Makespace

CLIENT: MAKESPACE
DATE: 2021
DETAILS: INTERIOR DESIGN + MULTIMEDIA + VISUAL MERCHANDISING DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHY: Udom Surangsophon

This pop up was designed specifically to be responsive to pandemic conditions. While we acknowledge that research for pandemic safety for building interiors is still developing, we deployed some basic yet effective design tactics which became the core organizing concepts for this project. The store needed to be responsive to both the perceptual and factual safety for all visitors.

The store has a very clear single-direction circulation that draws customers through the store in a manner that evades congestion and maintains distancing for everyone. Designed as a clean loop, the store draws customers toward the service counter where they interact with staff for storage drop off or pick up. Items that are dropped off get transferred directly from the service counter to the back of house through a pass through opening in the rear wall of the store. Once your consultation is complete, customers get an unexpected opportunity to focus on their Mindspace.

We wanted to explore the psychology behind decluttering ones life through Makespace’s unique method of self-storage. Therefore we saw an opportunity to engage the exit process as a chance to meditate on the mental space that customers have just uncovered with their visit to this store. We designed the exit corridor as an infinity chamber for wide open spaces. Customers immerse themselves in dynamic video that fills the space and provides a moment to pause and enjoy more physical and mental space.

Coronavirus has reshaped the way we approach architecture, whether it’s our reprise of domestic space or a reset in our willingness to engage in public spaces. While science is still developing across engineering and design solutions for pandemic safety, there is significant work that designers can be actively pursuing at this time to explore the possibilities for emotional and psychological design solutions that can address the human side of pandemic and post-pandemic architecture. We like to think of this pop-up as an experiment in how retail might take shape moving forward. The impetus for a brick and mortar shopping experience has been acutely tested over this past year. We hope our work continues to contribute to the dialogue for designers and beyond.

Interior view of a room with reflective surfaces and green lighting, creating an optical illusion effect. The walls, floor, and ceiling are covered in mirrors, with distorted reflections of lines and patterns, giving a futuristic and surreal appearance.

Six rolls of green bubble wrap mounted on a corrugated metal wall.

Isometric architectural floor plan in green and white with labeled areas, pathways, and furniture layout.

Isometric layout of a long, narrow indoor space with furniture, plants, and pathways on a green background.

Green-themed office lobby with plants and street view through glass door.

Inside a MakeSpace storage facility with green walls, storage bins, and a potted plant.

Green wall with a neon sign and potted plants

Green interior of a storage service location with steps for in-store appointments on the wall, including packing, drop-off, and scheduling a pickup, along with bubble wrap dispensers and promotional material.

Interior of a green-lit storage facility with corrugated metal walls, shelving, and bubble wrap rolls. A sign displays "Sample plan sizes" with closet measurement options.

Modern green-themed interior with corrugated metal accents, potted plant, and text about at-home appointments on the wall.

Green room with rolls of material on walls and mirrored surfaces

A green room labeled 'Mindspace' with steps written on the wall: '1. Step in, 2. Pause for a moment, 3. Enjoy more physical and mental space.' The room has a reflective entrance leading to an interior space.