Carleton University, Ottawa. University Centre. 1970.

The University Centre is the social student centre for Carleton University. It is a busy place and the furniture and fixtures have to be very durable and servisable. It provided us with the opportunity to design some new furniture. One of the items is our bench, a butcher block slab of maple with two U shaped steel bases. It is almost indistructible and two strong individuals are required to move it.

Wall decorative elements made from Marimekko textiles.

Custom table. Solid black plastic laminate top with four steel bases. Design: Janis Kravis, Architect.

Butcher block chess tables using walnut and maple solid wood. We also designed some large diameter,round tables to go with the serpentine seating. The surface of these tables was plastic laminate and we knew that the instinctive thing that one would tend to do, would be to put one's feet onto the edge of the table. We knew that we had to protect the edges of the tabletop and that wood and plastic laminate would not stand up. So we screwed on a 1/8 " of flat brass plate which stuck up 1/4 " above the surface of the table. As the brass was scuffed by shoes, it would be polished and enhanced. However we recognized another problem. Sand and other dirt would collect on the surface of the table and it would have to be cleaned regularly. In order facilitate easy cleaning, we applied the brass in three even length strips with 1/2" gaps, through which dirt could be swept out.

Serpentine seating. Notice the table edge in the foreground. Photo: Janis Kravis.

Janis Kravis, Arch & Design: 60s & 70sHenry TyminskiNovember 18, 2017Comment