DiD Warehouse

Abstract

The warehouse will be seen as an outlet of décor elements and designer furniture as well as of South African and international décor shops and designs. A showroom of designer furniture (of well-known designers like Rietveld, Graves, Gehry, etc.) for the public and interested and affected parties will be provided. All the different functions must be integrated and the interaction between various designers and different décor elements will form an important aspect of the warehouse. DiD Warehouse must facilitate innovation and welcome new talents among collaborators along with the "design consumer", an informed and sensitive buyer who, by setting in motion a buying project of his own, is transforming distribution. Even retailers will have to change their attitude, and get rid of the "museum store" concept, that is, a space where the objects on display cannot be touched. The warehouse should be seen as an event place, which has a give-and-take relationship with the life and culture of the city and which attracts the visitor, plying him with emotions and services over and above a simple exchange of merchandise and money over a counter. Growth of any kind brings with it an ability to keep changing, doing away with moldy prejudices to make room for the new. Transformation, movement and lightness are, in the end, the words that best sum up the character of what the designer warehouse must be in the future. Time, scale and functional differences must be solved through the design and planning of spaces. The building will be seen as a "container". South African and international influences, as well as space perceptions of the Post-Modernist era, must be incorporated to set a precedent for the warehouse. A true South African influence and modern style will be reflected through the architecture. The furniture and décor elements will form part of the building and architecture, and must complement each other. DiD Warehouse will house historical and current designer furniture and décor elements, to ensure prospects, possibilities and opportunities for designers of the future. Local designers will get exposure to the international design industry, and a standard for each design and designer will be set. Differences versus similarities must positively reflect the diversity of South African and international design. Import and export of designer furniture and décor are going to be very important aspects in the administration and economical management of the warehouse. The architecture and interior design of the warehouse will complement each other and create the same feeling, that of inspiration, creativity, modern design, imagination, reality and exclusivity. a designer masterpiece as well. Every well-known architect has designed a piece of furniture in his/her life The building will reflect its function and the activities within the façade and architecture, and will aim to be time and the relationship between architecture and designer furniture is very important and dynamic. One of the most important functions of the building will be to launch careers and test ideas. The exterior (architecture and façade) will set a standard for what is inside the building and the warehouse will aim to set a precedent for future furniture development in South Africa. The building will strive to be a very important catalyst in generating designer décor and furniture. There is a demand for steady retail, which will revive the industrial and export sector. South Africa remains the powerhouse of the continent and medium to long-term prospects are good. This means that deals that can be successful today will become that much more attractive in the future. The warehouse must encourage other designers to make conscious use of design as a factor in the competitive process. Precedents will be the platform of the final product. The building must be adaptable and flexible to accommodate continuous changes in technology, fashion and the changing environment and way of living of each person. It must be flexible in terms of more possibilities, greater prospects and better investments. Young entrepreneurs must have the opportunity to show their designs. The warehouse will be educational in a theoretical, practical and visual way. Furniture design courses will be held from time to time as well as exhibitions held by entrepreneurs and "young-up-and-coming" designers. That will create contrasts in price and experience. The aim of the thesis is to design a modern designer furniture and décor warehouse (situated in a security business park) to fulfill the needs of the community and industry; to investigate well-known architects and furniture designers theoretical approaches and philosophy towards design; to ensure that DiD Warehouse will be one of its kind in South Africa; to set a market for our local talent and to reflect diversity in today's modern designer furniture and décor; to showcase local and international design for the public and to give everyone easy access to and from the building; and finally, to create a place (warehouse) from another century, not of the past but of the future - based on human relationships, master intelligence, respect and loyalty; which will hold the key to our future in design - the rediscovery of compassion.