A Seat on the Clouds

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A design exploration of airport seating inspired obviously by clouds for the PDX airport in Portland Oregon.

a red teapot with a black handle on a yellow background

A blurred bouquet of colorful flowers against white.

A pagoda in silhouette against a sunset sky.

Project Details

Project Breakdown

THE BRIEF

Project Brief

The Portland airport recently underwent a massive renovation.

The new architecture incorporates what Oregon is known for as the primary Environmental Identity; Timber.

Inside it features massive skylights sculpturally highlighted with timber lattices creating an organic waterfall effect. It is a beautiful combination of straight lines, and curved surfaces.

However, there is one subsection that remained unchanged and mediocre.

Design Request

The Gate Seating is where travelers spend the most time, and yet it is the most uncomfortable seating anywhere in the airport, with no room to stow your luggage or carry-on, everyone crammed so tight.

We want Caves Creative to reimagine the experience of waiting for a flight at the gate.

The new design must be versatile, comfortable, have a charging station for devices, a way to keep luggage/carry-on close but out of the way, and accommodate approximately 10 to 16 people.

THE DESIGN

Preface

As an avid traveler, I've experienced this problem at every airport all around the world. And I've been through PDX many times. It is a beautiful redesign, a great representation of how elevated an airport can become. However, the gate seating is still just as annoying.

Research

Like all projects despite our personal experiences we start with research. We need to collect as much data as we can to inform our design objectively.

Let's first take a look at what other types of seating exists at the PDX airport.

Very clean, elegant, and within in the aesthetics of the environmental identity. Amazing.

Now lets look at the gate that I've actually gone through myself.

One thing that is clear is that people gravitate toward the graphic wall on the left side with the angular window sills even though it is not padded, and there are plenty of vacant seats.

One explanation could be that the window sills naturally create a barrier preventing strangers from invading your personal space. Once you claim it you have 3 to 5 ft around you that is your space. It now becomes socially awkward for a stranger to sit next to you. Naturally you almost have to ask for permission to sit in their space.

The traditional seating on the other hand encourages invasion of personal space. The seats are packed so tight, your claim is that one seat, possibly two by placing your bag on the seat next to you but even still you feel kinda stuck, cramped, and on alert of anyone who attempts to sit next to you.

Another thing to note.

Consider sitting in a movie a theatre, a bus, a car, even an airplane. They are just if not more tightly packed… why do they feel more comfortable than at a waiting room?

It's in way these chairs are positioned; back to back and facing the person across from you…

You have no sense of safety. There's someone directly behind you, almost touching heads. Someone next to you, and someone in front of you looking at you…

A movie theatre, in a bus, a car, a train, and a plane for the most part, we are all facing the same way and are not forced to be squared up with the person sitting across from you.

Considerations

Dynamic seating.
Tall backrest or enough separation back to back.
Stylistically in the realm of Aerial, Sky, Flying, Comfort, with accents of wood.
Power access.