The UNLP
National University of La Plata
It is a prestigious public institution of the Argentine Republic located among the main ones of the country, the American continent and the world. Since 2020 it leads the International Transparency Ranking elaborated by the CSIC among the Argentine National Universities, with the sixth place among the Latin American ones.
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With more than a century of experience, it continues to be a pioneer in cultural, artistic and scientific studies and developments. Teaching and research are the basic pillars of this University.
Self-sufficiency
Creating a sustainable circuit
from the UNLP for the UNLP
With the use of local raw materials and the University's own resources, an exchange circuit is generated that does not depend on external agents.
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From the design perspective, it is possible to contribute to this circuit by generating a project that understands the internal problems, the specific needs and the possibilities in the use of the available resources.
Research
Environment
UNLP common indoor spaces
The buildings of the UNLP correspond to very diverse periods and architectural styles.
A general denominator among the common areas is the corridors: transit areas that link other spaces. Depending on the faculty, these can be between 3 and 5 meters wide. The furniture must be able to adapt to the different spaces.
In order to respond to this problem, I chose to work on the adaptability of the products
User
Students from all careers
The activities carried out in the common areas are: rest, meeting for group work, individual work, study, socialization.
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Depending on the activity you perform and the time you spend on it, the position you take will be different.
The system is made up of products that respond to different needs
Problems found
The existing furniture in the common areas of the UNLP faculties is scarce, even non-existent in some cases, forcing students to sit on the floor or on the stairs.
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When furniture exists, it corresponds to other areas and does not respond to the needs of the users in the common spaces.
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In general, existing furniture is in a poor maintenance condition.
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No interest is seen in the use of common spaces.
The proposal of this project is based on the transformation of the transit spaces (corridors) in areas of permanence, generating spaces of rest, meeting and work that satisfy the needs of the students of the University.
Available Resources
Willow wood
Abundant resource in the Paraná River Delta
It is a light, resistant and economical material, which also achieves a good surface finish. Its abundance and rapid growth make it a sustainable resource for use in this area.
One of the objectives of the project is to revalue this raw material that is not related to solid uses, and to visualize this species as a usable resource.
Sawmill
+ Drying oven + Carpentry
Belonging to the National University of La Plata
The UNLP Woodworking Technology Centre has the necessary resources to work with the material from extraction, through the manufacturing of the product and finally to the finishing and detail work.
Having the resources is essential to achieve self-sufficiency
Furniture
characteristics
ADAPTABILITY
The idea that the set can be adapted to different uses and spaces arises to respond to the various circumstances through which students pass during their learning process within the UNLP.
Several pieces that make up the different products.
The products are composed of mirrored parts and parts that change their dimensions. By modifying the length of some of the components, different variants of the products can be obtained to adapt to the different spaces.
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identity
Color accent with green UNLP
It was sought to incorporate features that are repeated in the system and that identify the group as belonging to the UNLP, giving them greater importance and making explicit the possibility of self-supply. In this way, the students' sense of belonging to the furniture and the University is deepened.
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A ribbon is incorporated that runs through the products from side to side with the institutional color, which in turn has the acronym UNLP engraved on it.
design, manufacturing and use within the unlp
PRODUCtioN
The parts are assembled at the UNLP Woodworking Technology Centre.
Most of the processes necessary to carry out the products can be done in the UNLP facilities.
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TRANSPORTATION
The final assembly is carried out on site
The products are designed to be assembled in their final location, thus reducing the space required for transportation.
