a4architects » steel

CRMS Students Making Chandelier for New Dorm

David Darling — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:02:09 +0000

A4 has been working with Colorado Rocky Mountain School for a while now on refining their campus, including designs for two new dorms and a music studio and rehearsal space. During their current interim week, CRMS students are creating a chandelier for the reception room of the new North Dorm. Working together, the glass blowing and blacksmithing classes designed the metal and glass piece, starting with a small scale model shown below. Now they are in their separate studios making the glass and steel portions of the structure, which will later be fit with LED lights.

While the North Dorm is still just a building shell, the students are already anxious to move in.

The small scale model of the metal portion of the chandelier, showing how it will hang from the ceiling. A full-size mock-up is on the table in the background.

A student forging a bar of steel

Rolling a piece of molten glass to keep it symmetrical.

Students working together to form a glass piece

Basalt Regional Library Inside

Olivia Emery — Mon, 24 May 2010 19:32:30 +0000

Newspapers are displayed adjacent to the fireplace in the main reading room. Windows look out onto a public park, which is in the flood plain of the Roaring Fork River.

The Library is separated from the Community Room by a common entry that serves as a reception area for Community Room events and as a place for people to gather, chat, or have a coffee either before entering the Library itself.The Community Room, like the main reading room of the Library, is sheathed in regionally obtained aspen boards, variously spaced over absorbent backing for various acoustic requirements.

The north end of the reading room lifts up to afford a view of the top of Basalt Mountain across the river. Subdued light combined with comfortable seating and good work areas make this the most popular place in the Library.

The steel structure of the main reading room was inspired by trees in the flood plain just north of the building site. Daylight enters from clerestories, which are glazed with glass or translucent plastic panels depending on the solar orientation. Small alcoves are recessed into the sides of the large wood volume to accommodate reserve shelves, small meeting rooms and service areas.

Our Associated Architect, OZ Architecture, came up with this circle of aspens as a way to identify the children's library and to provide some separation between the younger and older users of this space. The gray patch of carpet was eventually replaced with plexi-glass to allow a view into the 18" tall underfloor plenum, which allows for low velocity air delivery and data and power modifications as technology or furniture layouts change.

Custom Bench Design for Basalt Library Plaza

David Darling — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:33:17 +0000

The 5° Seating line of site furniture for the Basalt Regional Library plaza was designed by A4 to compliment the library building. These benches and bike racks are built out of steel and ipé wood with longevity and ease of maintenance in mind. The first bench prototype is currently being manufactured by local craftsmen and will be on display for First Friday.