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SEMESTER 2: SPAD502

Design a Bath House for the basement level. The Bath House is for the use of the residents, for students and staff of the university, and for the public.

This is my final 1:10 ratio scale model. I used all the same materials as the real one except I used a Bamboo Veneer Sheet for the wooden structure. Although the back part looks messy, it was all that I could do given my complex stucture which made it hard to use the staples and tape. Overall, the angle and dimensions of this model are correct, making it quite accurate.

This image shows the path a which the sun rises and sets at different time of the year (winter, spring, summer the autumn). As a generalization based off these graphs, the Sun rises in the east at approximately 6:45 and sets in the west at approximately 19:00. Since my cushion is designed in response to the sun/daytime, I would like to relate this to the position of the sun. I will therefore place my cushion facing the east (sunrise) so the angles of the elevations correlate to phases of the sun as it sets in the west.

This is my final cushion.

After making the wooden base of my cushion I used PVA glue to stick the upholstery foam to the front surface. I decided to use a 50mm thickness as it’s thick enough to support your back while still looking comfortable on the cushion as a whole.

I also decided to use these three different materials on my cushion. I chose ochre brown, chocolate brown and navy blue. I also made sure the fabric was thin enough to so that the 10mm staples could secure it on the ply.

This is my final wooden base structure. The backrest is divided into 7 different pieces. Each of the three layers are held up by 6 plywood supports. Each joint is held up using PVA glue and either 32mm Screws or 20mm Screws. In total my structure is made up of 46 pieces of wood.

These are some pictures of me building the base of my cushion. I used 7mm Untreated Plywood, 24x24mm untreated Pinus Radiata, 32mm Screws, 24mm Screws and Interior PVA Glue. Although my cushion will be placed outside and would need treatment and protection against the weather conditions, I have decided to not worry about it as it will be covered with foam and fabric.

Along the way I came across a few problems with the construction of the base. Firstly, the pieces of wood weren’t able to bend as much as I expected them to so I decided to cut my pieces into multiple pieces so the backrest can follow the curve of the base piece better. Another problem was that the plywood was too thin for the screws to comfortably fit in. I then decided to use 24x24mm Pinus Radiata support beams to attach at the corners of each joint. I also needed to make some modifications to the lengths of each piece.

This is a 1:1 scale model for my cushion framing. I have made it out of cardboard and cello tape. This model really helped me visualize and figure out the exact dimensions of my cushion and see what structure I will go for. I will then make this framing out of plywood and glue.

Now that I have my final design, I now need to find a way in which I can actually create my cushion. Here is a quick 3D model (not to scale) of my cushion. made out of watercolour paper and PVA glue. I also used a craft knife, ruler and cutting board to create this model. I will use this model to plan out the different cuts and pieces of material I will use to build my cushion.

These are some fabrics I am thinking of using for my cushion. I want my cushion to really fit in with it’s surroundings and compliment the colours of my site. Since Albert Park is my site I want to use natural colours like certain shades of green and brown aswell as a burgundy brown colour which could match the pavement. I am also considering plant patterned fabrics aswell to which could relate to the surrounding trees and plants.

Another option for colour choice could be relating it to ‘Rangipuke’. I could use a dark blue to represent the night sky, a dark brown to represent the earth and day time and then a yellowish brown to represent the sun. This colour choice would suit the brief much better

After choosing my final design, there are a few things I will need consider before making it. One being the ergonomics of my cushion. It needs to be comfortable and supportive for the human body. The image above displays the average measurements for different parts of the body. I will then need to create the dimensions of my cushions complement my potential users by making is a similar length to the average size of their backs. The other diagram I drew shows common postures and angles in which people sit depending on the situation. For my cushion I would like to create something where people can really relax. I would therefore create something between a reading stance and a lounge stance. So for my cushion I would want to angle it at roughly 70-50 degrees.

This is my final form for my cushion. I used concept 3 as my base model and combined it with the outer edges from concept 1. This design is fit for multiple people and provides comfort to the users back as they lay back on my cushion.

After considering the pros and cons of each concept, I chose concept 3 to use as the base model. This concept was chosen because it fits my brief best due as it offers space for multiple people and visually looks better than concept 2, in my opinion. However, one problem I came across was the fact that it looked too ordinary and plain. I therefore wanted to explore different variations of my design by combining it with ideas from concept 1 and 2.

Final Brief:

I will create a cushion in response to Albert Park. The cushion will seat one or two people and is designed to provide comfort as you take a break from your busy day. The design will reflect ‘Rangipuke’ which is the original name of the land Albert park is situated on.

Coming up with a brief

When coming up with a brief there are many different things to consider.

One thing would be that my cushion will be placed in an outdoor public location. I will therefore need to create something that can handle outdoor weather conditions. Possible solutions are by creating my cushion out of a waterproof material that has a high level of tolerance to UV rays.

I need to think about who would my cushion be allocated to and how their needs can be met. As stated previously, the majority of people walking by my site are students who either walk alone or in pairs. I therefore want to create something that can seat one or two people.

Another thing to consider wound be how do I want this cushion to be used and how would the public know to use it in such a way. I want this cushion to be a place of relaxation, a seat where you can take your mind off your busy day and chill for a while. Since most people walking through are students or workers I want to look at ways that can put their minds at ease as they take a break from their busy lives,

I also would like to create something innovative that no one has seen before. By creating a unique experience for the user, they would be able to enjoy the space and choose it over a park bench.

Finally, I would need to consider what ‘sitting’ and a ‘cushion’ really means. Although google would define sitting as “ a continuous period of being seated, especially when engaged in a particular activity”, I believe sitting is also an act of putting your body at ease. I would also define a cushion as an object that supports you as you take a seat. Sitting allows you to pause and rest your body. It physically makes you still for a moment.

Concept Three

This is my third and final cushion concept. This design was inspired by some form exploration I did based off the park layout. The wooden base provides elevation, making it a suitable height to rest your back against. This design is quite spacious and provides decent room to fit multiple people around. Not only that but the angle of the curve becomes quite helpful for multiple people to be able to face each other and socialize better. This design however isn’t too interesting to use and look at, which could be a deal breaker for potential users. Another thing would be the that the curved might be difficult to make.

Concept Two

This is the second concept I have created for mu cushion. This two seater bench was inspired by some form exploration I did. The soft cushion padding was based off a leaf I found on my site and the wooden supports were inspired by the layout of Albert Park. This concept is quite spacious and can hold multiple people at a time. the curved padding provides a comfortable and natural position for the user’s buttocks. However this design has no support for your back and may get uncomfortable over time. This idea also seems slightly boring due to the fact that you would sit on it the same way as any other cushion.

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