The consultation with different organisations from Sneinton took place on 20th July, 1-3pm in TRACs Neighbourhood Centre. Students and NTU staff produced five different models based on the interviews they conduced with these organisations previously. These are the comments and reactions from the community.
MODEL A
- The group felt that transportation of this model was a big issue but after confirming the dimensions we found that these items would fit into a car. - Many people thought that this was not as interesting as some of the other designs. - Multi-functional use. "Too difficult for people to transport in their cars?" "Great option for stage + bench" "Too large to transport" "Could it be made collapsible... or made into two parts?" "Exclusive ie 1st come first served with seating" "Like Alot. Would be good if could be collapsible for storage/ transport" "More difficult to carry/ transport; could be split into halves" "Great for staging - is it safe as a bench? Too big to fit in a car is surely a problem" "Nice example/ repetitive; easy to make/ mend/ duplicate; good to have three different dimensions; STRENGTH? Collapsible/ hinged?" "Lots of potential eg if holes cut in" "Simple but effective; easy to make + add to over time; collapsible? Reduce size?" "Split in half" "Seat could be interlocking/ movable for different functions"
MODEL B
- This was considered to be the most versatile design made from recycled pallets. - Multiple modules put together could create a stage but would need to be covered with some plywood for stability and stage functionality. - This model received a lot of positive feedback. - Could be transformed into shelves. - Easy to store and transport. "Recycled is good! Too complex/unstable? Pallets are standard so - REPEATABLE! Too low for a stage" "Easy to transport - possible to make lots of different shapes" "How many would be needed?" "Pallets are cost effective. Like that the pieces can be carried like a handbag. Perhaps too many different pieces to be practical" "Like it; Community Centre could easily store and share these" "Great seating + stage + easy to transport; nice + playful; would be great if colourful" "too fussy" "like the small square boxes as multi use (catwalk); stage; heels would go down the hole if catwalk! Fill in holes! Square low one best design" "Versatile/ low as a chair without legs" "Kits available to transform crates; crates - good potential. The existing wood finish may be an issue?" "Utilises pallets; handles - easy to carry"
MODEL C
- Requires complete level ground for use. - Elements are too large to get through doors, upstairs for use in community buildings. - Consider making it up of smaller pieces but that may affect stability. - Has a lovely jigsaw element. - Great for outdoor use in festivals and for group interaction. - Storage more of an issue as pieces are bigger. - Feels special, could decorate top with a map of Sneinton. - Too big/wide as a table, difficult to have a conversation. - Table has a strict brief and won’t be used as often. - Unstable as a stage but more functionality for group work. - Feels like a permanent structure. - Not as practical as other models. - Cohesiveness – lightweight canopy? "Attractive but probably not feasible due to transport issues; structural issues" "Great for joining the community together" "Jigsaw across the community; good for spaces, might be a bit restrictive if too big" "Probably too big to transport" "Like the individual elements... part of larger whole. Maybe not as flexible as other more modular units" "Amazing construction - large to be transported - only come together maybe at Sneinton Festival" "Transportation? Love the stools/ tables" "Complicated. Difficult to make, store, transport, add to" "Would need leveled ground" "Stylish all inclusive, social forces, interaction; maybe difficult to transport" "impractical (size, legs)" "Puzzle idea interesting - could be incorporated into decoration of a simpler design; too complex - simple module better"
MODEL D
- The group felt the triangular elements were very appealing and made this model distinctive. - The high back element could be used in some of the other models too. Something valuable about the high back offering more privacy for conversations / smaller group work. - Good for 1:1 work. - Un-level ground may pose a problem – would some parts pull away? - When combining several pieces together how could they be made stable? Would using tie backs help strengthen the legs? - A manual for this design could help create different shapes and privacy. - Good for mentoring, appealing to younger people, playful and interesting. - Can combine different levels, some high back, some lower. - Can make a good combination for a table as the triangle offers good leg room. - 3 legs – unstable, stacking would be an issue. - For use as a stage it would require at least 6 people to bring the different elements together. "Like the chairs and stools - not sure about tables, look unsteady" "Great for mentoring, 1:1 talk, laptops; again very playful, especially if colourful" "Convenient that the pieces fit into each other" "High back idea could be used for other options also; ease of stacking & transportation can make this more likely an option; visual specificity also a plus" "How do you connect triangular shapes?" "Flexible, easy to make and store" "Highly flexible if simplified (e.g. no chair-backs, low units only)" "Not very exciting or innovative" "Too "bitty" and complex, lots of different modules required" "Seat or table: dual purpose? Interlocking... How do we connect them/make stable?"
MODEL E
- Simple design but fun as the different blocks can be moved around to create different shapes and sizes. - Very appealing to children. - Holding/grabbing issue – would need some holes to make lifting / carrying easier. - Not collapsible. - Weight – too heavy for younger children to move. - Could some of the material be stripped away to make it more lightweight? "Puzzle. Is the chair stable?" "Size useful for multiple purposes; very transformable" "Simple and multi purpose" "Like Alot. Mult. purpose and easy to store but not as good as small square boxes" "Not very interesting or innovative" "Too complicated a form in relation to variety of uses possible" "Stabilise?" "Very playful; lots of arrangement options" "Transport: lots of air as not collapsible; 40x40 is inflexible ie same in both dimensions" "Fun for kids and so adaptable/flexible" "Similar to A but more difficult to grab, carry/transport, etc"
OVERALL FEEDBACK
- Model B was considered to be the most appealing and practical to all groups. - When combining different pieces to make a stage some parts may pull away – this needs to be considered. - Templates / instructions could be placed on the models encouraging people to make these items themselves. We could create a ‘toolkit’ with a guide and incorporate a build it yourself competition on the stage on the day of the Sneinton Festival. Use tops decorated with map of Sneinton – can create a jigsaw exercise. Pre-made assembly kits given out? Seek ideas for other pallet use. - Sharing out the different pieces across the community groups in Sneinton would require the role of a Co-ordinator to keep track of all pieces. - Although Model C was of large interest this would require a lot more time to construct and permissions would be required for placement in a public place. Model C could be debated in September as a potential piece of work for the future. - Model B was the simplest to make and instructions could be handed out so people can replicate the pieces to make items they can use in their home. Pallets are fairly accessible.
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