Rochester Institute of Technology
RIT Scholar Works
Theses
Thesis/Dissertation Collections
12-2005
SOHO design in the near future
SooJung Lee
Follow this and additional works at:
http://scholarworks.rit.edu/theses
Recommended Citation
Rochester Instituteof
Technology
AthesisSubmittedto the
Faculty
ofThe Collegeof
Imaging
Arts and SciencesIn
Candidacy
fortheDegreeofMasterofFine Arts
SOHO Design in the near future
By
Approvals
Chief Advisor: David Morgan
David Morgan
Date
Associate Advisor: Nancy Chwiecko
Nancy Chwiecko
Date
S
z/
-
tJ.b
Associate Advisor: Stan Rickel
Stan Rickel
School Chairperson: Patti Lachance
Patti Lachance
Date
3
-..,2,2'
ObI, SooJung Lee, hereby grant permission to the Wallace Memorial Library of
RIT
toreproduce my thesis in whole or in part. Any reproduction will not be for commercial
use or profit.
Signature
SooJung Lee
Special thanks to
Prof. David Morgan, Prof. Stan Rickel and Prof. Nancy Chwiecko - my amazing professors
who always trust and encourage me sincerity but sometimes make me confused or surprised for
leading me into better way for three years.
Prof. Chan hong Min and Prof. Kwanbae Kim - who introduced me about the attractive but
difficult 'design world'
All industrial design grad classmates of RIT - my valuable friends, who always work, study,
stay and endure with me at our beautiful 41h studio for 2 and half years
My lovely father, mother and brother -I cannot express about favors of them well even with
my language but I can say I always miss, trust and love them with my true heart
SangYoung Lee - my friend and creative photographer who always gives a life to my design
works by talking beautiful pictures
JongHwan Kim - amazing photographer who takes lots of beautiful pictures of my thesis
project
Rick Auburn - best technician who helping me a lot to make beautiful mock-up for two years
Courtney, Steve and John - my lovely American roommates and friends
HyunKyu Park - a person of merits who supports me to complete my thesis project well with
pressing, watching, taking care of, talking, and encouraging me a lot
All of my valuable people and memories at Rochester. NY
And SooJung Lee, myself - best luck with me ... .
CONTENTS
LIST OFILLUSTRATIONS iii
CHAPTER1. PROBLEM STATEMENT
Background
Whatis SOHO
Definitionofproblems
Hypothesis
CHAPTER2.DESIGN RESEARCH 9
Userresearch
Marketresearch
Developedhypothesis
CHAPTER3. DESIGN PROCESS 24
Earlydesign study
Designconcept
Roughmock ups
Livingplace
Personalplace
Bathroom
Kitchen
Final design
CHAPTER5. CONCLUSION 87
LISTOF ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure page
Fig 1. 1 Developmentoftheworkplaces 2
Fig. 1. 2The featuresofSmallOffice,Home Office 5
Fig. 2. 1 Usersdiagram 9
Fig.2.2OfficesystemofHerman Miller 13
Fig. 2. 3 ResolvesystemofHerman Miller 14
Fig.2.4OfficesystembyHaworth 15
Fig.2. 5A3 system ofKnoll 16
Fig.2.6 Homeoffice system-Desk 17
Fig.2. 7 Homeoffice system
-Bookshelves 18
Fig. 2. 8Homeoffice system
-Filingcart 19
Fig. 2. 9 Homeoffice system-Chair 20
Fig.2. 10 HomeofficefurnitureofIKEA 21
Fig. 2. 11 Hypothesisconcept 23
Fig. 3. 1 Earlydesignstudy 24
Fig. 3.2Earlydesignroughmock-up 25
Fig. 3. 3Early designideasketches 25
Fig.3. 4 Designconcept image-Water 28
Fig.3. 5 Designconceptimage- Organic 28
Fig.3. 6 Designconcept- Space 29
Fig. 3. 7Designconcept-5 Mobilesystems 30
Fig.3. 8 Roughmock-up- Space 31
Fig. 3. 9Rough mock-up- 5 Mobilesystems 32
Fig.4. 1 Spaceideasketches 33
Fig. 4. 2 Spaceparts explanation 34
Fig.4. 3 Spacewhitemock-up- 1 36
Fig. 4. 4 Spacewhitemock-up-2 37
Fig.4. 7 Spacealiasrendering-3 38
Fig. 4. 8 Workstation ideasketches 39
Fig. 4. 9Workstationparts explanation 40
Fig.4. 10 Workstationwhitemock-up- 1 41
Fig. 4. 11 Workstationwhitemock-up-2 42
Fig. 4. 12 Workstation aliasrendering- 1
43
Fig. 4. 13 Workstationaliasrendering
-2 43
Fig. 4. 14 Workstationaliasrendering
-3 44
Fig. 4. 15 Workstationaliasrendering- 4
44
Fig.4. 16Livingplaceideasketches 45
Fig. 4. 17Livingplace parts explanation 46
Fig. 4. 18Living placewhitemock-up-1 47
Fig.4. 19Livingplace whitemock-up-2 48
Fig. 4. 20Livingplace whitemock-up-3 49
Fig.4. 21 Livingplace aliasrendering- 1
50
Fig. 4. 22 Livingplace aliasrendering-2 50
Fig. 4. 23Living place aliasrendering- 3
51
Fig. 4. 24Livingplace aliasrendering-4 51
Fig.4. 25 Personalplaceideasketches 52
Fig.4. 26 Personal placeparts explanation 53
Fig. 4. 27 Personalplace whitemock-up- 1
54
Fig. 4. 28 Personalplacewhitemock-up-2 55
Fig. 4. 29Personalplace whitemock-up
-3 56
Fig. 4. 30 Personalplace aliasrendering- 1 57
Fig. 4. 31 Personalplace aliasrendering- 2
57
Fig. 4. 32 Bathroom ideasketches 58
Fig. 4. 33 Bathroomparts explanation 59
Fig. 4. 34Bathroomwhitemock-up-1
60
Fig. 4. 35 Bathroomwhitemock-up-2 61
Fig.4. 36Bathroomwhitemock-up
Fig. 4. 39Bathroomaliasrendering- 3 64
Fig. 4. 40Bathroomaliasrendering-4 64
Fig.4. 41 Bathroomaliasrendering
-5 65
Fig.4. 42 Bathroomaliasrendering
-6 65
Fig. 4.43 Bathroomaliasrendering- 7 66
Fig.4. 44 Bathroomaliasrendering- 8 66
Fig. 4.45 Kitchenideasketches 67
Fig. 4.46 Kitchenpartsexplanation 68
Fig. 4. 47Kitchenwhitemock-up
-1 69
Fig. 4. 48 Kitchenwhitemock-up
-2 70
Fig.4. 49Kitchenwhitemock-up
-3 71
Fig. 4. 50 Kitchenaliasrendering- 1 72
Fig. 4. 51 Kitchenaliasrendering-2 72
Fig. 4.52 Kitchenalias rendering-3 73
Fig.4. 53 Kitchenalias rendering-4 73
Fig.4.54 Kitchenalias rendering-5 74
Fig. 4. 55 Kitchenalias rendering-6 74
Fig. 4. 56Alias rendering image-1 75
Fig.4. 57 Alias renderingimage-2 75
Fig.4. 58 Alias rendering image-3 76
Fig.4. 69Alias renderingimage-4 76
Fig.4.60 Alias rendering image-5 77
Fig.4. 61 Aliasrenderingimage-6 77
Fig.4.62 Whitemock-upimage-1 78
Fig. 4.63 Whitemock-upimage- 2 79
Fig. 4. 64Whitemock-upimage-3 80
Fig. 4. 65 White mock-upimage-4 81
Fig. 4. 66 Whitemock-upimage-5 82
Fig. 4. 67 Whitemock-upimage-6 83
CHAPTER 1.
