Problem
To conceptualise, design & fabricate a contemporary timber dresser, using reclaimed timber
Requests
Must use reclaimed materials
Must express the fabrication with honesty
Must cater for shared living arrangements
Plan, Section, Elevation, Isometric / Axonometric, Perspective Illustrations / Renders, Details, Defect Resolution Drawings
Solution
To use Douglas Fir Timber & express the chalk face
To leave the steel fabrication finish & express the heat treatment & welding
To employ a concealed fingerpull & removable shelving component
By using the Douglas Fir timber we were able to express previous use cases of the timber within a new program. The chalk face allows a concise duality to be expressed between use case & history, depending on the perspective of the inhabitant.
By resisting the urge to coat the steel frame, we were able to maintain a cohesive design intent to express the dresser honestly. Whilst the finish may not be consistent across the whole frame, it celebrates the craftsmanship & engineering behind the fabrication of the element.
The fingerpull component was thought up during construction, as a means to express the continuity of the timber cladding. Furthermore, it also permits functionality of the inhabitant to use the cabinet within variable living arrangements without the hassle of handles extruding from the envelope of the dresser. In this case, by employing the fingerpull detail the engagement of the hinge becomes a more intimate & personal experience.
Final Design by Maximillian Gonzales. Construction by Michael Gonzales based on the Early Settler - Kalise dresser but enhanced by the use of:
Reclaimed Chalkface Douglas Fir timber (Urban Salvage Melbourne)
Self-closing European cabinet hinges and drawer slides (Martin Ford Architectural Joinery)
Japanese finger pulls on drawers and doors
Waxed-over natural finish to metal frames (Mackinley Fabrication. Melbourne)
600 mm depth for greater storage capacity
General consulting & guidance (Tim Spicer Architects)
