In our plugged-in, multi-tasking, frenetically-paced,
cyber-ready world, we crave spaces that can be all things to us at all times.
We have come to view the terms multifunction and convertible as
contemporary lingo. These words have become so entrenched in our lexicon that
we may have forgotten that they are not a late 20th century invention.
Though commonly associated with humble situations - student digs, the starving
artist's studio, and the lowly bedsit - multifunctional space actually has much
more aristocratic roots; dare I say, even royal lineage. The medieval castle's
great hall and later, the grand salons of royal palaces, were all
multifunctional spaces. Though built to impress, the functions carried out in
them were many and varied.
Rooms created for specific purposes are only recent inventions of the late 19th
century. With the rise of the Industrial Revolution and the Victorian era,
importance was placed on social standing and with it, a complicated hierarchy
of etiquette and rules.
Before this, the concept of a separate room for eating was unheard of. Dining
could take place anywhere, and it did, usually on a whim; in the garden, in the
salon, or even in the boudoir. With an army of servants in attendance, a table
and chairs could be quickly set up anywhere.
This was the inspiration for our space. Drawing upon history, we have created a
convertible space. Ours is modern and comfortable, yet though it is based upon
the past, it is servant-free.
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