PROBLEM
STATEMENTBACKGROUND
Thechangeoflifestyleand workplace
WhenarchitectsPhilipJ. StoneandRobert Luchettiwrote: "Your OfficeIs
Where YouAre,"
an articlefortheHarvard BusinessReview, itwasalready 1985.
Today,thewisdom ofStoneandLuchettihasproventobetrue
-whetherpeople are
fullyaware oftheevolvingtechnologydrivenworkplace ornot, through use ofthe
World Wide Webandday todayadvancesin immediatecommunications we can work
wheneveror wherever we want.BecauseoftheInternetand ournewlyadopted
quick-pacewayoflife, lifestyle israpidlychanging, asquicklyas a new one canbeadvertised.
Wenow experiencehugechangestoourlives,forexamplehow distances between
isolatedparts oftheworldhavesignificantlyshrunkallowingforcommunication
barrierstobe brokenmakinga virtualworld,andaccomplishinga concept oftheglobal
village. Inotherwords,we obtainmobility,flexibility, andconvenience inourlives.
Hand inhand,our workplaces alsobecomemoretechnologicallydeveloped as
well.Newbusinessgenerationsofthe21stcentury,whoare called generationXand
generationY,or sometimes referredtoas generationNhavequicklyadaptedtheirwork
ways and createdanewfoundationin digitaltechnologyandtheInternet. Thesetwo
generationshavegrownupwithdigitaltechnologyand readilyaccessible computers are
traditional ways; however,"Traditional" is
becoming
obsolete ascontemporarybusinesstypes,newmediajobsandmoremodernwork environmentsarise.For
example,we cancreatea website inaveryminimal amount oftimeand beginselling
products
-likethenumerousshoppingmall websites; thiswebsite canthenbecome our
business.
Functioning
solelyunder onemanager,whileexcludingtheneedforemployeesand also without an official office space.There isnodifficulty,witha little
ambition andknowledge,forusto start our ownbusinesswith alaptop,mobilephone,
andtheInternet. Asaresult,our workplaceshaveshownchangedfiguresaccordingto
theadvance oftechnologyandthechanges ofourlives.
1950- I960
P*
i'tfc
I960
-1970 1970
-1980
RIGID MODULE CUBICAL. PANNEL SYSTEM CENTER ON GROUP SPACE RATHER THAN PERSONAL
2015 1990
-2000
INTERACTIONCOMMUNICATION ALTERNATIVE WORKPLACES
1980- 1990
i
*<
'ii
1 1 }- A
Christopher Buddexplainedtoustheevolutionoftheofficefrom 1950to
presentdayin his book: WorkSpheres: DesignandContemporary Work Styles. (The
MuseumofModernArt,New York,2001). Heclassifiestheevolutioninto 5groups:
1950to 1960, 1960to 1970, 1970to 1980, 1980to 1990,and 1990to2000. Fromhis
explanation,theoffice of1950to 1960canbecondensedintoa rigidplanningmodule
which isexplained withthe suspended,luminousceiling,movablepartitions,and
partial-height.Theoffice of1960to 1970isthefoundationperiodforcubical
applications,which willbecomeprevalentforthenextthirtyyears,alsointroducingthe
original panel system of officefurniture. During 1970to 1980,people startedtonotice
thebalanceofprivacy,opencommunication,and corporate controlinthework
environment;although,work environments were stilldevelopedand implemented
hierarchically. Fromthedecadeof1980-1990,innovationand forwardthinkingof
office environments started. Intheearly 1980'sthepersonal computerbecamewidely
accepted,people startedtofocusmore ontheindividualand personal work
environments.Theactivity-basedplanning, thebalance between individualandgroup
space,andtheincreaseofindividualwork spacebroughtabouttheneedfora more
complex office-furniture system.Thenextdecade, 1990to2000,openedthedoortoa
varietyofdiverseconceptsforthe workplace,eachmeetinga needanddifferent
implementation forworking.Architects, researchers,designersandenvironmental
psychologiststudiedthis"AlternativeOffice."
In 1994, The HOKFacilitiesConsultingReportcoinedthe term "Alternative
Office,"
referring tothelabel fornewapproachestohow,when,andwherepeoplework.
Forexample,
"Hoteling,"
non-for New Workstyles, MarilynZelinsky, 1997) projectbyErnst &Young, Chicago, 1992,
IBMCranford,NewJersey, 1993. Anotherconcept was labeled
"SoHo,"
meaningsmall
office/homeoffice.Bothofthesenewly fashionedtermscanberepresentativeexamples
ofalternative office.
