COLCHESTER INN - ways of hosting

Updating Chaomi

public works studio

Thu 21.01.2010 13:00 – 16:30

Chao-Mi came to visit us in London and we had a chance to fill her in on all the progress to date. Especially the key decision to move from a knotted rope to a cut sheet material. It was quite a productive conversation - Chao-Mi was keen to introduce more 'Chinese-ness' back into the object and translate the knots in more detail as well as trying to get away from the flatness (which unfortunately is inherent in sheet material). We came up with the idea of layering the cut perspex to create more of a relief effect. The leaves of the frame will be held together by small magnets embedded into the perspex. All to be incorporated in the next (and hopefully final) prototype which we plan to present to the group on the 6th of February.

Collection of all knot prototypes to date

Launch meeting at firstsite

firstsite meeting room in Short Wyre Street

Tue 12.01.2010 11:00 – 13:00

We are getting closer.

 

We now identified how we want to produce the final piece and met with Katherine, Laura and Philip from fristsite to discuss the launch and the next steps. The launch will take place in firstsite's new and temporary building in Short Wyer Street which houses a small gallery on ground level (see picture below). The launch is planned for the afternoon of Saturday the 27th of February - just after the Chinese Saturday school.

 

We will also use this occasion to launch the second phase of the project in which we will start working with a number of other groups in Colchester.

Over the coming year we will work with approximately six groups and continue to produce moments and objects of hosting which will come together in the Colchester Inn - a free standing independent small building, housing a new kind of meeting space for Colchester.

 

Should you be interested to join or now someone or a group that might be interested please point them into our direction.

 

The new and temporary firstsite space in Colchester

 

provisional timeline for the second phase of the project

Laser Cut prototype number one

Blueprint model shop

Mon 11.01.2010 15:00 – 17:00

 

From Europa's prototypes we understood that it will be very difficult for us to produce the knots ourselves and get a good enough quality and big enough quantity. We shied away from getting the knot produced in china which might have been an option but we wanted the production to stay as close to Colchester as possible. We also like the idea of transferring the knot into a different and unexpected material and move away from the typical knotted aesthetic.

 

Initially we explored casting the knot in a plastic material but very quickly realised that for the small amount of items required this will become much too expensive and too complicated a process.

 

In the end we decided on cutting the knot-frame out of a sheet material with a laser cutting process. Working closely with the design developed with Europa we arrived at a simple frame with a back that helps support the photograph.

 

We used a laser cutting company close to our studio in east London called the Blueprint model shop, which incidentally is run by a group of Chinese women all of whom got really excited by the piece and it cause a lot of talk. I was quite happy that they instantly recognised the key references.

Design meeting with Angelika Seeschaaf from eeaa

eeaa studio

Thu 03.12.2009 10:00 – 12:00

Europa Chan Dawson produced a second prototype for us, knotted around a disc cut out of MDF to give strength to the knot when several of those modules are hung together to form a curtain.

Equipped with Europa's second prototype we met with product designer Angelika Seeschaaf from eeaa and asked her to cast an eye on the prototype to give us some feedback from a professional product designers point of view.

We need between 200 or 300 of the knotted modules and started to look into the best way to produceing them. Though knotting each of those could be an option we feel it would benefit the product if we translate it into another material which will move it away from a possible craft aesthetic and would help to introduce surprising twist into the piece.

Chao-Mi's comment from one of her emails came to mind in which she proposed to break the knot up into smaller pieces and try another approach. Angelika had a similar idea of separating the frame from the knots. In fact producing two elements, one a linking element and the other the frame that also acts as the supporting structure. We are currently exploring to cast the knot elements in a

 

 

'What's next' Meeting at Firstsite

firstsite meeting room

Tue 03.11.2009 11:00 – 12:15

Update meeting at firstsite and discussion of the next phase. We presented an revised and more detailed concept of how the Colchester Inn project can develop and unfold over the next one and a half years. 

Workshop with Europa Chan Dawson

firstsite meeting room

Thu 16.07.2009 17:00 – 19:30

Europa Chan Dawson came all the way to Colchester (from Bristol) to generously share her immense knowledge and skill with us in a 2 hour workshop at firstsite.

