wanted to create a form that would function as a structure and yet, be ergonomic. So, I decided to use the hyperbolic paraboloid as an inspiration to my design. This led me to research Spanish architect, Felix Candela and his active-form structures. From the investigation, I learned that straight lines compose most of these structures, so this resulted in the design of color plastic strings, which would create the hyperbolic structure. Furthermore, the strings idea reminded me of a hammock, so naturally, that’s where the name came from.

The major challenge was to adapt the idea of the string structure to make it ergonomic; so I took some measurements from an ergonomics book, and adapted the bench’s measurements to be most comfortable.

Even though I resolved the structure of the seat, I had yet to define the overall structure; which would have to respond to the tension generated by the strings. So I diagramed the forces, which acted upon the structure and tried to equilibrate them with forces in opposite directions. That is how I came to the idea of making two steel crosses, suspended by two steel squares that function as armrests. All the steel structure was made with a 5/8” steel bar.Finally, the cost was, to my surprise, very low. 

The total cost of the bench was of 250 USD; noticing that I had to buy the steel bar. By recycling one, the price would be way lower. as well as being cheap, the urban hammock is eco-friendly because of the materials with which is made. The plastic strings are made from recycled plastic and it is intended to get the steel bars from demolished buildings.

In addition to being a sustainable design, the bench is waterproof and is easy to dry; all you need to do is pull the strings as if you were playing a guitar. This is really helpful because you can use it anytime; even when it’s raining. Another advantage would be the lightness of the bench. It is light enough to move it, but heavy enough, not to steal it!

Overall, the design is very simple: recycled steel bars and color strings made out of recycled plastic, which form a light and ergonomic structure.
 

Final design
For the final design, it is intended to get a used 5/8" TMT steel bar and if rusty, sand it until clean to weld the structure. After the structure is complete, cover it with silver chrome painting and start tying the red plastic string. You should start from the vertical sidebar form the seat’s back. You should start simultaneously from both sides and connect the vertical bars with the opposite horizontal bars from the seat. Once you connect reach the bottom part, the string should go under the bar and wrap around it for two turns before you go back to the vertical bar. You should repeat this step as many times as you want while using the same color.

To end with one color and begin with the next, you need to take the string to the bottom part and start turning it around the mesh you have created, noticing that if the string comes from below, the closing string must come under it and if it is above, do it inversely. The rhythm you should follow is one string up, one down successively. Once you reach the end of the color, you must cut the end.

To start a new color, do the same as in the previous step, but with the upper bars. Again, the rhythm you should follow is one string up, one down successively until you run out of tied strings. When you reach the end, turn it around the vertical steel bar counterclockwise and restart on step one. Follow these three easy steps and you’ll finish your urban hammock. Remember always to tense the strings when going sideways.

You can put in any combination of colors desired to make the design more diverse! Also, in order to keep the chair in optimal conditions, you should re-tense the strings every now and then and cut the closing string’s residue. This will guarantee a long life for the urban hammock.

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