Inthismodernage, time andgeographyare ofless importancethan in
traditional workplaces,allowingworktobeaccomplishedalmost anywhere at anytime
-withtechnological advances,wirelesscapabilities,mobiletechnology,andthe Internet.
Withthisinmind,we needinnovativeworkplaces which servetogratifynewbusiness
groups, businessstyles and also workenvironments,butmostimportantlywe seekto
createfavorableworkplaces forourlives.Forthis reason, it is importanttopredictthe
futureneeds andamenitiesof workplaces as adesigner.
Becausetodaymany peopledonot separatelivingandworking Ifindthe
"SoHo"
concepttobeespeciallyconsistent and effectivefordesigninga convenient
workerfriendlyenvironment. Ithinkit has becomea more realistic scenarioforus
nowadays, thusIthinkIcandevelopaSoHo designthatsuggests abetterworkplace for
thefuture.Now,afterfullyreviewingthediversityof pastworkplaces,we changethe
future:"WhatkindofSoHo designcan wehopetoevolveinthenext 15
years?"
This
questionisthestart ofmy thesis.
WHAT IS SOHO?
thatsurrounds it. Fromthewebsite: www.dictionary.com we are giventhe definitionof
SoHoas aterm
describing
themarketforcertaincomputergoods. Itisclearthat thenotion ofSoHo is verymuch dependentuponcomputers and Internettechnology.Inthe
present, SoHocareer styles center on afewoccupations such as writers,freelance
professionals,travelingsalesmen andthemajorityofInternet business.However, I
deem SoHotobemore prevalentinthefuturesince it hasshown considerablepositive
benefits.
Accordingto thebook: Workspheres:DesignandContemporary Work Styles.
(Themuseumofmodernart,New York, 2001), Paola Antonellisaidthatinan
employmentsituation, teleworkrespondsto theemployee'sneedtoimprovethebalance
between homeandworkbyeliminatingorcuttingdowncommutetime;byreducing
costs;
by
providing increasedmobilityandflexibility; bymaking for healthierpersonaland
family
lifeby leaving
more room forserious recreation.Ontheemployer's side ofthefence,itallows forabetteruse oftheexistingfacilities;and itultimatelyincreases
productivity.Ithink themost important featureofSoHomaybe freedomoflife. By
decreasingunnecessaryelementsfromthe traditionalofficespace,we canattain more
freetime
-averyusefuland attractivebenefitofSoHo ifimplementedproperly.
DEFINITION OF PROBLEMS
Withthechanges of oursociety, manydesigners,researchersand architects havetried toimproveuponthesundrytypesof alternative officesthatcouldsatisfy
today'sworkers. While
hoteling
mightbemore advantageousfor largescalecompanieswheretherearehighcostsforpersonalbusinessand small scalebusiness,SoHoproves
tobemore popular withbothsmallscale companies as well as largescale companies
sinceit hasrevealedmanygainful advantages.However,Ithink presently,SoHo has
not shown consistent resultsbecausepeople areeasilyswayed intobelievingit issimply
a matter ofsettinguphomeofficefurniture;be itadesk,chair,bookcase,filingstorage
or a computerinthehouse. Asaresult, today's Sohois far behindofficial workplaces.
When convertingthehouse intoa workplace aswell,itshould beequipped with proper
facilitiesand environments.Thisisnottosaythehouse hastolook likethelobbyto
Donald Trump'scorporate office(although,thatmightbenice)but itshould meet all
therequirements oftheworkplace.I feelthatas aworkplace,SoHoenvironmentsfall
somewherebetweenofficial workplacesandhomeenvironments, andthedeciding
factor intheeffectivebalance betweenthetwoisthedesignoftheenvironment.
SoHo isnotjusta matter ofpurchasinghomeofficefurniture, anditshould be
treatedasabroaderpoint of view. Inotherwords,SoHoisa meanstodesigna new
workplaceinthehouse, utilizingspaceeffectivelyand outfittingtheareawith
appropriatefurnishingsandfixtures. With limited space,we wanttoestablisha
well-equipped,functionaland goodlookingworkplaceforguests.Thismeans we must
notsolely forworking.Therefore, it is imperativetokeeptheneeds offamilymembers
inall considerationaswell. Drawingfromthesepoints of view andtryingtoestablish
and maintain a work atmosphereappeasingtofamilylife, Ihaveexposed afew
problemswith presentdaySoHoenvironments:
Howtodefinerelationsbetweenfamilyand work placeeffectively
Howtocontrol work space andfamily space
Howtoimprove homeofficefurnitureor systems
Howtoadjusthightechnologyinthehouse
Howtocontrol space andfurnituresystems well withinlimitedspace
HYPOTHESIS
Throughthedevelopmentofworkplaces,wehaveexperienceddifferenttypes
of work environmentsfromrigid modulestoalternative offices.Alreadymany
designersand architectshaveattemptedtocreate severaltypesof alternative offices:
Hoteling, Soho,andSatelliteOffices
-fullyequipped company-ownedofficesaway
fromthecorporatecampustoaccommodate workersthatlivetoofar away (New
Workplacesfor New Workstyles,Mcgraw-hill, 1997). Asadesigner, Iam
planningto
innovatewhatkindof workplaces will appearinthenextstage.Ipresumethatone
possibilitywillbe SoHo,becauseofitsvariousadvantagesandhowmuchthereistobe
desired
by
it.Manypeople regard SoHoina simplisticwayspace withfurnituresystems
by
conforming it intoa sound and agreeableenvironmentforthepeoplethatboth dwellthereand makeittheiroffice. Ifwecan integratespace
with furnituresystems inthehouse, IknowIcan suggest an improvedconceptofSoHo.
