ISSUE 024

Release.     May 21, 2024


HABITABLE Furniture is a reconfigurable system of mobile elements, serving as both a flexible display and space-making solution.

JOY + ERGONOMICS + TRANSFORMABLE


We explored how design can enhance daily lives and activities, focusing on transformation and responsiveness to optimize space functionally and qualitatively. Joy and ergonomics were our primary goals.

Our collaborative project transformed a residual space in the UHCoAD into a joyful and versatile IA student lounge. Through teamwork, innovation, and a focus on ecological responsibility, we created a multifunctional furniture system. This system allows users to personalize their space for work, relaxation, and collaboration, combining advanced materials, recyclability, and playful design elements. The final prototype embodies playfulness, innovation, and user-centric design, inviting a closer look at diverse interactions within the space.

Visit each project page, including the complete magazines in PDF format, for insights into our process and results. Enjoy the journey!



OUR TEAM

Richele Refuerzo
Jesus Aquirre
Victoria Gonzalez
Alex Baltazar
Paul Chavarria
Whitney Lau
Jade Guerra
Virginia Briagas
Elena Mexicano
Thuc Tran
Mikayla Zientek
Marshall Bradley

Nicole Valdes





PROFESSOR


Marta Rodriguez
Ph.D. Architect

Marta Rodriguez's architectural journey spans continents, from Madrid to Tokyo and back to Paris, and now Houston, where she teaches and practices with a passion for creating inclusive, sustainable spaces. Her expertise in small-scale living and human-scale urban design is showcased through her award-winning projects and research-driven approach. Through her firm HABITABLE Studio and her advocacy in the Habitable City journal, Marta seeks a more connected, equitable, and livable built environment, embodying a vision of architecture that is adaptable.



TA

Lene Fourie



OUR COLLEGE

Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design
UNIVERSITY of HOUSTON



WEBSITE DESIGN

Richele Refuerzo

02 WALLPAPER 






Our multi-functional wallpaper-screen aspires to integrate the elegance of wallpaper with the practicality of a folding screen. Keeping in mind the students of the COAD, we designed the panels to include rotating hinges, folding tables, and display/pin-up sections to meet their needs when in use. When not in use, the panels nestle into the walls acting as a wallpaper for the room. From offering a moment of peace to providing practical workspaces, our wallpaper-screen goes beyond the conventions of a traditional folding screen by providing people with a transformative experience that adapts to their needs. The wallpaper-screen invites people to engage with their surroundings and others in meaningful ways, creating spaces that inspire creativity, joy, and relaxation.



Process











Final Design