ALFRESCO

Alfresco - eating in the open air - was the result of two semesters of collective effort teaching a group of freshman architecture students. Developed from a simple massing model to a completed full-scale construction, Alfresco represented the students’ first experience with the design process.

Alfresco was constructed entirely out of wood joinery. No gluing or fastening was used. Tasked with building a design that consisted exclusively of 4x4s with significant cantilevers, the studio created dozens of iterations. Ultimately, an elegant system of perpendicular tapered, sliding dovetails was created. This system was the most viable solution for creating a tight, buildable final design.

The final result is an enclosure that ergonomically accommodates the ritual of eating in numerous configurations. The stepped surfaces create semi-enclosed options for standing and sitting. The interior space creates a more traditional table surface, which is shielded from the sun by the structural slats. In total, 146 4x4s were used.

Project Type: Studio

Role: Teaching Assistant

Client: Artpark