COALESCE
Coalesce is a project completed in my junior year at SCAD. It focused on better workplace design through the scope of our theoretical client, St. Frank. Coalesce takes us through the values of St. Frank being integrated into the workplace interiors. Users of all different backgrounds come together with their unique skills to create a beautiful and impactful outcome as a team.
St. Frank is a retail company focused on providing unique home décor through sourced artisans from over 20 countries in South America, Southeast Asia, and in Portugal, Mexico, New Mexico, and more. St. Frank’s two main missions are to support economic empowerment for artisans and to preserve traditional artisanal craft. They achieve these goals by partnering with entrepreneurial artisan organizations that provide quality jobs, training, and holistic support to low and middle income artisans. Artisans associated with St. Frank are members of boutique workshops and larger artisan collaboratives. The artisans are Fair Trade certified to social impact award-winners, as well as those working to revive lost historical craft and those whose focus is on the use of organic materials and environmentally-friendly methods.
Who is
THE ATELIER
The What and The Why
What
St. Frank caters to the chic and cultivated collector by providing handmade products that embody the authentic cultural heritage of the communities from which they originate. Featured types of décor include art and art objects, textiles for bed and living, tabletop items, accent furniture, décor, jewelry, miscellaneous accessories, and fabric and wallpaper sold by the yard.
Why
St. Frank sells these specific items to provide its customers with authentic products that are rich with story, history, and culture, and that are made honestly and ethically.
THE HACIENDA
How it began...
Christina Bryant founded St. Frank in 2013 with the goal to create
long-term relationships with her suppliers that help bring low and middle-income artisans stable employment and fair wages, as well as share ethically-made, culture-rich pieces to high-end design. The name St. Frank not only pays homage to the base location, but also to St. Francis of Assisi, a generous medieval textile merchant. It began with an Indian textile that Bryant bought while abroad that became a conversation piece in her home. This sparked a desire in Bryant to continue collecting pieces from her travels to style her home in. These authentic pieces not only tell a story of who she is, but of the place it came from.
... and how it's going
Christina continues to travel across the globe locating new items and artisans from low and middle-income countries. The brand has grown organically over time. The company has stuck with its original intentions and goals, sure to not lose sight of the reason why it had begun. Potentially beneficial short-term opportunities that could have long-term weakness do not sway St. Frank, despite occasional day-to-day stresses that may make them seem appealing. St. Frank continues to partner with like-minded investors who also want to build a quality brand with lasting value, unlike most “fast-fashion” brands. As Millennial demands grow, St. Frank will serve as a distinctive competition as more companies cater to the “authentic modern bohemian luxury” style. Since its start, the company has started to put more focus on growing retail stores throughout the United States as well as the amount of product offered.
The Concept
Cultural integration refers to several different cultures coming together to form on multicultural society in which there is balance and respect for each of the culture's characteristics, values, and traditions.
COALESCE
to come together to form one mass or whole.
The concept of Coalesce represents the key values of St. Frank. From the diverse backgrounds of the employees, to the artisans providing the product, to the newly decorated homes, St. Frank is a hub for cultural integration and harbors a safe space for all walks of life to live, learn, and grow. Like each thread that goes into a finished textile, each individual within St. Frank serves a great purpose in the beautiful whole of St. Frank's impact.
Workplace Design
Workplace design goes beyond just aesthetics. The environment one works in will
ultimately reinforce thoughts, habits, and productivity. A successful workplace design is one that fosters a supportive, encouraging, and engaging environment for all of the employees and displays the company values well.
Careful consideration must be given to layout, lighting, material, furniture, and more. Avoiding overcrowding allows employees to work efficiently alone and alongside co-workers. A bright and open design also helps with productivity by cutting down on the overwhelming claustrophobic feeling. To aid in productivity, it is important to have opportunities to direct attention away from work to allow the brain to rest. Comfortable furniture avoids the issue of feeling sore or restless sitting at a desk for a full work day.
