Berkeley Lounge

BACKGROUND

The Berkeley Lounge project, commissioned by UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design as a student competition, was a design and fabrication collaboration between Cecilia and her graduate school classmates Margaret Ikeda and Evan Jones. Designed as a series of fixed in place movable parts, the team expanded the program to allow student run presentations and shows.

DESIGN CONCEPT

The Swiss Army Knife inspired the cabinet system. The translucent presentation panels are wings arranged in an arc that is anchored by the "knife." Understanding that flexibility in architectural elements must be easy to manipulate in order to be well-used, every movable part is custom-built for ease of use.

Early experimentation through fabrication

Learning to fabricate in metal and wood during graduate studies instills a respect for and an understanding of craft that persists in Formwork's collaborations and design work.

MATERIALS

Birch plywood, salvaged Douglas Fir, waxed steel, fiberglass, repurposed guitar strings, guitar tuners, ball bearings and springs are all used in various ways to fashion bespoke hardware for the unusual movement of the various components of the lounge and presentation panels.

The ability to design details is key to custom architecture and interiors