The studio:
rethinking our workspace.

Year  :  2018
Project : Third year BSc. in Built Environment Studies competition

This design project was a competition carried out by myself and my colleague, and it investigated the current studio space of the University of Malta, and was an exercise in rethinking our workspace within a set budget. The result was a response to the conditions imposed by the current space, valuing the openness of the studio and providing a sense of order through a controlled degree of flexibility. The furniture introduced allows large scale lectures to take place, as well as to provide a lounge area.

Components: The intervention is interwoven within the existing built fabric, but it is able to be dismantled and transferred to other spaces. It can be dismantled in smaller components and rebuilt as a frame. Furthermore, flexibility is present within the intervention itself. Worktops and presentation boards are designed to shift and are not fixed.

Open space: The aim was to maintain the open space provided, as it is beneficial for lectures and it allows a degree of flexibility.

Materials and tools: What the project seeks to achieve is a sense of order and ability to have a proper working environment, which could be equipped with tools, stationery and materials. Storage spaces are flexible and can be carried around the studio where needed. the seating spaces also offer storage spaces, as well as the flexible material library. Our tendency to work with large papers and drawings led to the need of wide open shelving. A designated cutting corner also helps the students to have a working space for model-making.
Secluded spaces: It also satisfies the need for more private nooks and spaces where the student can work both within reach of the studio but secluded to a certain point. These spaces are reachable through a lightweight staircase.

Presentation of work: Moreover, the workstops are designed to be able to shift into presentation boards on both sides of the intervention. This also helps the students to practice presenting their work more regularly, which ultimately enhances design skills.