Finalising the concept

Between my research visiting various material suppliers,  a 1/8 scale 3d model and some sketches I have settled on the following concept:

• Hoop Pine Ply top
• Electro Polished Aluminium Legs
• Aluminium mesh basket
• Aluminium Support to reinforce the joint. 

Legs

I like the idea of the pure look of Wood. The “high tech” mesh basket (aluminium) may contridict this. Electropolished Al Legs may tie these aesthetics together. The detailes on the ply I would like to use also vears away from the purely natural look elluding to material technology.

Blackboard

Ok so I lost all the panels, After talking to some potential users I bacame aware of the real concern of food being stuck between the cracks and this also lead me to think about how this also could effect writing on the surface.

I have been playing with different configurations and colours of the hot  plate and the dead space between the two levels. One such idea was to use this space as a blackboard,  adding another degree of fun and interaction.  A marble type surface for the hot plate may also be a possibility with less contrast. Corian would be a good sheet material, could write on it with a white board marker.

Timber

Today I carried out an investigation on the possible timbers I could use for the top. I want to achieve the following if possible. 

• Produced as local as possible  
• havisted with renuable management.
• milled efficiently from the logs

I visited companies who deal with solid timber for flooring and furniture and ply suppliers. I found that although some fine locally produced timber is harvistered with “renuable management” such as Rimu, the price suggests that this management does not support mass usage. I believe this table should be a demonstration of materials that can be sustainably used on a variety of industrially produced products. Solid Pine is unfortunately unstable and soft.

Plywood stood out as a better solution to all the criteria. Unfortunately not made in NZ but hoop pine, made in Australia is pretty close. It also has a delicate but distinct grain.

Tiled Bench Top

I have decided to develop a concept involving a tiled top with mostly timber sections which make up work surfaces and hatches to store equipment below, this could be prep equipment or cutlery or chopping boards. A mesh tray will allow thing to dry properly after they are put away.

The following sketches are two different versions, one that is all timber, or timber with a concealed steel frame. Ther other is timber with stainless steel structure, revealed around the bottom edge and at the intersection of the two levels. This would give a nore industrial look.

Solid Structure

Inspiered by outdoor furniture and proffesional chopping blocks.  I have considered having a weighty structure which has the effect of adding perminance to the object adding to its sutainability. Pleasure can gained from using a very solid surface for cutting and working on. 

The next step here would be to research materials for such a structure.