Clearly, SoHo isnotonly purchasing homeofficefurniture, butalsodesigningthe
workplace usingspaceand systemultimatelycreatingan equilibriumthatflows from
CHAPTER 2. DESIGN
RESEARCHUSER RESEARCH
Fig2.1 Users diagram
Mainusers- Generation Y (orGeneration N)
Mainusers areGenerationY, alsoknownasGenerationN,people who were
born intheearly 1980sand willbecomethe mainbusiness groupastheyclimb into
their30's in2015. Currently,orenteringthis next stage oftheirlife Generation Ymight
findthemselves graduatingfromcollege,enteringthevows ofmarriage,career
researching,or
having
afirstchild andbecomingparents. Thiscohorthasnumerousnicknames likeGeneration Why?,the"Echo
Boom,"
and eventheMillennial
Generation.However, Generation Y isalso consideredtobe very
distinctly
groupedtogetherwith GenerationX. Bothgenerations experiencedsimilarculturetraitssuch as:
onentertainmentthrough video games.From hisbook,Growingup Digital
(Mcgrow-hill,New York, 1998),business strategistandpsychologistDon Tapscottcoinedthe
term"NetGeneration"
for GenerationY
-asthisgroup hasgrownupwiththe
widespread use of personalcomputers,DVDplayers, iPods,cellphones,TiVo, digital
cable,iBooks,and otherubiquitous items.Moreover,fromanearlyage
-evenatthe
point where children are
beginning
tolearn howtoreadtheycan use some sort of videogame educationguide, thisgroupwasthe firstgenerationtousehighlymodem
conveniences:theInternet, PCs,computer graphics inmanyvideogames,animated
movies,andtelevision shows,cellular phones andinstantmessaging.Healso said"The
N-Gen mindis ideallysuitedforwealth creationinthenew economy.Thisgeneration is
exceptionallycurious, self-reliant, contrarians, smart,focused,ableto adapt,high in
self-esteem,andhasa global orientation.Theseattributes combined with
N-Genres'
ease withdigitaltoolsspelltroubleforthe traditional enterprise andthe traditional
manager.Thisgeneration will createhugepressureforradical change inexisting
companies."
(Growingupdigital, Mcgrow-hill, NewYork, 1998) Emotionallyand
empathetically, thisgrouphasconcepts of environmentalconcerns,socialproblems,
sexual and ethnicdiversity,andglobal community.Also,thisagegrouprecognizes
pursuitofqualityoflifethrough inventingextremesports,new culture streams andby
accepting "new
age"
intotheirlives.
Subusers- GenerationX
Subusersfall intoGenerationXpeoplewhobom betweentheyearsof1965
and 1980andwill beage35 - 45 in 201 5.Thisfaction issometimesknown
Baby-ofa 1964studyofBritishyouth
by
Jane Deverson. Initially,Deversonwas askedbytheeditor ofthemagazine Woman'sOwntoconduct aseries ofinterviewswithteenagers
ofthe time. The studyrevealed:teenagerswho"sleeptogetherbeforetheyare married
don't believe inGod,disliketheQueenanddon'trespecttheir
parents"
which,dueto
beinga newphenomenon,wasdeemedunsuitable forthemagazine.Deverson,inan
attempttosaveherresearch,worked withHollywoodcorrespondentCharlesHamblett
tocreate abookdissectingthestudy.HamblettwoulddecidetonameitGeneration X.
Afterthat,this termgenerationXbecameever so more popularized whenDouglas
Couplandpublishedhis famousnovel,GenerationX: TalesforAcceleratedCulture in
1991.
Asweknow fromthe titleofDouglas Coupland'snovel, thisgroupgrewup
inahugetransitionbeginningwiththeend ofWorld WarII,thedeclineof colonial
imperialism,oilshock, thefalloftheBerlinWall,andtheend ofColdWar. Through
this turbulentworldsituation, theXgeneration sufferedfacedmanyproblemsarising
outoftheirparents'
period.Asa resultthisnew agegroupwasforcedtoconceptualize
completelydifferentand sometimes opposite opinions and ideas fromwhattheir
parents'
generation,BabyBoomerswerebasedon.Inchildhood,manyofGeneration X
experienced parentaldivorce,openclassrooms,widespread politicalcorruption,
inflationandrecession,and environmentaldisasters.As young adults,theyhave hadto
grow intherevolution oftechnologyliketheInternet,widespread use ofpersonal
computers,and othersurprisingresultsoftechnologicaladvancement,aswellasMTV
culture andmanymusic genres.Theymightlive intheturningpoint.Overall,Iextract
MARKET RESEARCH
Currentofficial workenvironmentsand systems
Mostcompaniesnow
identify
that theirworkers arethemostimportantandintellectualasset.Theyalsoregardtheworkspace as atool thatcan bemanaged
efficientlyandpurposefully forincreasingefficiencyand learning,enhancingteamwork
andsupportingcheerful surroundingsinwork.Itisnot simpletodefinecurrent work
environmentsbriefly,sincetherearebothtypicalwork environmentsandinnovative
work environmentsinthe present; moreover,current work environmentsarecontinually
improvinginmanyways.
With currentlyavailabletechnologyand realestate, itmaybedifficultfor
everyworkertohaveaperfectlycustomized spacefor themselves, becauseof
occupational hierarchyintheircompany.Although manycompanies stillhavetypical
workenvironments,theydonot adheretoanachronistic workenvironments,buttryto
acceptless-hierarchicalsystems andto thenbecomeorganizationsthatfocuson
interactionand communication. Recently,most work environmentsbecameequipped
with wirelesscapabilities,mobiletechnologyandtheInternet.
