Reception Desk

The client, Creative York, wanted a reception desk to have a WOW factor. The goal was to have a permanent element in the gallery that was unique enough to draw in visitors walking by their storefront. Not only did the reception desk have to be unique, they wanted the design to be of neutral color/finish, and a design so as not to compete with the art on exhibit. The front of the cabinet is all sliding doors because the client wanted easy access to literature from previous shows without clutter. The area inside the desk has a work surface, is wired for data, with file cabinets and locked drawer for storing cash. 

 

This Reception Desk is made from Bleached Maple and translucent Hollow Core Polymer panels. The top is polished concrete imbedded with glass rods so the light transmits through the concrete. The design is sort of like a Japanese Lantern in the shape of a desk hovering above the floor. At night the Gallery is dark except for the illuminated reception desk, and very dramatic to passersby seeing it suspended through the windows. The engineering challenge was to have the cabinet bridge the space above the floor, and hide the structure with continuous inline sliding doors around the front. Very etherial. The desk itself is V shaped, 19’ long (< 6 meters).