Brief: House in Westdene: Main Event: Architecture

Purse: ZAR1,500.00
Deadline: 28 September 2020 at 13h CAT
Budget: ZAR15,000.00
Site: Tenth Street, Linden.

Design a bookcase in the living room of a free standing mid century house in Linden that will act as its focal point. It should offer approximately 16 linear metres of storage space and bear a total (live plus dead) load of 900 Newtons (90kg). The bookcase should accommodate book storage of differing size, lockable alcohol storage, is should accommodate the display of items like sculptures or collectable travellers’ curios, store board games and it should be cat scratch and child proof. It ought to be self-supporting and transportable (so it should fit through a standard door opening and on a flat-bed). If the bookcase is electrified, it should be configured to 220~240V, 50Hz and be earthed. There are no ventilation requirements. There is no limit on the material but the overall loaded structure should not exceed 900 Newtons (90kg) (this restriction is to avoid us needing to reinforce the floor) nor should it exceed the budget of ZAR15,000 or be vulnerable to scratching or require maintenance.

The clients are a newlywed male and female couple who are in their mid-thirties. They have two mature cats and they have just welcomed their first son into their family. They have also just purchased this house in which the bookcase will be placed. The male is an academic who lectures finance; the female is an economist who holds a PhD and works as a data analyst. They have amassed a healthy collection of books and they intend to grow it further. This bookcase is intended to be the first phase of their customisation of their new home’s living space. It should act as its focal point that will guide further improvements.

Requirements:
·       Design a bookcase with approximately 16 linear metres of storage space (total overall load = 900N: a typical book weighs 340g or 34N is 83mm thick x 228,6mm high and 152mm wide).
·       Bookcase should accommodate:
    -  book storage of differing size (consider having either varying shelf heights, if they are fixed, or adjustable ones)
    -  lockable alcohol storage (this lock is mainly to limit accidental ingestion by the child)
    -  display space (sculptures, travel curios, degrees, child art, photographs)
    -  board game storage
·       the bookcase should be cat scratch and child proof,
·       it should be self-supporting (the bookcase should not be fixed to the wall, floor or ceiling in any way),
·       it should be transportable (fit through a 813 x 2032 door opening and fit on a flat-bed),
·       if it is electrified, it should be configured for a voltage supply of 220~240V, 50Hz and be earthed,
·       There is no ventilation requirement but interventions should not cause humidity or other micro-climates that would create mould or anything that will cause decay in the books.
·       While there is no limit on material choice, the bookcase should:
    -  be within budget,
    -   not require maintenance,
    -  be scratch proof,
    -  not be a safety hazard (i.e. if glazed for example, then specifications should conform to Part N in SANS 10400, avoid sharp or protruding edges, etc),
    -  look good / have aesthetic value 

Inspiration:
·       Camper Stores (esp Asterik Studio, Makkink & Bey, Kengo Kuma and Tomas Alonso)
·       Carlos Scarpa
·       Charles and Ray Eames
·       Eileen Grey
·       Lina Bo Bardi
·       Ikea
·       Pierre Charreau (view Galerie MCDE’s remakes)