To finalizethesegoalsformoreinnovativeoffice environmenttofacilitate
employeeproductivity,corporationsandbusinessesalike mighttryto
keep
pacewiththe timesforworkersand companiesaswell.Igathered imagesofcurrent official work
environments and systems frommanywebsitesby lookingupcurrent official work
environments intwo ways; typicalwork environments andinnovativework
Fig2. 2 Officesystem ofHerman Miller
Thesepictures arefromHerman Miller'ssystemfurniturewhich isone of
themostfamous and
leading
global providers of office furnitureand services intheworld.Theseofficial systemsarebasedon a panel systemthatdefinestheworkspace,
modulardesks,andmovable wallsthatsupport
dividing
orcombiningspace ina moreflexiblemanner.It looksasifthesesystems are derivedfromtheoffice; 1960-1970,
which was lead
by
thecubical and panel system. Heremodulardesks and structuralcomponentsprovidearatherrigid,conservative andtraditional typesetting; however,
theareaisorganized with electrical anddatewiresand welldesigned detailsupportsthe
Fig2. 3 Resolve SystemofHerman Miller
Figure 2.3 istheResolve SystemofHermanMiller,whichpresently is
regarded asthemostfamousand innovative furnituresystem. Theresolve systemis
pole-based free fromthe typicalpanel system. Inwww.Hermanmiller.comit is
explainedthatverticalpolesinthreeheights(96, 60,and48 inches),work with
horizontal supportarmstodefine workareas, thispole and arm systemalso providesfor
astructuralfoundationtosupporthang-oncomponents. Itfocusesonpersonalization
usingrollingscreens, canopies,andfloormats andthesecomponents
help
todefinepersonalterritoryinwhole work environments.Also,
by
having
theirowngraphics,Fig2. 4 OfficesystemsbyHaworth
Figure 2.4 isa selection of office systemsimages
by
Haworth, Inc. Thesefiguresshowdifferentorganizationinoffice systemlikethe
freestanding
system.Theseinnovativework environmentsand systemsfocusonflexibility, functionality,user
controlandpersonalization inspace.Theyalso suggest multi-functional systems such as
a
freestanding
office unitthatserves as adesk,table,screen,mobile storage cart,andmediaboard. Also
doubling
as afloortoceilingwall andfoldable deskscreendoanactiverole
Fig2.5A3 system ofKnoll
Figure 2.5 isanotherinnovativeofficesystem,A3 systemofKnoll.
A3 system clearlyshowsitsconcept as aunique,different,mobile and independent
workstation.It mayreflect currenttechnologyanddifferentworkingsituationwell;
personalization, interactionandcommunication,and supportingpersonalcomputer,
laptop
and otherelectronic equipmentswithwork.A3 system iscomplete assembliesofframe,screen, and othercomponents;therefore, it is easytosetupandadjustheight,
size and shapefor differentsituations.Also, it ismade of newmaterials; translucent
mesh screen, tubularsteelframes,and other substitutematerials,which isseldomused
-\
Fig2. 6 Homeoffice system- Desk
Withoutadoubt,Icansaythatmost currenthome office environments and
systems arefar behindthatoftheofficial work spacein bothfunctionaland aesthetic
ways.This is furtherworsenedbecauseofthedeficitand lackofhomeoffice
environments,allthatisoffered issomehomeofficefurniture. Figure 2.6 isa collection
ofimages ofdesksusedfor homeofficefurniture;all of which caneasily be foundat
themallif desired. Mostofthemare woodendesksand appearnon-functionalor
inappropriate forwork.Thisdoesnot meanthata wooden desk is necessarily bad for
working,butthesedesks clearlyneedtobemoredeveloped intermsofelectrical
Fig2.7Homeofficefurniture- Bookshelves
Figure 2.7alsodepicts normalhomeofficefurniture;whichwe caneasily
purchasefor bookshelves. Mostofthemare made of wood and were not created for
professionalfunctions butmore sointheimageoftypicalhousehold bookshelves. With
simple structure anddesign, it is hardtoexpect efficientfunctions: hardness, durability,
mobility,
flexibility
andstoringallidealandnecessary functions neededforwork atFig2. 8 Homeofficefurniture
-Filingcart
Theseare examples ofhomeofficefurnitureusedforand as a
filing
cart.Filingcarts or cabinets are morediversethanotherhomeoffice furniture;fromwooden
materialstoassorted and coloredplastics,they are made ofdifferentmaterialsand come
inavarietyof shapes.Mostofthem consist of aboxshapeframe, severaldrawersand
wheelsbecauseofthis
-filing
carts arefunctionalas a mobile andflexibleunit. However,comparatively speakingwhenitcomestoofficialsystems,theyare stilllacking. Ithinkit may be necessarytoenablethe
filing
cartensembletobeabletoFig2. 9 Homeofficefurniture- Chair
Incontrast withtheotherhomeofficefurniture,homeoffice chairs show a
more positivetendencyas well as similarfunction,aesthetic,and shapeto thatofthe
official chair. Eventhoughhome office chairs areslightlyunderparinvariety,theyare
notthatfar behindtheofficial work chair.Mosthomeoffice chairs areeconomically
designedenablingheightadjustment;they also appear more comfortable orcozythan
official chairs. Infact,somecommercialofficefurniturecompanies sell furnitureto the
homemarket andIthink thiscanbe helpfulto
improving
ofthedevelopmentofhomeFig2.10HomeofficefurnitureofIKEA
Figure 2.10isan assortment ofimagesofhomeofficefurniture fromthe
SwedishwarehouseIKEA.With itsmodernism, functionalism,human-centered
assemblyandchild-friendlydesign, IKEAfurniture has becomeworldrenown.
Comparedtootherhomeofficefurniture,Ithink that theproducts offered
by
IKEAlookalotmorecreativeand efficientconsidering its cheapprice.Forinstance, IKEAtries to
combinetwocomponents
-cartmobilitywithorganizational storage, whilemaintaining
Developed hypothesis
Throughuser and marketresearch, Ihave becomeawareoftheneeds of all
prospective usersforaSoHo design in 2015 and alsoconcerningthatofthecurrent
situationsofbothofficial work andhomeoffice environments.Itismostdefinitethat
prospectiveusers;generationYand generationX, expectother alternative work
environmentstoinfluencetheirnew work and lifestylefurtherupon improvingcurrent
workenvironments.
Nowpeople who spend alotoftimeworkingout ofhome,or evenSoHo
businesspeople, installacomputer,add somehomeofficefurnituresuchas adesk,
bookshelves,and/or a storage system and regardtheirhouseas aSoHoplace.People
havethetendencytobe onlyconcerned aboutfurniture,not space(orenvironments).As
aresult,it is difficulttomaintain an appropriate work environment athome.Moreover,
most ofthecurrenthomeofficefurniture isnotthatfunctionalor sufficientforworking,
becausethemajorityofdesignsarereallybehindcomparedtoofficial work systems. I
thinkcurrenthomeoffice systemshavetobecomemoredeveloped,nottosaythathome
office systems and environments shouldlookofficial,butatleast beabletofunction
equally,ifnotbetter. Since homeoffice environments and systems are part of ahome it
isnecessarythattheyalsosatisfyallfamily
members'
lives.Forthis reason,Ithinkif
we consider SoHo designas a matter ofbothspaceandsystems, andcontrolboththe
space and systemeffectively,we can suggestbetteraSoHo design inthenearfuture.
