Locker bays and hallways in high schools are seldom designed sufficiently for the gatherings that occur amongst students. The Inside Out system, alternatively, does not rely on an arrangement of fixed compartments to line the walls, but rather encourages users to reorganize pairs of bolted cubbies into either stacked storage systems or relaxed seating areas.
Each set of two irregularly shaped lockers is surrounded in a metal frame that extends to support an obtuse L-shaped seat and backrest. The metal cabinets act essentially as the bulk below the sitter. But the lounge-optimized orientation of these objects is not necessary, for in close-packed spaces they can be stacked into towers, alternatingly upside-down for more compact storage. Alexandre Avranches and Abigail Potie's Inside Out system is great for schools and staff rooms to foster a sense of community and shed the typical sense of sterility.
Stackable Locker Seating
Inside Out Supports the Social Scene of Student Storage Areas
Trend Themes
1. Modular Furniture - Inside Out's stackable lockers reveal an opportunity to develop more modular, reconfigurable furniture designs.
2. Social-optimized Spaces - Inside Out's locker seating system exemplifies the opportunity to create social spaces that complement traditional uses of classrooms or hallways.
3. Multi-functional Storage - Inside Out's locker seating system highlights a trend towards multi-functional storage solutions in small, shared spaces.
Industry Implications
1. Education - Inside Out's locker seating system presents an opportunity for education-focused furniture manufacturers to develop designs that facilitate social learning.
2. Office Furniture - Inside Out's adaptable storage and seating unit concept has potential application in creating multi-purpose seating solutions in small office spaces.
3. Hospitality - Inside Out's modular-style lockers could be used in multi-use hospitality industry spaces such as lobbies and shared work areas.