And then there were more iterations...

The wonderful thing about having such a diverse composition of teammates in [R]ed[U]x Lab is that everyone from first years to faculty get a chance to have an equal say in how the design of any given project emerges.  Here are some additional iterations of the project as the evolution continues.  These quick renders illustrate a sampling of not only the formal investigations but also the material palette and lighting ideas the team had.

The Cart Design as it Developed...

As with several of the previous projects in the [R]ed[U]x Lab's portfolio, the team developed several early iterations based upon the concept outlined at the outset but experimented with forms and methods of deploying the individual serving units. The options varied while staying true to the fundamental idea however these concepts had to be refined over the course of the design period to work with the parameters of the event, those of the matched restaurants. and the team's collective aesthetic choices.

[R]ed[U]x Lab's Night Market Cart Concept 2013

Many people have asked what the design intentions behind this year's Night Market cart design and the team has been fairly secretive about their work.  As the Night Market event is a week away, it is time to finally outline the design from its initial concept submitted a few months ago including an initial conceptual sketch:

  

Dissemination Via Disassembly

The 2013 [R]ed[U]x Lab design proposal for The Stop Night Market cart embraces the notion of change over time. Despite the brevity of the event, many variables evolve during the evening including the ambient light, volume of people, and food availability.  The design serves as both a vessel for the display and serving of culinary works, but also an artifact accentuating the event's dynamics.  Using a digitally fabricated framework, the design serves as a lattice supporting a tessellation of components that may be removed or altered by attendees ultimately transforming the cart into a lantern by nightfall.  The premise is that upon coordination with the assigned culinary organization, [R]ed[U]x Lab would design the components to create a suitable taxonomy of units ranging from serving containers or utensils to small lights or keepsakes.  The design intent is that the cart begins the evening as a monolithic mass that, over the course of the event, is dismantled and disseminated throughout the crowd casting a wide network of illumination while simultaneously transforming the cart into an illuminated focal point as the night draws to an end.

More Prototyping on the Stop's Night Market Cart

Several people have already asked us about the nature of the prototypes that the [R]ed[U]x Lab Team has been assembling for The Stop Night Market cart.  The team will showcase more and more as the event comes closer however we promise the design will be as memorable as the food that will be served on the two evenings.  Here are some additional prototypes the team has been working on - those who are able to put the pieces together will realize what the final outcome will be.  The anticipation is palpable!

As an aside, tickets to The Stop's Night Market went on sale today at noon and apparently sold out in approximately an hour! This is incredible given that this year there are twice as many tickets (as there are two evenings) as the previous year! Congratulations to those who were able to quickly jump online and an even greater congratulations goes to The Stop for raising so much money for so valuable a cause!

Best Foot Forward in Akimbo

The Best Foot Forward installation at the Stantec Window Gallery was posted up online on the Akimbo website.  Nice to see the installation in perspective with the rest of the former McGregor Sock Factory! We genuinely appreciate the help and support of not only the [R]ed[U]x Lab team that put it all together, but also the great hosts, Stantec, especially Karen and her team.

Night Market Cart 2013 Prototyping

There are several ideas in the works pertaining to the serving units that the [R]ed[U]x Lab Night Market team is entertaining.  Here is Sarah showcasing a design that Naveed proposed to the group.  The souvenir and portable capacity of the design reflects the larger idea behind the design... which we will reveal soon enough! The Night Market Team has been busy developing prototypes that prove to be both engaging as keepsakes from the evening, while also integrating the larger cart design's play with light.

ING Cart Continues

Apparently when it rains it certainly pours! In a rather interesting coincidence, the [R]ed[U]x Lab teams have been busy putting together two carts at the same time! Currently the group is putting together the ING Direct community outreach cart while simultaneously working on the Night Market 2013 cart.  Fortunately the group has a great resource in the Department of Architectural Science workshop!

As you can see, Fil and Tiff have begun the CNC work for the ING Cart.  Unlike the Night Market cart design, the ING Cart calls for mobility and deployability so the assembly and reassembly of components had to be thought of. More importantly, another parameter that the team had to deal with was the size of the transport - the entire cart had to be able to fit in the back of a car! Fortunately Tiff serves as a great benchmark to get a sense of scale.