My scenarioisadesignofaSoHospacein 2015. Prospectiveusers arein
movingwall, andatranslucentmoving screen-wallfromresearch. It is importantto
consider space and system atthesametimeinordertodefinetherelationsbetween
them.Inhouse, Ithinkit is necessarythatbothspace and systems(orfurniture)are
consideredtogetherwhen
defining
thepurposeof environments.Mymain issueconcernshowtoimprovecurrentSoHospace and suggest abetter SoHoconceptforthe
future.
CHAPTER 3. DESIGN
PROCESSEARLY DESIGN STUDY
First, Ihave focused on
dividing
andcombingspaceina normal houseplan.Inspired
by docking
systems of aspaceshipand spacestation,Iputtheworkarea inthecenter andtried toconnecttheouter areas
by
movingwalls.Throughtheuse ofrotatingmovingwalls, space canbeopen space and closedspace aswell,whileconnecting
bridgesprovideforelectronic power and communication.
ENTRANCE
Fig3.2Earlydesignroughmock-up
Throughcommitteemeetings, I realizedseveral points abouttheconcept of
combiningandseparatingspaceworth while offurtherdevelopment,becauseearlier
design hasyettosatisfaytheserequirements.I understand(havingaboundaryof
thinking)that thehouse is box-shaped. EvenasIamtryingtomaketheSoHo designof
thefuture; mythinkingstilllies inthefixed ideaof a cubical space.Asaresult,early
designsarelimited,under-developed and noteffectively improvedcurrenthome
environments; furthermore,Ifeel like itseemstobea rather negativewaytohangon
solidmovingwalls androtatingwalls.So, Ichangedmythinkingfromthecubical space
toavarietyof ways.Then, I brokethefixedconceptthatahousemustbecubical.Do
not misinterpret whatIamsaying,cubical space isnotnecessarilybad forfuture SoHo
designyet, IwanttoportraySoHo design ina plethera ofdifferentways. Irealizethat
houseenvironments canbe differentshapes- from
abox,toacircle,ortriangular
-even free form.
Asadesigner, Ithinkwe sometimes needtobreak fixed ideasand make new
thingsandthatisthestart ofmakingcreative and unique concepts.Takingthisinto
consideration,I startedmydesign fromanemptyspace with nofixedshapeinmind;
withtheideathatitwouldbea placeinwhich peoplebothwoulddwell in,as well as
accomplishtheirdailywork.After that, it iscleartomethatIcandesignspaceitself,
notjustsystems orfurniture. Ithinkaboutthevariety existinginpeople'slifestyles:
fromtheintimacyofone'sbathroom,thecreativeaccessibilityachieved insome
kitchens,thepersonaltastereflectedinabedroom,andtheothersundryexamplesof
people's characteristics shown intheirrecreationandentertainment areas.Then, Itried
andfurnitureshouldbeconsideredas partofthespaceinhouseenvironments, not
separately.
DESIGN CONCEPT
Designconcept
Afterearlydesignstudies,I inspiredbywater withitsvarietyof properties
-flow, flux,spread,wave, curve, motion, thecharacters ofitsappearance:colorless and
transparent,rippled,bubbled,opacityandthemere imageof water:clean, cool, pure,
fresh
-thepossibilitiesare endless.Ithink theseproperties suitsmyideas;controlling
spaces welland connectionbetweenspace andhome furnitureand systems. Usingthese
individualities,Iwanttomake aSoHospacethatresemblesthefree form intheflowof
water, toachievethis Ihave developedfreelymove-away,in-houseenvironments.Also,
IseektoformaSoHospace whichis interactiveandflexible,enablingthe ability,if
desired,tocombine or separate areas and environmentsinthehouse. Thisshoulddictate
a sense of consequenceintherelationshipbetweenthespace andthesystems orthatof
thefurniture.Thewholeimage isclean and coolinthespace with whitecolor,bluetone
anddifferentuses of opacitieslikethatof asparklingsea orthevitalityof a river.As
flowingwater, thisSoHospace isnotfixed,but flexibleandmovableallowing for
betterandtransitionalhouseenvironments.
Anotherconcept ofdesignwe canlookatisanorganic shapedenvironment,
fluidity
ofsomethingorganic,this SoHospace anditssystems are vivid and alivethrough theconcept ofmobility. IwanttodesigntheSoHo spacetobealive,
by having
mobilesystemsinsideofthespacesobothspace and systems caninteractwith people
closely.
Fig3. 4Designconceptimage- Water
Detail designconcept- Space
Organicshaped or cell divisionshapedspacehas foursubordinatedictations.
Eachofthefourspaces isequippedwiththeappropriatefacilities:power, plumbing,
heating, water and otherbasicutilities, all which servetorepresentthegeneral concept
oftheroom'senvironments. Becauseofthe
fully
equippedfunctionsofthesefacilities,thesefourspaces can performany differentroletheusermaywishtoapply.
Furthermore,thesesubordinate spaces canbe dividedand combined
by
movingtheDetail designconcept- 5
mobile systems
Allfourofthefacilitiescanhavethesamefunctions;theycan also support
mobile systems
by
supplyingpower, plumbing,heating
and cooling. Eachspace canperformfivedifferentroles
-thatof akitchen, bathroom, living-room,bedroomandthe
workarea. Inotherwords,peoplecanrearrangeanddesigntheirhomeenvironments
whentheywant,simply
by
movingandsetting upthemobile system.Itpaints a pictureof an organicconcept,continuously readytoevolve.This inturngiveslifeto thespace
facilitating
a positiveinteractionand communicationbetweentheusers andthesystem.Bycreating boththespace andsystem, Ican avoidtheheterogeneousassociation which
mayoccur when peoplejustpurchase and setuphome officefurniture intheirhouse.
(
compactequipments unit
1 mobile system
^3
Fig3. 7 Designconcept
ROUGH MOCK-UP
5mobile systems
Fig3. 9 Rough mock-up
CHAPTER 4. DESIGN
SOLUTIONSPACE
Ideasketches
Fig4. 2 Spaceparts explanation
Forthemost part space consists ofthreeelements: basicstructures,four
equipped structures andmovingwalls. Eachofthefoursideshasan entrance.Thefour
equipped structures eachhaveseveralfunctions inthehouse;supplyingplumbing,
power,
heating
andcooling, storage and seating.Withtheirmultipletasks, homeenvironmentscan save space and add aesthetic charm as well. Smartwindows which
canbechangedfromtransparenttoopaque attheflickof a switch
help family
membersmaintainprivacyintheirlives.
