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Practical Modernism at NextFab: a Case Study

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As outlined in a previous blog, Damon Harvey and Tony Hochstetler have furnished their home with a wonderful sense of design, ingenuity, and teamwork. Here we’ve outlined a case study of their most ambitious piece, a dual workspace wall unit.

The wall unit is a fully integrated work station. It incorporates fold down desks, computer cabinets, book shelves and plenty of room to show off a few choice tchotchke’s. The piece required a lot of work, as Damon operated in true design-build fashion – engineering and refining as he went along. The result is well worth all of the effort, and the wall unit certainly fits the “Order/function/beauty” formula that Damon and Tony work by.

Modern wall units created at NextFab

Damon’s design began from a seated position in front of his computer. Aside from the bio-metric requirements, the primary parameters were the two computers and the dimensions of the wall on which the unit would be placed. All else flowed from that.

“It’s no secret that work output quality is strongly influenced by one’s environment, so it was important that this unit had a built-in positive psychological form.
I wanted it to have a balanced symmetry nested within a dynamic asymmetry so that it felt stable and sure but also fluid and in-motion at the same time.”
Wall units made at NextFab makerspace
Each of the two computer stations can be hidden by a drop-down door that becomes the desk space. This allows the space to have broader function and transform from a dedicated work space to a less formal environment. The mechanics of the drop-down provided several design challenges. Damon didn’t want a clumsy or cumbersome support from underneath the desk surface. This meant that the drop-downs had to be supported from above and he needed a system that fit the aesthetic. Initial trials failed due to instability and inadequate strength to support the 22″ desk, but after several mock-ups Damon found a winning hinge/stay combination of a telescoping Hafele Fall-ex stay and a Sugatsune double-pivot hinge. The result is rock solid and beautiful.
Detail of wall unit

While wanting to be able to conceal the computer stations, Damon wanted the area above to feel open. He created a 12 inch “headspace” above the workstations to create this more open sense of space. He relates, “I decided on the twelve inch height of the headspace by holding my hand in front of my face and moving it up until it disappeared from my line-of- sight.”

Greenhouse between two wall units made at NextFab makerspace

Between the two workstations is a “greenhouse” – a tall open space that holds a plant. The greenhouse fits right into the zen-like approach that informs the overall design. Damon says, “Studies have shown that that has a positive effect on a person that can be measured both psychologically and physically… even in terms of blood pressure and sense of well-being.”
While the project seemed impressively ambitious, it also seemed to sail along.
I had set a few self-imposed deadline barricades which I had crashed right through, skidding on the oily road of unrealistic expectations.  I finally said this thing had better be installed up and running on January 1st.  So running low on midnight oil we spent New Years day installing the wall unit!
Wall unit prototype at NextFab makerspace
While settling on a solution for the metal infrastructure, a staff member showed Damon a nylon connector system.  After successfully testing the nylon connectors he integrated them into his design. This saved him the time and difficulty of aligning and welding a series of complex joints in the framework.
“Had I welded the framework, I would have been screwed if I’d needed to make a sizing/fit adjustment,” he admits. “The tubing/nylon connector method yielded the lightweight strength I needed in addition to the ability to make changes if necessary… [as it turned out] they were necessary.”

Wall unit displaying replica Light Saber

Tony jumped in by doing research and learning to solder electrical leads to the LED strips. Beautifully integrated dimmers control the lighting. Damon explains, “They blend right in with the Apple Router, Sonos Base Station and iSmart Alarm Base Station. I wouldn’t have found these if it weren’t for doing an online search with Matt [Garfield]. They certainly don’t carry these in Home Depot.”

Each work station has an independent lighting circuit and individual control through the dimmer boxes. There is a third circuit for the overall ambient lighting.

Modern workspace wall unit in use

I scheduled some private training time with Matt Garfield in electronics.  I call him Electronic Matt. There are so many Matts working at NextFab I’m starting to think they’re running them off on the 3D printers. The time with him was invaluable.  He schooled me in LED basics. I walked away from our session with a parts list and all their SKU numbers ready to order online.  So great!  I went from knowing nothing to knowing a little bit. But as bends the twig so grows that branch.

Wall unit workspace created at NextFab

Anticipating a heat build-up from all of the electronics, Damon felt that airflow management was essential. “I perforated the top of the workstation so that any heat from the iMac would vent through the unit above.”

The attention to detail and integration of solutions in the wall unit is inspiring. More so considering that this is the first project of this type that Damon has taken on.

He muses in retrospect, “I definitely bit off more than I could chew at the time. I’m glad I didn’t know that or give any thought to it. I really came to understand the meaning of, ‘we are stubborn on vision, we are flexible on details…’ (Jeff Bezos). It’s kind of meta to think that what started as a 3D model in my computer is now 9 ft high and 11 ft across and housing that very same computer. Connecting with other more (and less) experienced members at NextFab makes anything I’m doing so much better. ‘Out-of-reach’ is a temporary condition if I remain focused, stay energized, ask for advice, keep a sense of humor and enjoy the process.”