Surge
A workspace designed as a transformative environment for Set Designers. It aims to be a space where creativity flourishes, and physical well-being is prioritized. Drawing inspiration from the surrealist subculture, the space invites users to explore new realms of passion. The design addresses the challenges of creative blocks and movement by integrating adaptive spaces that encourage collaboration and rejuvenation.
Design Studio - Fall 2024
Professor Rachel Paupeck
Red moves where ideas collide,
People grow and a spark ignites,
Surge is where creativity abides.
Site
636 6th Avenue, New York City
Area
12,000 sq ft
Social Space
Staircase
Materials Library
Storage
Production Room
Collaborative Space
Public Entrance
Private Entrance
Workspace
Ground Floor
1
Basement
Salvador Dali's Lobster Telephone
The idea of using a lobster as a “user” stems from Salvador Dalí’s Lobster Telephone, which embodies surrealism by turning the ordinary into the unexpected. By placing lobsters in my design, I’m leaning into that same concept—blurring the line between the real and the imagined. It challenges traditional ideas of functionality and brings a playful yet thought-provoking element to the space.
Materials Library
Positioned as the core resource for designers and video producers alike, the materials library provides a curated selection of tactile resources that spark creativity. This space isn’t just about materials; it’s an active wellspring of ideas where users can interact with the elements that make up their projects. Artists, students, and designers from the surrounding schools, studios, and firms can gain access to and benefit from the resources here, drawing on Chelsea’s rich design scene.
The acupuncture seating in the materials library is designed to combine comfort with tactile stimulation. Featuring rounded, tube-like elements with felt-covered tips, the seating encourages subtle movement and relaxation while maintaining the library's focus on creativity and exploration. This design supports both physical well-being and the surrealist aesthetic of the space.
Site Analysis showing potential users of the Materials Library
Site Analysis showing access to transportation
Social Space
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The social space is designed to encourage collaboration and relaxation while maintaining flexibility through three levels of privacy. Seating areas include maximum privacy zones for client meetings, offering a sense of enclosure and focus. Medium privacy zones are tailored for individual working sessions, providing enough separation to concentrate without feeling isolated. Minimal privacy zones are open and fluid, perfect for informal gatherings and spontaneous conversations. This layered approach ensures the space supports diverse activities and user needs, all while maintaining the surrealist aesthetic with flowing forms and dynamic materials.
Acoustic Panel Print Design
The seating partitions in the social space are designed to balance privacy and interaction through materiality. Acoustic feltis used for the highest privacy zones, offering sound absorption and a soft, enclosed feel. Cork provides medium privacy, blending natural texture with subtle sound control to support individual focus. For the least private areas, metal is used, creating a lightweight, open design that encourages social connection while maintaining the surrealist aesthetic. Each material complements the space's functionality while adding tactile and visual diversity.
Open Workspace
Open workspaces embrace flexible seating options and adjustable desks that promote movement and well-being. This layout supports team brainstorming sessions and the daily rhythm of working, moving, and thinking. Encouraging physical flexibility aligns with the mental flexibility needed in fast-paced, highly visual fields.
The Desk Design is centered around supporting both physical well-being and creativity. Each desk is equipped with features that encourage movement and comfort, including acupuncture wheels for foot stimulation, stretch bars for ergonomic stretching, and resistance bands integrated into the design for light exercise. The desks are also height-adjustable, allowing users to alternate between sitting and standing. This holistic approach ensures that the workspace promotes physical health while fostering an environment conducive to creative work. The design ties seamlessly into the project's focus on flow and surrealism with its shapes and functional innovation.
