Strapping displays, the story of a design

Strapping displays

Or how to adapt product design to architectural constraints.

Designing a practical object or piece of furniture is subject to constraints. Some, like ergonomics or cost, are obvious, others less so. This is the case for the specific architectural features of the place where the object is to be installed and used. For example, some reinforced concrete pillars do not need to be drilled. Fixing small pieces of furniture to them is therefore complicated.

Case study of the Pablo Neruda multimedia library in Malakoff

In the adult section of this library, the daily press needed to be highlighted. The only available and well-placed spot was a beautiful white, round, reinforced concrete pillar. A retaining pillar in which it was specifically forbidden to make the slightest hole.

In the absence of a solution, the management asked me if I could design some suitable newspaper stands.

The specifications for these displays were based on the following main constraints:

- To be wall-mounted without drilling holes in the support pillar.

- Display 5 newspapers in a minimum space at man-height.

- The newspapers had to be securely held in place, yet easy to remove and replace.

If we can't fix them, let's tie them up!

That's where I started. So I decided to create displays that could be strapped down.

The idea is to use straps to ‘girdle’ the displays to the pillar. The straps slide into slots at the back of the display, where the buckles are hidden. For one display, 2 straps are provided, but there's nothing to stop you putting 2 displays on 2 or 3 straps. It all depends on the diameter of the pillar and the layout chosen.

As far as aesthetics are concerned, brushed stainless steel has again come out on top, because it's a material that ‘blends in’ with its surroundings. For a more graphic touch, I opted for red straps, a colour reminiscent of certain decorative elements around the building's windows.

This project was worth doing because it could happen again. And it did!

For the La Buanderie media library in Clamart.

The only differences were the diameter of the pillar and the desired aesthetic.

For the diameter of the pillar, we simply chose longer straps.

In terms of aesthetics, the pillar is black, while the displays and straps are black. Only the gold metal elements were added to hold the newspapers securely. The irises are inspired by Art Nouveau, as the building is a former Eiffel-style industrial laundry dating from 1890, the birthplace of this artistic movement.

In conclusion, if you're faced with this problem of architectural constraints, opt for our display stands with straps! On request, they can even be harmonised with the style of the place where they are installed.

Contact us.