Crossroads Lounge: Brand Reading

In Chapter 10 “Function Melts Form”, Brand discusses a technique used in newer office buildings that have the open-office idea. He refers to this design technique as the “Cave and Commons”. He says that with these open office plans, people desire to have privacy (mainly acoustic privacy). The open office area becomes the “commons” and Brand discusses how newer office facilities give their employees a private office “cave” of their own which surrounds the commons. By doing this, they have the option for privacy but can also be more social.

My design uses a similar idea. The current design of the studio spaces is very open with little privacy. Students sometimes need a place that they can retreat to for a break from the openness and to get some privacy. This is what my designed lounge would do. It would’t be a completely private space - more like a public cave. But it would over semi-privacy that is needed.