Suspendible Tent Shelter for Small Spaces
July 14, 2009 by Robin Plaskoff Horton
Designer Olivia Decaris characterizes her Drop Series as a “family of sheltering structures based on domestic activities… they aim to bring intimacy, privacy and concentration.”
A collection of collapsible/retractable/telescoping tent-like structures designed to lend enclosure to small spaces, the series just concluded a run at London’s Royal College of Art.
At the Royal College show, Decaris presented three incarnations: “working drop” is a single-sized model for desks whose oval shape is ergonomically-conceived to accommodate common working positions; “dining drop” sports a circular shape that “gathers people around the table, transforming the ritual of dining into a more intimate moment”; and “sleeping drop”—a philosophical compatriot of the Egg Bed—takes the shape of a standard mattress, thereby creating a sound and sight-proof cocoon to aid in slumber and rejuvenation.
In addition to the obvious residential applications, Decaris envisions their use in restaurants and libraries, where they’ll not only provide a seamless temporary shelter, but also create the illusion that you’re all by yourself.