Natchez, MS Upcycled Goods Design Center

1 - Upcycled Items, 2 - Design Center in Natchez, MS

Concept: Thinking 2022

Upcycle that introduces color.
Upcycle that celebrates diversity in the community.
Upcycle that educates.

Sideboard Upcycle

70” X 26” X 40”
A sideboard has shorter legs whereas a buffet has long legs.

Walnut wood tone, worn finish, solid carved wood.

Used to store dishes or set meals. Was often used inside the kitchen rather than the dining room. The “cup and cover” motif can be traced back to Queen Elizabeth during the English renaissance period and the ionic column capital has early roots in ancient Greece.

Countertop/drawers: wooden construction.
Cabinets: a series of wood columns leave functionality of cabinet doors.
Base/feet: columns and frame. sections above likely fixed to the base using a screw or adhesive.

Upcycle Treatment

Giving the piece a white wash finish will make the piece neutral colored, this opens up the ability of adding color in small amounts which in combination with breaking up the symmetry by redesigning the base of the sideboard gives the overall aesthetic a more contemporary appeal.

Under counter storage has been reduced to a single cabinet and drawer in order to simplify the excess detail found in the original sideboard.

Blazer Upcycle

A skirt suit traditionally made to enhance the professional aspect of a woman’s workplace attire has been modified by the use of “additive color” to enhance the otherwise solid grey color of the suit.

Blue Treatment: Enhancing the asymmetry.

Yellow Treatment: Elongating the form and adding symmetry.

Red Treatment: Flipping the hierarchy to the lower half.

Necklace Upcycle

A sterling silver bead necklace with turquoise
stones.
Length: 15 inches
Bead width: 1/4 inch .
5 pendants total.
Pendant widths 7/8”-1” X length 1.25”-1.5”

Symmetry on individual silver beads only, the stones themselves have an irregular shape quality.

Utility: accessory/aesthetic
Hierarchy: Stones, pendants, beads

Positives: Blue turquoise stone is a natural stone with stone cultural symbolism, stone color changing properties, very smooth, cool to touch, and changes color with sunlight.

Negatives: single utility, weight: 60.9g

Turquoise jewelry can be traced back to early Egyptian civilizations as well as American tribes. The stone is found alluring due to its color changing characteristics and have been also associated to wealth.

Upcycle Treatment

Natural stones that are in the blue to green color spectrum have been added to the turquoise stones to create a pendant lighting. Neutral toned threads creating a “dreamcatcher” array and the inclusion of the necklace silver beads adds interest to the overall minimalist design.

Design Center and Showrooms For Upcycled Products: Natchez, MS

There is a large elevation change that needs to be heavily considered on the site for the design center and showrooms for upcycled goods.

Building F sits at the intersection of MLK Jr and Franklin street in Natchez, Mississippi and is the highest building on MLK Jr. street and the lowest on Franklin.

The zone shown by block A is adjacent to a parking lot that serves the church on the other corner on MLK Jr. street. The Parking lot is also significantly elevated higher than the corner existing building F.

Hand drawings for massing explorations reveals that new construction will require to be planned behind the historic buildings, this will also ensure that the presence of the historic buildings is highlighted rather than obscured.