By designing a successful workplace, employees are more likely to enjoy their job, perform well, and from connections with their co-workers.
Staircase Sketch
The Location
The new St. Frank building will be located on 641 Indian St. Savannah, GA. The building is located in the north-western corner of downtown Savannah’s Historic District. The Savannah Historic District was established and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966. It is one of the largest districts of its kind in the United States, spanning 2.031 square miles. The city is full of art, culture, festivals, concerts, live theater, outdoor cafes, and gourmet restaurants. There are 22 park squares, museums, monuments, and restored 18th-century homes.
The project site shares a block with the apartment building The Hue, SCAD academic buildings Alexander Hall and Fahm Hall, Comfort Suites Historic District Hotel, and the soon to be Baxly apartment complex. The building has a direct view of Talmage Memorial Bridge which provides direct access to South Carolina. There is a small parking lot directly in front of the building, and street parking is a small walk from the entrance.
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The site is approximately a 10 minute walk from Bay Street and Broughton Street, both of which offer numerous restaurants. Also approximately a 10 minute walk away is a city parking garage. The nearest city bus stop is a 3 minute walk, located in front of the United States Postal Service building on N. Fahm Street. The Savannah Hilton Head Airport is 20 minutes away by car.
The Plan
The final plan for the new St. Frank office balances workspace with communal areas to promote an open and integrated community amongst employees. The lower left side of the building is for more public use, with a coffee bar and open seating area on the first level, and administration accessible on the mezzanine. The right side of the building is for employees only is is divided between open workspace, conference rooms, a break area, and a meditation room. Multiple communal areas throughout the office allow the employees to step away from work and interact with others, bringing a sense of relaxation and casual atmosphere. The meditation room encourages the physical and mental well-being of St. Frank employees to ensure they are able to work efficiently with a clear and healthy mind and body.
The Reception Desk
The reception desk is accessible immediately upon entering the St. Frank office building. It is enclosed to increase privacy behind the desk from either side as well as from the open mezzanine. The wall behind the desk features a custom St. Frank wall light and is covered in a collage of St. Frank wallpaper textiles.
The Coffee Bar
The coffee bar is located adjacent to the public lounge in the 2 foot drop in the lobby. It gives employees and visitors a chance to relax, mingle, and energize. It continues the same soft, earthy tones as the public lounge in the furniture and millwork. Biophilic design is incorporated to accompany the St. Frank product display on the millwork’s top left shelving. St. Frank textile wallpaper is featured in the inset of the millwork. LED lighting is added behind the coffee bar.
The Public Lounge
The public lounge is located in the East wing of the building within the 2 foot drop level. It provides a resting place aside the coffee bar and can be used as a meeting space for small events with St. Frank. The space utilizes soft, earthy tones in the furniture, floors, and walls. The wall on the main floor behind are adorned in multiple St. Frank wallpaper textiles as well as a few wall mounted art objects. The space is accessible by use of stairs or the ADA accommodating ramp.
The Communal Lounge
The communal lounge is located in the back of the office workspaces. It provides employees with a gathering space to step away from work. They can use this space to relax, mingle with colleagues, or for additional seating off of the break room. This space features a large scale biophilic wall which helps ground people in the space and improve their moods, physical wellness, and productivity. The lighting fixtures use mixed metals and shapes to fit the concept of integrating unlike elements. St. Frank framed textiles are displayed on the wall.
The Meditation Room
The meditation room is situated in the back of the west wing beside the communal lounge. The intent is to provide the employees with a wellness room as a way to combat the negative effects that accompany working in an office. The ability to step aside and take a moment to breathe and center oneself will enhance the productivity of each individual and improve the overall mood and communication. The warm, low lighting, neutral colors, and interior biophilic design aide creating the calming ambiance of a meditation room.
Image Credits from this page
https://stfrank.com/pages/locations
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/group-people-continuous-one-line-vector-1688436364
Theoretical project completed at Savannah College of Art and Design in Winter 2020.
