DOUG FIR GREEN ROOM COMPETITION / A Rock n' Roll Facelift
Skills Demonstrated: Student Design Team Competition Winner, Conceptual/Schematic Design, Participated in Design Build-Out and Construction, Worked with Low Project Budget, Sustainable Design and Fabrication, Furniture and Material Specification, Designed and Fabricated the "Recycled Bicycle Tube Woven Tiled Wall"
THE BICYCLE TUBE WALL / Design and Fabrication Gallery
ABOUT THE PROJECT: GREEN ROOM GOES RED! Article Courtesy of Doug Fir Lounge
Red Bull Energy Drink had the concept of a ‘Green Room Goes Red’ project, which was to re-design the Green Room of a local rock venue/Red Bull Partner. Then they wanted to take the project to the next level, in bringing it to life– with the hope of establishing Red Bull as a creative partner not just with an account, but also with the consumer– in this case, the Art Institute of Portland. And so the Doug Fir Green Room Goes Red Project was born.
Red Bull’s brand philosophy is to convey that “spark of excitement that rushes through the unique people who manage to transform their crazy ideas into reality, thanks to the energy in their bodies and minds” – Dietrich Mateschitz (founder and CEO of Red Bull)– and this was the perfect opportunity. Red Bull project manager Mauri Mansfield met with Doug Fir owner John Plummer and pitched the idea of a design-off competition to the dean of the Art Institute, Molly Deas. Molly loved the idea, brought in the school’s Interior Design department, and together they created a summer course in 2011 taught by Stacie Fischer. Consisting of 7 teams of 2 students, the course featured Saturday classes and special speakers including the local Red Bull management team, local musicians, and even used Doug Fir as a creative think-tank location. The final consisted of project presentations to a panel of Judges. Three teams won and ultimately collaborated on a final version from pre build-out through construction. The winning design team was made up of Anna Foltz, Kari Klingsporn, Victoria Magda, Courtney Roberts and Morgan Thomas.
Many long hours, weekend days, and calloused hands later, the new Green Room Goes Red project results were unveiled in January 2012. The final product incorporates elements and flavors of Rock n’ Roll, a very Portland-ish recycled bike tire wall (soundproof), and refurbished furniture producing one very cool space. Space elements include separate areas: charging station, diva vanity mirrors, a chill out space with a privacy curtain, food areas, a stage clock, suspended Red Bull coolers, and a preserved sticker wall extending graphics to a hand painted mural.
Curious why a Green Room is called so? Me too! The definitive origin remains a mystery, but here are some of the best answers I've found online. Just for fun!