The HUB
Sector
Competition
Location
Indipendent Hotel Show
Year
2014
Shortlisted Entry
A Social Hub for the Indipendent Hotel Show exhibition space
The HUB.
The design for the Hub derived from the information on the uses and the needs of the site. The analysis of the parameters given in the brief of this competition became the base point for the simulation of various scenarios involving groups of people using the space. With these simulations, there formed paths through the usable space and defined the circulation routes. Around these circulation paths standing and sitting areas where developed to accommodate 60 or more people at any given time. Standing, leaning and sitting areas were allocated all around creating a mixed type lounge area where people can connect, exchange views, rest for a short time, revise and network in general. The bar is allocated in the centre of the 10m side clearly visible from all the sides of the Hub.
The proposed construction consists of two elements. A ‘waffle’ 500X500mm grid made out of plywood and a ‘population’ of cubes acting as chairs, tables and benches.
The Grid
The plywood structure consists of two parts; the floor and the ceiling.
The ceiling can be manipulated prior to construction to optimise natural lighting, once verified on site, and on the same time allow for proper artificial lighting for the whole Hub area. Structure is then divided into pieces that can fit in a 2440X1220 plywood sheet (sometimes two or even 3 pieces per sheet to minimise costs), numbered and sent to CNC cutting. After cutting they are transported on site to be fitted together and create the structure. The ceiling will be hung from the steel roof beams existing on site. The shape of the ceiling compliments the shape of the ground creating the feeling of a closed unified space.
The ground is shaped by the simulation of different scenarios and is made to accommodate the cube ‘population’
The Cubes
The cubes are made out of moulded white translucent plastic. Dimensions are from 430x430x430 to 470x470x470 depending on product and supplier availability and costs. The cubes can accommodate an LED internal lighting function that allows them to glow to up to 16 different colours with the use of remote control.
The whole scheme is flexible enough to be able to create a fitting lounge area in any hospitality and recreational environment providing shapes through functionality and not trying to make things work the other way round.
