The Table as Programmatic Architecture 2

Think of the humble table. We sit at it every day. The way a table is shaped or arranged in a room or with chairs affects our personal actions, our social behaviour, and thus program. As Donald Norman wrote, affordance is the quality of an object, or an environment that allows an individual to perform an action. Consider this architectural example below from SANAA:

Our brief is shaped as follows:
1. We start by researching all of the existing programmatic affordances of the table across cultures.
2. We find tables to do prototyping with.
3. We begin to experiment with augmenting and accessorising the table - adding on panels, dividers, textures, screens, sound-speakers etc etc. So that in each configuration the humble table takes on a new form of program. Some could host only 2 people, others could host up to 50 people watching a lecture at the table. Poker. Meeting. Eating. Studying. Haircutting. Cooking. Designing. Teaching. Collaborating.
4. Document and observe.
5. Define the new programs that have arisen.
6. Design and build a really nice custom 'programmatic enterprise' table that performs some of the best functions seen in the experiments.
7. Use the table at our upcoming events. Market it to user groups. Document and observe it.
8. Make the table available for sale, with accessory parts.


We'll use the table as a vehicle for constraining design (which is a good thing!). It may also offer a nice tangible image for people to anchor our brand on.

"THE URBAN TABLE"
"THE CONVIVIALITY TABLE"
"101 WAYS TO MAKE THE CITY BETTER AND ALL YOU NEED IS A TABLE"
"THE HUMBLE TABLE TURNS TO INTO PROGRAMMATIC ENTERPRISE TOOL"
"THE BYO TABLE EVENT" / "THE 100M LANEWAY TABLE"

The table is a consistent parameter that allows our testing to be systematic.

We are focussing on all of the items in the main brief, such as:

- 24 hour program

- 4 events over semester

- inhabiting vacant buildings around the city

- ongoing testing both on campus and in the city

- variable, mixed use program

- multicultural aspect

- connecting with various industries aspect

- digital fabrication and high-end design making

- digital media projection

- digital interaction

- and so on.