Freestanding interior partition
How much space does one really need? I believe that smart design decisions create beautiful and livable places under any constraints. For my 2 bedroom rental apartment that I shared in Washington, DC, USA, I turned a salvaged piece of a wardrobe into a free-standing partition that created a 3rd room. It did not use a single nail in it so that rental property owner's criteria for no permanent damages were met. Instead, it was all screwed onto each other and expanded to press tightly against spatial boundaries. There were no anchors to the floor, walls, or ceiling because the temporary L-shaped form was self-supporting. Also, an old wardrobe was reused for an entry door with its flush jamb.
I designed, detailed, procured, and built the extra room from this sturdy sculptural piece of ‘furniture’ filled with insulation for extra privacy and comfort. Overall, I defined about 10sqm~110sqf of well-used space with about 7lm~23lft of a partition wall for well under $500 in material costs. I worked on it throughout a few consecutive days during mornings before work, evenings after work, and a weekend.
Downsizing private spaces to emphasize shared public spaces allowed for denser living in otherwise unaffordable urban center. The private side of a nook defined a work area and the public side of the nook defined our dining area. I reused salvaged marble counters for a bench and a coffee table in the living room.
This complete design, procurement, and construction exercise is a candid demonstration of my ideas for pragmatic, affordable, compact, social, modern urban living in a nation's center. When compared to areas often requiring lengthy commute, I prefer sharing and being walking distance from downtown amenities.
I designed, detailed, procured, and built the extra room from this sturdy sculptural piece of ‘furniture’ filled with insulation for extra privacy and comfort. Overall, I defined about 10sqm~110sqf of well-used space with about 7lm~23lft of a partition wall for well under $500 in material costs. I worked on it throughout a few consecutive days during mornings before work, evenings after work, and a weekend.
Downsizing private spaces to emphasize shared public spaces allowed for denser living in otherwise unaffordable urban center. The private side of a nook defined a work area and the public side of the nook defined our dining area. I reused salvaged marble counters for a bench and a coffee table in the living room.
This complete design, procurement, and construction exercise is a candid demonstration of my ideas for pragmatic, affordable, compact, social, modern urban living in a nation's center. When compared to areas often requiring lengthy commute, I prefer sharing and being walking distance from downtown amenities.
