From: Charles J Knight (c.knight_at_juno.com)
Date: 03/04/00
Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2000 19:46:34 -0600 Subject: Re: staplers, design, blueberries, domes, etc Message-ID: <20000304.194638.-357385.1.c.knight@juno.com> From: Charles J Knight <c.knight_at_juno.com>
> Please give us your examples of design icons.
> Chuck's examples I feel are good examples in context of
> his point of design classics.
Thank you. I appreciate that.
> Although much of Eames (Charles and
> Ray) is from a price point not in the reach of most individuals
> their products were knocked off at a price point that made
> their ideas available at other price points.
Molded plywood, if done well, can be exceptionally beautiful. The
Eameses proved this with their series of potato chip and ribbon chairs,
as well as their most lasting work, the Eames classic lounge chair
and matching hassaic. (sp?)
It also lends itself well to mass production, as the innumerable
knock-offs proved. Good design, however, is good design, whether
it's manufactured as a single item, or as one of millions.
A really good example of a classic design would be the Windsor
chair. Its basic form was interpreted and reinterpreted for centuries,
and gradually refined. However, the basic elements were there in
even the earliest examples. A sturdy seat, scooped out to fit the
body... A curved back with "teardrop" shaped turnings, which provide
rudimentary lumbar support. Bentwood elements for strength and
a fine line. They're exceptionally elegant structures, and when you
look at them they "make sense" on an almost instinctual level.
Another good example would be the Argus C3 camera. Tens of
millions were manufactured over the span of decades, with little
refinement over time. It's shaped like a brick, made primarily of
bakelite, and has chrome and leather trim, and is the epitome of
"anti-style." Despite this, it's a wonderful design that works well
without the need for 200 bells and whistles.
It's what I would call a classic 35mm camera...and yes, I use one
on a semi-regular basis, along with many other examples from
my camera collection.
> The same could
> be realized with the dome as major shelter and it seems to me
> that is the key point Chuck was making. The Eameses were
The dome is an architectural element, and geodesic triangulation
is a structural technique. Neither is a house.
We need to design a house, mass producible, and attractive
enough for people to actually consider buying. "Funny looking
wooden igloo" is the most common description of a dome
that I've heard...we need to change that.
I can see 2 obvious avenues...we might take both. One is to
create dome shells which blend in with existing neighborhoods,
much as many of the custom built ones do now. The other is
to abandon the existing "look" of a house, and literally have the
space pod land on your lot. The translucent blueberry iDome
mentioned earlier would be a good way to make this happen.
Pat's design for a universal dome connector hub is an excellent
starting point. And his "drop in" weatherstripped panels would
work beautifully. With a little refinement for mass production, they
would be perfect. But, again, these are structural components,
not a house. At most, they would produce an "unfinished" dome
shell, requiring an interior for most "western" consumers. I know
very few people who would want to live in an unbroken clear span
"enclosure."
The DDU was a house, not a shell, which was engineered for
mass production and quick erection. The army bought them,
so looks were not overly important.
The Wichita house was a consumer model based primarily
on the DDU...same basic design elements, but made for the
consumer. Consequently it featured a MUCH more attractive
design and a higher level of sophistication...just as would be
demanded by today's consumer.
I think we need to do something similar...I know there are very
sophisticated pre-manufactured houses out there. We'd
probably be competing directly with them...and they've got 50+
years of experience in manufacturing homes that people want
to buy. My guess is that for this venture to succeed, we need
to abandon "traditional" design and do something entirely
different.
> There are some really great domes out there from
> some of our close friends and others. However it seems
> to me that for domes to really take off they will have
> to be manufactured in the spirit of the Bettle and in
> the quanity of the Bettle. The Bettle is as much the
> result of a design mission of being "the peoples car"
> as it is the result of the designers.
Exactly...the Beetle was a different type of car (at the time of
its introduction) than practically anything else on the road. It
caused an immediate sensation, and there was actually a
waiting list. From what my dad has told me, they could actually
be purchased, driven, and resold for a *profit* after a year or
two.
It was also designed for extremely high quantity mass
production...there are reasons that so many of them are
still around.
This is *my* goal for a premanufactured consumer dome
home...don't know about the rest of the group.
What do you say, guys? Humanitarianism is, and always has
been my primary motivator. But if we can start a design
revolution in the process, why not?
Who has a talent for interior layouts and preferably modular
design? I know it's not me!
-- Chuck Knight
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