Intending to build a standing desk for an apartment unit in The Pavilion in Detroit designed by Mies van der Rohe, the furniture design is deeply rooted in the building's structure. The design begins with a found image of a scanned construction photo, which shows the concrete frame of the building under construction. This image serves as a direct inspiration, triggering the idea that an appropriately scaled structure can form the desk.

As a scaled portion of one story of the building, the desk has double desktops: the upper one is a working surface, while the lower provides open storage space. The desk, with its single materiality as the concrete structure, is made of wood. This choice of material brings a sense of warmth and comfort into the living space. And it is designed with parts and pieces that are disassemblable.

Starting as a tool to visualize and test the initial idea, the drawing helps develop the design process, including shaping the overall form, determining final dimensions, and developing fabrication details.

 

Location: Detroit, Michigan

Year: 2018

Type: Furniture

Materials: Maple Panels, Maple Legs, Steel Rods

Construction Image Source: http://miesdetroit365.tumblr.com/post/21646286062