A SPACE BIG ENOUGH FOR TWO PEOPLE

A Studio of Ben Allen reimagines the scene shown in the picture “St. Jerome in His Study,” which was created by the Italian Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina, as a space that is suitable for two children… The source of inspiration may come from the most unexpected and unusual places. The activity of building a little room based on a picture that was done somewhere between 1460 and 1475 and “showing a beautiful flair for detail and optical reality” has become a secret hideaway that two young siblings are looking forward to with great anticipation. The space that is fashioned as a type of triumphal arch without walls and ceiling serves as a study room, play area, sleep and rest area, depending on the circumstances, and it can be reconfigured at whim. This is because the children see their parents on the weekends. One of its most notable features is the enormous piece of furniture that serves as the architectural focal point of the room. Site setting is a significant factor in this regard. The Barbican estate flat, which has one bedroom and is situated in the Brutalist neighborhood of Central London, incorporates the architecture of its surrounds into its interior design. Using plywood that has been lightly stained and focusing on architectural elements such as the arches that are characteristic of the Brutalist style, the bedroom that is designed in the style of an architectural installation reads as a single, cohesive whole. This is because the bedroom is constructed from Birch plywood, which is both durable and natural. There are two distinct entrances that lead into the linked areas. These spaces are equipped with a desk and a bed for each kid, which enables them to interact with one another while still ensuring that they have their own personal space. On account of the fact that each component is CNC-cut as a set of components, the assembly may be disassembled and rebuilt with relative ease for extended usage. At the same time as it frames views out to the estate and creates an architectural conversation between siblings, the installation-like furniture creates a playful separation of the space that it both divides and links. The children’s areas are individually covered with pitched-roof shapes, one of which is positive and the other of which is negative, which symbolically represent each of the rooms as a personal petit maison. Two arches establish notional thresholds and a feeling of enclosure for each of the children’s spaces. Clearly, the idea disrupts the monotony of conventional bunk beds by treating space to pack in a great deal more than it would otherwise. In practically every location, such as the stairs and above the headboard, there are nooks that have been constructed specifically for the purpose of storing little objects. There is a very subtle way in which a sense of partial enclosure and ownership is communicated to the children. The older sibling is shown a more private area, which is a reflection of her increased independence, while the younger sibling is located closer to the main flat and is more easily accessible for parental care. Although this is a wonderful piece of functional design that fits in perfectly with the requirements of its users (in fact, similar things have been done several times earlier), one can’t help but wonder what kind of reaction the design might have elicited if the symbolism of the painting had been incorporated into an application that was just as innovative. If only we had anything to speak about, that would have been something! Take a look at the pictures on the website indiaartndesign.com.