Pallet Palette

Type: Architecture competition   Year: 2014

SHS Delft issued a competition to design a multifunctional space for a housing complex hosting 150 students. The available space is 170 square meters and had to be converted with a budget of max. 30.000 euros. This space is accessible for all students and should facilitate diverse activities such as studying, relaxing or partying. The space available within the complex consisted of multiple rooms joined together, thus forming a patchwork of different materials on wall, ceiling and floor. This patchwork formed the base for the design and by painting the walls all in the same colour, the collage on floor and ceiling is accentuated. Two slidable walls made of pallets act as multifunctional wall elements that can transform the space quickly and easily for different uses. Pallets are strong, cheap, easy to obtain (and therefore easy to replace) and adaptable, either with paint or with nails and decoration, allowing the residents to customise their multi-purpose room themselves. The walls serve not only as room dividers, but can also be used as a display-screen surface, to store chairs, or even hang jackets. Shelves can be added to store books, kitchen appliances, plants or whatever is needed. Additionally, pallets can be used to make furniture for in the adjacent communal garden. The set of plans shows the versatile character of the space, facilitating a movie night, lecture event, expo, yoga class, graduation drinks and party, or just to lounge and / or study. Lights and acoustic panels are integrated within the flexible and fixed pallet walls. The big entrance hall is repurposed as meeting place with a domestic character, where the residents can encounter one another, linger before they take the elevator or leave together. With the use of a billboard students can inform each other of events, requests or offer help. The cabinet acts as a place of exchange and provides space to donate not-longer-needs items can be to students who might need them, creating a small circular economy within the building.