Go Chair, Co-Creators Phil Kaplan & Jon Meade. Photo by Jim Dugan
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| Designed by Phil Kaplan Architect | Designed by Phil Kaplan Architect | Original Napkin Sketch |
Concrete Bench Design
Phil Kaplan and Jon Meade’s concrete bench was initially conceived as a public piece of furniture, one that would lend itself to multiple, socially accommodating arrangements using any numbers of seats in an infinite number of combinations: alone, back-to-back, nose-to-nose, in a circle or arc, a 3-pointed “star”, etc. The goal was to incorporate comfort, adaptability, security, durability, sustainability, sociability, ease of replication using local materials and a clean, streamlined design that pushed the inherent properties of concrete to their limits.
Their design allows, say, a Public Works crew to quickly and easily pop on the wheels, slide in the handle, and alter an entire park of benches of high-recycled-content concrete to a new layout in a matter of minutes. Once the handle is removed, the embedded steel sleeve accommodates any number of accessories, such as a lumbar support, light post, mini-desktop, or an energy-generating solar shade that can be swiveled to capture the sun’s rays as it moves across the sky. The black benches act as a thermal mass, holding the heat though the evening in cooler climates, whereas the white benches remain cooler for year-round use in the south. The solar-paneled module can harness the sun’s raw energy and run it through an integral converter cast into the bench’s base, generating free power accessible to all via an integral power outlet.
Phil Kaplan, A.I.A.
Phil Kaplan Architects
Firm Mission
Most people have an underlying fear of architects, both budget- and design-related. They are afraid that their desires will take a back seat to another’s stylistic ambitions and that these uncontrolled leaps of ego will not only bring them farther from their dream, but will cost them more than they originally imagined.
At Phil Kaplan Architects, we believe in “The Not So Big Ego,” a departure from architect as sole, independent creator of another’s space. This is fostered from a design process where inspiration comes from the building site and the clients’ wants, needs and personalities as well as the architect’s insight. All parties work together, taking one step at a time, to end up with a project tailored specifically to each client.
Our only style is to carefully listen to, assimilate and interpret our clients’ comments, and then to extract ideas and concepts from them, ones that on some level they already know they love. This guarantees high client satisfaction. Frequent communication and teaming early in the process with honest, talented and efficient builders assures the best chances of their budgets being met. Designing a new space, or renovating an existing one should be a fulfilling experience – fun and creative, and not overwhelming
Architect Profile
Phil Kaplan is a member of the AIA and a LEED Accredited Professional. He is also a founder and Vice President of the Portland Society of Architects, a community design advocacy group in Portland, Maine. He has practiced all phases of architecture and design while working at firms in Portland, Maine and Boulder, Colorado for over 14 years. His current practice focuses on residential design. As a LEED Accredited Professional, he advocates for sustainable, “green” design in his practice, including strategies that promote energy efficiency and high-level building performance. This commitment is reflected in every single project that comes out of his office.
His work has received a Maine AIA Award of Excellence in 2002 as well as an Excellence in Design Award in an international competition in 2004. His projects have been published in books and magazines, and shown on national television. Mr. Kaplan has served as exhibition juror and guest critic, and as Adjunct Professor of Architecture at the University of Maine at Augusta. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Holocaust and Human Rights Center in Augusta, Maine.
Jon Meade, Co-Creator
JMEADE DESIGNS
Jon Meade is a concrete artisan and designer, whose studio has located in Portland, Maine for 7 years. He has done work all over Northern New England, including many public Portland locations including Scales Restaurant at the Public Market, The Old Port Sea Grill, The Restaurant at 555 Congress, and The Foundry Lane Gallery.
He specializes in custom mixed, low permeability, diamond polished concrete which incorporates diverse materials as aggregate. He has participated in workshops alongside world-renowned concrete artisan, Fu Tung Cheng, and is a frequent attendee of the World of Concrete Conference. His pieces include furniture, vessel sinks, floors, staircases and bars & countertops of many shapes and sizes.