Visiting Des Pawson

Knot Museum, Ipswich

Thu 16.07.2009 14:30 – 16:15

Chao-Mi an I went to visit the amazing Knot Museum in Ipswich. The museum and knot workshop is in the back garden of Des Pawson's private house. Des is a real expert in all things knotting especially in regards to seafaring knots. Over the years he has build up a substantial library and museum which is free for anyone to view by appointment. It is well worth a visit.

We were keen to marry the Chinese knot expertise with the local seafaring knot tradition and were very pleased to find such a wealth of expertise so close to Colchester.

 

The magic drawers in the knot museum

 

A circular knot frame - sounds familiar?

Progress meeting

public works studio

Thu 09.07.2009 11:25 – 13:02

A quick catch up meeting with Laura and Toby from firstsite to give an update on progress and plan ahead.

Prototyping workshop

Li Ping James' front room

Sun 31.05.2009 16:30 – 17:00

The first test to knot some prototypes - which is much harder then it first looks. It quickly became clear that we don't have the expertise to make a full knot and need another way to imagine it. We made some paper collages which helped decide on size and gives a rough feeling for the piece. Choami managed to convince a more skilled friend of hers to translate our ideas into a first knotted piece. (see right)

workshop at firstsite to finalise the brief

firstsite meeting room

Sun 17.05.2009 14:00 – 16:30

A sunday afternoon Workshop at firstsite to reflect on the proposals and decide on a final direction for our proposal.

After last meetings successful 'trimming down' of all ideas into a shortlist of 6 we looked back and tried to narrow the list even further. It very quickly became clear what the favorites ideas were and the discussion circled around how best to combine those idea into a final brief. 

 

Link: Colchester Chinese Cultural Society

 

 

Concluding first ideas towards a brief

Xiu Qin Chen's House

Wed 22.04.2009 22:37 – Mon 11.05.2009

Based on our earlier work and conversations we made a series of 9 drawings each representing a direction the product could take. 

All Ideas were layed out on the table and then opened for a lively discussion. We quickly edited them down to 5 ideas which seem to capture the ambitions and ideas we have been concerned with all along.

Next step is to filter it down even more to a single clear direction which then can be prototyped.

 

Link: Colchester Chinese Culture Society

 

Andreas presenting the summary of ideas

 

A table full of ideas - waiting to be discussed

 

Cui Zhan lending his support to the tea room idea

 

A meeting would not be complete without some home made dumplings

Update meeting with firstsite

Firstsite lawn

Wed 22.04.2009 14:00 – 15:15

A gloriously sunny afternoon meeting in the garden outside the firstsite offices to update Toby, Laura and Beth on the development of the Colchester Inn project.

Workshop to brainstorm first proposals

firstsite meeting room

Sun 19.04.2009 12:00 – 16:15

 

Link: Colchester Chinese Cultural Society

workshop in progress

 

Sarah presenting her woven door matt made of recycled plastic bags

 

Chris lucky charm - a chinese knot

 

Laura presenting the new firstsite building to the group

Show and tell ways of hosting

Li Xin & Cui Zhan's House

Sat 28.03.2009 16:00 – 21:00

We met in Cui Zhan and Li Xin's front room, and everybody brought objects, photos and stories that tell something about Chinese ways of hosting. 

Li Xin cooked fresh Chinese dumplings for everyone, followed by a brief tea ceremony presented by Chaomi and a popular love song sang by Li Ping. 

Link: Colchester Chinese Cultural Society

Meeting The Mid Essex Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers

White Notley Village Hall

Sat 21.03.2009 13:15 – 13:45

The Mid Essex guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers meet once every month at the White Notley Viallge Hall. An day of exchanging, networking and producing.

We dropped by to meet Sarah, Lesley, Christina and Janette to introduce the Colchester Inn and explore if and how they could contribute to the project.