Inthecase ofthemovingwall,which replacesthefoundationalwall incurrent
following
apredetermined overhead track. Eachofthefourmovingwalls-makeup
twolayers
-sototaled thefourwalls combinetomake eight layers.Bymovingthem
around androtatingat360 degrees, itis designedtobeabletocombineanddivideeach
spacein itsowndiversifiedway.Also,forthe\\orkstation, thesemobile walls serve as
a spacedividerandbigscreenaswell.Withtheirhalftransparentmaterialquality.
peopledonotfeelsuffocated orclaustrophobicinthespace no matterthesize ofthe
created compartment.
Alongthelinesof style,it is importanttodiscusswhatis knownas"Zen
a combination of eastern and western culture.ThemainthemeunderlyingtheZenstyle
isatoneof simplicity,but itisa modem approachaffordingmetheliberty toadd and
useAsianstyle patterns and such materials as accents. Colorsand materialforcrafting
a visual balanceof coordination arekepton one palatelevel,allowingforan artistic
flowfromone spaceintotheremaining fi\e mobile systems. Ineach space.Ialsotried
touse simpler and softer colors andnon-busypatterned materials,inordertoavoid a
sense of clutter anddistraction. Withthecolor white astheunderlyingbackground,I
usebluetones,silver, black,and a selection of woodmaterialforcomplementation.The
white color also expresses afeelingof cleanliness andpurity bothpositive
characteristicsItry todrawfromwater.Byfinishing\\ithsimilar colors andmaterials,
thefivemobile systemseasilymatch and accent each other no matterhow theyare
arrangedinthespace.Also,metal materialsand an assortment oftranslucentmaterials
offerapreviewof afiituristicaspecttotheuser.Overall.ItrytoachieveaSoHo
environmentthatpromotestheappearanceof a cool,slick,simple andfuturistic
Fig4. 4 Spacewhitemock-up-2
WORKSTATION
Ideasketches
Sad irrte* 0"
&^* JTf*re<v
or* fwaft
Z
iH"
<2t
^
r^3^Corftgrtsit* &r
Mat***-C
LCD touchWW ii
mooucanc***function
virtualktyboira use* i.ghttoprojec*aha>Doar0 onto ainwstan,sorfaoo
ran; whennotruse
halftransparency'!>.o "rv. nacts as a wat,oWMJer, endscreen
CPUpan
PMatypapon
Fig4. 9Workstationpartsexplanation
Findinginspiration inthespreadand rippled image, Idesignedan
independenttypemobile workstation.Likeadroplet
falling
intowaterthatmakesripples and echoesoutward,I wanttoapplyorinput differenttypesofinformation,
feasibly
allowforthe spreadofthatinformationand sharetheinformationwith multiplepeoplethrough theworkstation.Myworkstationiscomprised of onelargescreenthat
serves asthe primary,several smallscreens,aCPU and wheels.Themain largerscreen
isaflattouch screenandhasavirtualkeyboard. Whenpeoplehold meetingsor
conferences, smallerLCDscreens emergefrom beneaththemain screen.The CPU,
camera,and other electronichardware.Also,theworkstation'smovingwallscanbe
usedasa
big
size screenforpower pointpresentationsor slide shows.Aliasrenderings
Fig4. 14 Workstationaliasrendering-3
LIVING PLACE
magnets insertedtoatlai-t-oat*-. vaftout *hpeapo**to
t i i
0|C]
D
b
g
tJ
1.1.*****.i entertainmentsystem tnrougn poletypepar. otner musKor vtdeoproducts canbeconnected
controlsystem
pluginfurniture
videosystem inserted
movabletable movablestrjraoer
Fig4.17Livingplace parts explanation
Thecreated"living
place"
representstoday'scurrent
living
room;however,enablinga moreflexible lifestylewhichmeetstheneedsofthemajoritytoday'speople.
Thismobile system consists offourparts: embossed surfaceseating,a control system,
an entertainment system andtables. Inspired fromtheorganic shapes created
by
a waterdroplet, seating is designedwith a
bubbly
shapecushion.Eachcushionhasamagnetinsidepositively maintainingtheconnectionbetweeneach chair and itself.
Combining
and separatingeachother,theseatingcan support various positions. Thecontrol system
is developedwithfunctions for
lighting
as well as electronicfurnitureallconnectedtowith poletypeports.Tables, whichcomeinthreepieces, are movable and canbeused
togetherorseparately;furthermore,they offerorganizedstorage space as well.
Alias renderings
Fig4.23 Li\ingplace alias rendering
PERSONAL PLACE
[image:61.518.56.465.216.709.2]mirrorstandI .
nr.rrv and rccstonjs-typaKoraoe
badcocoon moc.leiurnft.r^
control cocoon
tidetable function
controlrtoayngandsarong, ckx>. musicandtotacomrnuocatjon
controlsort and mood
aa aaa a a storagecocoon
vmv,asclosetandstorage
Fig4. 26 Personalplaceparts explanation
Insteadofpreservingthecontemporarybedroom,Isuggest a cocoontype
"personalplace"
(orsystems).Createdout ofthe imageof airbubblessurfacing, each
onerollingover and overeachotherina combination and separation ofbubbles, I have
developeda personal placeconsistingofseveralbubbleshaped cocoons.A bedcocoon,
storage cocoon and a mirror stand comprisethenew concept ofthe bedroom. Each
cocoonisabletomovearound,
functioning
solelyorassembledtoanotherpiece.Thebedcocoonhasself-contained
lighting
andacontrolsystem which offerscontrolofluminosity,aclock,adigitalmusicsystemand alsotelecommunicationssystem. To
canbeassembled alongsidethebed cocoon.A special featureofthemirrorstandis its
abilitytorotate afull 360 degrees.
