SpeakEasy; The completed banner

(This isn't the best quality picture as it is a scan of a printout (as were the Vectorworks plans) as I cant open any of these files on my laptop)

However, I am pleased with the finished outcome as I think it really brings my whole concept together from research images to final plans. It conveys the mood and aesthetic of my spaces well. The mixed media element to this piece was also important so it had a handdrawn/ handmade feel to it in some places. Overall I think it conveys light, airy, peaceful and welcoming spaces.

More detailed designs; My Interior Spaces

I made these images for use on my banner to express what my interiors would look and feel like. The bookshop image is all hand drawn and will be edited and added to on Photoshop. The white sails interior was created on Photoshop and added to by hand. I will now probably edit it a bit more, adding afew more figures, piles of books and a tea pot or two. The mix of hand and digital drawing is really impoarant to the finished look of my banner and I think to my project overall considering who we are designing for.

New Design (The Book Basket?)

Above is a sketch for the new design Ive come up with after revisiting old research and rethinking my last design. I think it is a much more forward thinking and original expression of my concept. Instead of the solid traditional shop front the new design has just the outline etched on to a circular glass bookshop.


Through the secret door you enter the transition zone with two staircases and floor to ceiling wrap around wall of two way mirrors. The visitor has gone from the completely transparency of the glass shop to a transition zone where they can see out but no one can see in, increasing the feeling of coversion and secrecy, being allowed up to the 'hidden' space.


This third space is completely opaque letting only light through. It is a tall tower filled with huge white sails, hammocks up high and spaces for groups to sit together on floor level. The structure has four ropes attached as if it is anchored to the floor, inspired by hot air balloons, paper lanterns and the notion of escapism I want this form to appear as if it could float away at any minute.

Speakeasy Space

Although still not 100% on the form of my design I have made some decisions about the interior elements inside it. I like certain parts of my initial bookshop sketches and feel that will come together when the final shape of the space is decided. For the second, secret space I am really drawn to the idea I wrote about previously, a room full of giant sails to hide in inspired by Gisela Stromeyer.

Making this idea my own I plan to have the while sails forming hammocks high in the ceiling and creating social spaces encouraging interaction, reading, talking together down on the ground. This will also create the perfect environment for Lucy to hold bibliotherapy sessions, then the client can take themselves off up a rope ladder in to a hammock and read their suggested book undisturbed by any one else or life outside this bubble of calm...

Initial design sketches

I have what I feel is a strong concept and lots of little ideas for my interior spaces but I am struggling to find the right form to create my spaces within. With the deadline for our banners only afew days away I really need to make some decisions. Inspired by images like these from my earlier research...

... I want to take forward the idea of a bookshop/exhibition space and hidden speakeasy section. I hope to create a space that will fit in to a row of shops on any high street as it should be a place any ordinary person can go to escape from everyday life for a while. Combing this with idea of the exterior facade 'keeping the interiors secret' I have come up with an initial design:

From the outside it looks an ordinary Georgian townhouse type building with traditional shop front, the bookshop inside is bright, light and contemporary. Books are clearly displayed on floor to ceiling bookcases with glass steps housing more pieces and encouraging interaction between customers and the items on the shelves. The steps also create a kind of stage within the space showcasing Lucy's work. There is seating within the silhouettes of traditional bookcases and it is through one of these a secret door way allows you upstairs to the inserted balloon structure hidden from outside behind the facade of the shop.

I like this design but I don't love it and the more I look at it the more I question it and think its really wrong. I'm starting to feel it is far to literal and I need to rethink and design something more sophisticated to make the most of my concept. Luckily the deadline has changed for the banners showing our concepts! So I am going to do some rethinking and revisiting past research...

12.03.11
Hot air balloons, parachutes, sails
My dada style brainstorm led to quite afew little ideas that i have been further exploring in my sketchbook. One of these was to do with hot air balloons, which reminded me of the parachutes small children play under:


In turn this 'interior' reminded me of this piece of work by Gisela Stromeyer that I had in a book about retail interior design:

The stretched white sails create something magical in an otherwise bland space. Thinking back to my research on Speakeasies something like this could create a beautiful fantasy environment to hide away in safe from the pressures of the outside world. I am really excited by this idea and feel like lots of little pieces to my final design are slowly coming together...

10/03/11
From dada to drink

My research in to the reactionary performance and fantasy of the dada movement led me to thinking about the American speak easies that were being hidden away at around the same time in prohibition America. The bar owners were also reacting to outside circumstances and creating places of escape and excitement. I find this a really exciting concept idea for my space as it ties in perfectly with my previous work on the theme of escapism. Could I create a space for Lucy that has hidden and secret section?

Also I feel that SpeakEasy would be brilliant name for a place that offers bibliotherapy!

"To order one would 'speak easily' (in a quiet tone) and then be served a tea cup of gin or whiskey that would either be the 'real McCoy' or just brewed in someones bathtub"

I think Lucy would appreciate a secret hide away that serves gin in teacups! The idea of a speakeasy style space also fits in with my thoughts about escapism as a group or single pursuit. I am really inspired by my most recent research and feel I have found a good idea that I want to take forward and create some designs for.

My initial idea is for a space split in to two sections, at the front a bookshop/exhibition space for display and sale of Lucys work /books. Access is only granted to the second area/room after you have made a purchase, through a secret/hidden door, marking the transition between fantasy and reality as you enter the speakeasy a place to escape from the outside world, indulging in talking, reading, drinking tea, relaxing either with others or alone.