MakerStream.
Class
IARC 475_David Matthews
Year Completed
Spring Semester 2022
Description
The MakerStream is a fourth-year design-build interior architecture studio that demolished and assembled a 1963 Flying Cloud Airstream into a mobile design thinking studio. MakerStream is intended to travel throughout Knox County for elementary and middle schools with our very own curriculum. Along with learning with our hands this semester, we were challenged to understand design thinking in younger students we partnered and worked weekly with this semester, Beaumont Magnet Academy and Lenoir City Middle School.
01: Early Design Phase
_3D Model
_Paper Model
02: Demolition
One of our early and first challenges was the demolition of the Airstream. With all hands on deck, we completed this within two weeks. Everything was taken out, including the shower, cabinets, toilet, windows, floor, etc. Many parts could not be reused because of their condition.
03: Interior Lighting
I spent the majority of my time on the Lighting Team. I enjoyed understanding the entire process of exterior and interior lighting. My team used LED lighting strips to light up the interior. The lighting highlighted the curvy shelving used to reciprocate canyon-like features. We created a hidden notch in the CNC files to hide the LED strips illuminating the river on the floors. Regarding overhead lighting, we cut out circular holes in our interior walls to fit a silicone tube. We lit this tube with LED lighting to offer more light if the kids work in the dark.
These drawings and diagrams highlight the placement of the interior lighting on the floors and walls. We also wanted to show some of the equipment used to run these multiple led strips in one electrical panel.
_Interior Lighting Diagram
_Interior Floor Detail
_Schematic Interior Wire Diagram
_Interior Lighting Diagram
_Interior Floor Detail
_Schematic Interior Wire Diagram
04: Exterior Lighting
The exterior lighting had its separate set of challenges. The new flooring had already been put in when we decided to place the wiring underneath the floor on the exterior. These lights were for the brakes, turn signals, running, and ground lights. We had to figure out how to connect these to a seven-pin wiring harness system with multiple connection ports. We had to cover the wiring with conduit, so it could be protected from rubbing on the road. Once weaving the wiring through the existing insulation, we had to use a new connection technique to connect the wire with the new exterior lights we had ordered.
The schematic exterior lighting diagram highlights the placement of the exterior lighting underneath the floor outside the airstream. These also display the equipment used to run these multiple wires through one harness.
_Schematic Exterior Wire Diagram
05: Community Involvement
Community involvement was one of the most memorable parts of this project. Everything we did was dedicated to the students. We wanted to give them a space they could practice art without limits. Although we designed the interior, the exterior was just as important when considering how to maximize space to fit some classes filled with 20-25 students. MakerStream was designed to showcase the kids’ art and store their materials to be brought inside and outside of this maker space. We were lucky to partner with two local schools and our curriculum team, leading the activities and understanding the students. Our curriculum sought to break hierarchy and educational normalities to expose the students to design thinking. The curriculum team led the curriculum during our final review and throughout the weeks of visiting the schools to ensure its success and understandability.
06: My Growth
I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the Design-Build Studio this past semester. Seeing a physical project was exciting, as well as seeing the kids interact inside the airstream and the MakerStream fully coming to life. I was a part of the lighting team, with minimal knowledge and experience beforehand. As interior architecture students, we studied lighting, but it was entirely different when working with my hands. It was a rewarding feeling when the airstream finally came to light. My biggest takeaway was working in a team environment and sometimes waiting my turn to help. Even if the team I was assigned to wasn’t the class’s top priority, there was always needed help elsewhere. I developed skills that will be useful even after this studio and, most importantly, being a team player and problem-solving.