Link: Mid Essex Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers

Third website Meeting with Dorian Moore

public works studio

Thu 19.03.2009 17:00 – 20:00

Before Dorian does further work on the Colchester Inn website we met to jointly revise the back- and front- end of the site. Technical and conceptual issues, editing and slimming down as well as 'some interesting bugs' along the way. The website at this stage of the project should fulfil two functions, a blog registering progress as well as serving as a mapping tool for the project. For now the website is structured as a timeline registering and linking meetings as they unfold, mapping the spaces and people we met and which we were introduced by. As seems usual with meetings in our studio I forget to take a picture a snap shot of the front end of the website to mark this moment in time.

Tea, talk and getting to know each other

Chao-Mi's front room

Sat 14.03.2009 17:00 – 19:00

Following our presentation at the Saturday School Chao-Mi invited everyone to come to her place in Wivenhoe and enjoy some tea giving us the chance talk in more depth about the project.

On arrival the large table in the living room had already been prepared with (among other things) Taiwanese tea and green tea biscuits. Everyone was keen to get started and the conversation moved quickly between many different chinese, english, german and italian customs and objects that support a warm welcome and a pleasant time together. It was a very good way to get started and enjoy a more casual way to get to know each other. Thank you Choa-Mi!

 

 

Presentation to the Chinese Saturday School

Sir Charles Lucas Arts College

Sat 14.03.2009 16:00 – 17:00

Braintree Visitors Centre

Braintree Visitors Centre

Sat 14.03.2009 13:00 – 13:30

A wonderful half hour at the Braintree visitors centre in the Town Hall with Pauline Doubtfire

On our way to Colchester from London we made the slight detour to Braintree to pay a visit to the Warner Textile Archive. Asking for direction at the visitors centre we met Pauline Doubtfire who used to work for the Warner Texticle Archive. Unfortunately the archive is now cloesed over the winter month, fortunately for us Pauline patiently answered all our questions and introduced us with great passion to the rich weaving history of the region.

Second Website Meeting with Dorian Moore

public works studio

Sat 07.03.2009 17:44 – 17:44

Meeting Fengru Chen to present the project

Fengru Chen's meeting room

Mon 23.02.2009 13:30 – 14:30

Meeting Steve Hartman

First Group bus depot, Colchester

Mon 23.02.2009 12:00 – 12:15

Meeting with Laura Earley

firstsite meeting room

Mon 23.02.2009 12:00 – 12:30

Presentation to firstsite staff

firstsite meeting room

Mon 23.02.2009 11:00 – 12:00

Meeting with Toby Jackson

public works studio

Tue 10.02.2009 14:30 – 16:00

Initial Website Meeting with Dorian Moore

public works studio

Wed 04.02.2009 16:00 – 17:00

Meeting Terry Flower

Colchester Institute

Thu 08.01.2009 16:00 – 17:00

Visiting the Essex University campus

Essex University

Thu 08.01.2009 15:00 – 16:00

Meeting Fay Somerville

China Blue

Thu 08.01.2009 13:30 – 15:00

Meeting with Laura Earley and Jes Fernie

Ground floor office at firstsite

Wed 17.12.2008 11:00 – 12:00

I came up to Colchester for the day to do some initial research for the project. I started the day by meeting Laura and Jes at the firstsite offices. Laura will be overseeing our project from firstsite and together with Jes we had a broad chat about all sorts of things that might be worth while exploring and can feed into the project. From the history of Dutch weavers in Essex to Jaywick and Tiptree jam. Jes had recently completed a report which looked at the Chinese community in Colchester, which might provide us with some useful links to start contacting existing and/or constitute new groups for the project.

Meeting Sally Lai and Toby Jackson

Welcome Trust Cafe

Wed 05.11.2008 10:30 – 12:00

Meeting the firstsite team

firstsite meeting room

Tue 02.09.2008 11:00 – 13:00

A visit to firstsite and an introduction to public works current practice and projects

Sally Lai invited me on behalf of firstsite to visit Colchester for the day, meet the firstsite team and give a short presentation about our recent projects and our practice in general. It was more of an open conversation then a presentation. firstsite were considering to invite us to propose a project.