about the project
Nook is an intensive week-long project conducted by renowned designer Keiji Takeuchi as part of a project for Vanguard Interiors where we designed acoustic objects primarily made of cork, heavily informed by observational research of public spaces. My research led me to the Singapore National Library children’s’ section where I sat and observed how the different stakeholders (toddlers with their parents, young children, and librarians) interacted with the space. These observations of behaviors led to two key insights which led to the conceptualization of nook, migration of children to corners of libraries, and under-utilization of library furniture.
Children’s libraries tend to be extremely noisy, sounds of children running about, toddlers crying and parents reading to children aloud were common sounds noted. This leads to a large portion of children who are reading by themselves to migrate to corners of libraries where it tends to be less noisy. The furniture tend to be underutilized by children who came to read as toddlers and parents usually flock to that area, creating the loudest section of the library.
Nook draws inspiration by the natural behaviors of these stakeholders to move to corners by creating a semi-enclosed space which dampens ambient noise. The floor chair was chosen for its form to emulate the natural seating and reading postures of the children there, while nook’s “walls” takes reference from acoustic panels commonly seen in office furniture.
