1x1 Altepetl Icpaltin Tlatecpantli

Press Kit

Unique Properties

The design is a unique modular urban furniture family. Furniture elements work both as stand-alone urban furniture pieces as well as a small scale public realm with adjustable programs. Design can be described as flexible, scalable, industrial, modular urban furniture which can work as a permanent or temporary public space intervention. Due to the intelligent use of materials design achieves high optimization as all elements use the same standardized frame structure likewise common materials and fixing methods.

Dimensions & Packaging

Bench: 1000mm x 1000mm x 460mm
Table/Platform: 1000mm x 1000mm x 60mm
Lamppost: 100mm x 100mm x 1000mm
1m. Planter: 1000mm x 1000mm x 1000mm
0.5m Planter: 1000mm x 1000mm x 500mm
1m.Pipe: 100mm x 100mm x 1040mm
0.5m. Pipe: 100mm x 100mm x 540mm
0.25m. Pipe: 100mm x 100mm x 290mm

Additional information and drawings are inside the PDF document.

Tags

Industrial, Modular, Scalable, Interactive, Optimized

Production Technology

Materials:
Timber (Local or Baltic Birch)
Concrete (Precast)
Steel (Stainless Steel)

All the elements would be manufactured off-site and then brought for assembly to the site, thus optimizing the shipment size and convenience of production.

Realization Technology:
Manufacturing would be quite conventional since there is no complex geometry involved. Concrete would be precast, timber parts cut using usual machines and steel parts would be coming from semi-finished elements welded together.

Design Challenge

One of the hardest challenges was how to make individual elements work together in a vertical and horizontal structure layout. Furthermore, how to minimise material options as well as fixing methods while creating a robust and feasible design proposal.

Research

In the world, with continuous globalization and mass production, we forget to address the need for individuality. While in architecture it is a common understanding to respond to a site's specific needs and spatial qualities, street furniture is usually the victim of generic design. The industry is moving towards supply by demand model with local solutions and the customer having an increasingly higher voice in customization. 1x1 modular furniture design attempts to address these concerns

Inspiration

Design derived from the inspiration of a post-industrial site Refshaleoen, Copenhagen. Due to a comprehensive understanding of the site qualities, was pointed out the concern that the site would not have an extensive public realm, thus it was retrieved to hypothetically provide it through a multitude of small interventions. Furthermore, apart from the inspiration of rich and unique site qualities, the concept was influenced by insights of scaffolding structure and Dieter Rams shelving system 606.

Project Duration

The project is a conceptual design with design inspiration deriving from Refshaleoen, Copenhagen. Though design could be implemented and used in other sites, preferably within an industrial setting

Operation Flow

The system can work as individual furniture piece (bench/planter) or in groups forming small outside spaces (park/urban farm). While one might initially need only a small seating place outside their facility, another season might ask for a larger space where increasing numbers of visitors and clients could be accommodated. 1x1 design allows to expand or shrink by either adding or taking away individual elements. Furthermore, there is no need for a long-term commitment in case something changes.

Image Credits

credits for visuals:

Antonio Gandolfo & Mykolas Seckus