[image:63.518.79.456.211.697.2]Alias renderings
[image:66.518.59.463.152.403.2] [image:66.518.61.462.461.706.2]BATHROOM
Ideasketches
y***L,&*f
[image:67.518.58.465.219.707.2]tfcer-glass dooi
storage and shelves
Fig4. 33 Bathroompartsexplanation
The design forthebathroomhas beenmadetoresemblethecurved shape of a
wavewithitssoft curved linestructure. Itried tomakethebathroom intooneunit;as a
result, Icombinedthebathtub, washbasinandtoilet. Unlikeanyoftoday'smodern
bathroomsthisdesignsetsthewater closet on wheelsallowingfortheentire unitto
movethroughoutthestructureasfreeastheother systems. Aglass doorsecuresthe
bathtuband showerarea,and you can findample storage spacebothoutsideand inside
thebathtub.Waterproofwoodenfloorsmake fasttheboundaryofbathroom preventing
excess waterfrom spreading intoother areas.Throughthismodel Ihaveaccomplisheda
[image:68.518.56.465.109.421.2]White mock-up
[image:69.518.59.465.153.665.2]Aliasrenderings
[image:72.518.58.461.178.423.2] [image:72.518.60.464.459.709.2]Fig4. 39 Bathroomaliasrendering-3
u.
[image:73.518.60.464.108.358.2] [image:73.518.60.464.445.695.2]Fig4. 43Bathroomaliasrendering-7
[image:75.518.61.463.110.359.2] [image:75.518.59.466.423.670.2]KITCHEN
Ideasketches
,,e<
7^>
Laye/S
[image:76.518.57.462.212.703.2]storageand ahetves
V
two layersoftable
slorager atme booompan
Fig4. 46 Kitchenparts explanation
Inmy draftofthekitchensystem, Iwantedtoexpress a sense ofwaterflow
andthephenomenonofitscontinuous expansion ifnot contained. Likethemodel ofthe
bathroom, I alsotried to makethekitchen system as anindependentunitpermitting
mobility.Fromtherefrigeratorto the tabletopcounterthereisa connection of softform
withlinecurvature asthatfound in
flowing
water.This kitchensystemisintendedforonetotwopeople sincemyprospective users are married couples withoutchildren. This
question-mark
loop
systemcan reduceanyunnecessarydirectionofmovementinthekitchen. Also,abalanceof aesthetic aspectsisupheld.Iplaced a circulartype
refrigeratorinthedesignand alsosuggestcurveshapedelectronicdevices- dish
[image:77.518.62.464.112.434.2]fashionedtoexpandorslideunderitself
depending
onthedesiredamountofsurfacearea.
White mock-up
[image:78.518.75.458.204.701.2]Aliasrenderings
Fig4.54Kitchenaliasrendering-5
ALIASRENDERING IMAGES
CHAPTER
5.CONCLUSION
Clearly, mythesisis currentlyaconceptualproject not practicalintoday's
market.Some designers believethatcreatingnew conceptsforthefutureisofmore
importancethansolvingcurrent problems.However,Imyself, as adesigneratleast,
havetoput precedencein both.Forthosewho believethecurrentissuesare most
imperative,wemaysolvelotsofproblemsand improvecurrent situationsit'swhatis
expected of us asdesigners. Although,forthefuturewehavetosuggest creativeideas
thatcultivatenewtrendsand possiblyanswer problems oftoday.Itisnoteasytofind
thebalance betweenwhatisrealistic and whatcreativitycan meldupinthedesign
process.Asaresult,Iwanttocombineboththesolvingofthe"now"andthe
imaginationof"downtheroad"
inmythesisproject.Thisiswhy IchosetheSoHo
designconcept oftoday, butwith afuturisticcreative spinthatleavesuswantingto time
flyfiveyears ahead.
Fromthestart ofmyresearchto thecreation of scale mock-ups and computer
renderings, itwasnoteasyformetoquicklydevelopaconcept,buttalkingwithmy
committee membersIhave foundadirectionthatIwanttopursue.Inthebeginning, I
tried todesign homeofficefurniturewithouttaking intoconsiderationthewhole
environment;however,Irealizedtherearealreadycountlesssolutionstomerely
creatingnewdesigns for just homeofficefurniture. Simply
designing
thesesolutionsforhomeofficefurnituregetslostamongstthemanyotherstyles,when whatIamtryingto
ThroughmyworkIcameacrossthe tumultuouschallenge ofbreakingthebox,
bothcreativelyand literallyinthesenseof spacebeingcontainedina cube.Upon
arrivingatthisnewrevelation, Iam now abletobroadenthespectrumofmy
imagination
-Ican now envision spacein free formand withouttypicalcontemporary
boundaries. Enrootto
developing
theconcept of waterdictatingtheshape andatmosphere of space I found itchallenging,butmore soexciting creatinga solutionfor
each ofthefivesystemsthatmakeupourhomes. Isubmerged myselfintheconcept of
water
-whatit looks like,feelslike,flowslike,andhowitreacts. Indoingso,Ihave
ascertained a newfoundcuriosityandintrigue forwater and itsendless mysterious
character andfeatures.
Limitedbybothtimeandfunds,andthenonrealistic ideaofcreatingalife-size
model,Iwas restrictedtocreatingsmaller scaled examples.Tofurtherhelpmedepict
myconceptIalso used computerrenderings;however,my abilitycreatingthe
renderingscould neverdomyintentionsjustice. Itisunfortunatethatthrough
renderingsIcannot captivatethehearthofhomeand amleftwith whatappears as a
morecommerciallydesignedspace,ratherthanthedesiredhomeyfeeling.Inactual creation ofmyconcept and withhumanoccupation adefinitereflectionof a sense of
homecouldbeachievedandit isonlybecauseofthislackofhumantouch that the
model anddetailsarelimitedtowhatever personalartifactsthecomputerrenderings
couldprovide.
Asadesigner,thetime,effort anddesignprocessforthisproject werea
valuableexperience,affordingmetheabilitytostudya range ofoffice environments
taughtmeacertainendurancewhentryingtoachieve a goal.Fromthesedifficultbut
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Zelinsky,Marilyn,Newworkplacesfornewworkstyles,NewYork,NY.: 1997
Zimmerman, Neal,Homeofficedesign:Everythingyouneedtoknowaboutplanning,
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Article:
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