Project 3 : Furniture and Materiality

For my furniture in the living spaces I wanted to create something very simple that was used for a singular purpose and nothing else. I was very aware that I didn’t want to create anything that could be used as a substitute bed and give the exes a chance to avoid each other. Because of this the furniture and surfaces are all hard, cold and a bit rough around the edges. They are all usable but wouldn’t be the best for any length of time.

For example with the bench in the living area I was inspired by church pews. They’re often ridiculously uncomfortable as they don’t actually fit a person on them properly, the dimensions are wrong for actually sitting comfortably. From this I played with the orientation of the seating, did I want them facing towards each other, back to the public, side on to the public or back to back with each other. I decided on back to back with each other as i felt it would be the most uncomfortable for them. To have your back to a person you don’t know or trust leaves you extremely vulnerable. Alongside this though I thought it might be a better layout in terms of getting them to talk. Sometimes it is easier to say what your really thinking if you can’t actually see the person, more like you are talking to yourself and it can be more effective way of getting things out.

In the kitchen I wanted to leave things bare. To go with the idea of leaving nothing unsaid I want to leave everything out in the open. The sink, the storage, the pipes, everything. I think of it as a metaphor for what I’m wanting the exes to do in the space. Talk things out and say whatever it is they haven’t previously had a chance to. The materials I chose to use are also symbolic in several ways.

I chose reflective materials for much of the space to play up the drama with the multi-faceted reflections but also to be very in their face about looking at themselves and the situation. They are unable to escape the other person as often they would see them in a reflection even when in another room. It’s a reminder and a kick to push them into the uncomfortable situation.

I wanted to continue to use wood to carry on from project 2 where I brought the natural elements from Albert park into the site. However I wanted to leave it a bit rough and unfinished to enhance the uncomfortable nature but also symbolise how this couple perhaps left things when they ended. Loose ends, rough around the edges and maybe even some broken pieces.

Using a combination of both clear and frosted glass lends to the fragile nature of the relationship. The need to say whats unsaid but to realise they’re in a fragile and delicate position and things can break.