Mellow

Introduction of brief and topic

In today’s world people’s lives are all about being as productive as possible to reach their goals. Finding a moment of peace and quiet for oneself is getting increasingly difficult because of this hustle culture. One is continuously subjected to a constant stream of distractions and things that need our attention.

Introduction of pod

The ‘Mellow’ provides a quiet space for a person to step away for a moment to enjoy some time alone, to regain their sense of inner peace and just focus on themselves for some time. For many people, this could be in the form of reading, for others it could be sleeping, meditation or working on hobbies. Over time the appreciation for these sort of spaces have increased.

Initial Ideas

Looking at the user requirements, we started off with exploring solutions that were multifunctional and compact.

First, we explored the concept of a tangram, a game that involves various geometric shapes that can be arranged together to make different patterns. Within the pod, the same furniture pieces could be arranged in different ways to perform different functions according to the user’s needs. However, our design for multifunctional furniture was more of a hinderance and not user friendly. Our exploration focused more on the interior, which led to the exterior becoming very monotonous. 

We moved forward to explore another iteration, this time giving more importance to the form and exterior. We came up with a flattened spherical shape, but we didn’t have a strong concept supporting the design. The result wasn’t satisfactory and did not provide a comfortable space for the user.

Concept

After working on these iterations, we realized that the functionality and the aesthetic qualities a space go hand in hand and have to evolve organically from the concept. We took a step back to re-evaluate the core functions of the reading pod and what we wanted to achieve in our design. Finding that moment of peace and quiet. The order in the chaos.

We want our pod to represent the transition of a user stepping into a place of solitude and calm, away from the hustle-bustle of one’s daily routine. The exterior consists of multiple geometric pieces and symbolises the various aspects of one’s personality and life, and the chaotic nature of today’s fast paced life. The use of multiple colours emphasise this idea while helping it stand out and looks inviting.

As we enter the pod, we leave this “clutter” behind and enter a space that’s a complete contrast. Since people feel relaxed and rejuvenated in nature, the interior of the pod has been inspired by curved and organic natural forms. This is reflected in the subtle colour palette as well, inducing a calm and focused state of mind, which is a prerequisite for the function of the pod.

Iterations and Form Exploration

We arrived at the final design through explorations of form and generating multiple iterations based on our concept and function.

Design

Apart from fulfilling the main function, which is reading, the pod also allows the user to engage in other activities that supplement it such as sleeping, meditating, writing and even working.

As mentioned earlier, the exterior consists of geometric shapes that symbolise the various aspects of one’s life. The windows from the outside are triangular in shape.

The pod can be entered through a door with semi-circular geometry. The semi-circular element of the door enclosed in a rectangular frame has qualities of both the exterior and interior to highlight the transition between the two. As opposed to the exterior, the interior consists of forms inspired by nature. The angular windows when seen from the inside transform into openings with sinuous curves. The projecting skylight allows light to enter from multiple directions.

Within the pod, the various furniture allows a degree of customization according the activity preferred by the user. The bed doubles as a back rest for the seat and can be adjusted according to the user’s needs through an automatic mechanism. The seating positioned toward the corner of the pod and also has accessible storage space below it. The table, placed adjacent to the seat can be used while one is sitting on the seat or bed. Additional storage is present in the form of a shelf located on the wall opposite the bed.

Touch sensitive lights have been provided next to the desk as an artificial light source. Led strip lighting has been provided along the edges of the ceiling. Two openings for ventilation are present on opposite corners of the roof which have been designed to be soundproof.

The walls of the pod are supported and joined together using grooves and channels. Since the pod has few pieces, it can be dismantled and transported easily.

The primary material used for the structure is hardwood plywood, while the interior is particle board, which are both long lasting, light and durable. The sound proofing of the walls is done through open cell spray foam. The windows are made from transparent acrylic board. Finally, the exterior has been painted using a variety of paint textures.   

The pod can be used in variety of settings including outdoor and indoor enabling a person to have their own personal space irrespective of their surroundings.