Behind the Scenes: Building Coroflot's Mobile Work Unit (MWU)
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Recently we unveiled our innovative new office to the world. The concept for the trailer-office, which we call the Mobile Office Unit (MWU), grew from a desire to create a space solution that referenced both the mobility and creative talent of the Coroflot community. It was also a perfect fit inside the old ambulance garage in downtown Portland, Oregon where it would be housed. The project was helmed by Portland designer Laurence Sarrazin and her studio LOS OSOS. You can read more about the garage in this excellent interview with Laurence from Interior Design Magazine.
If there's one thing we love at Coroflot, it's getting to see the process and hard work that goes into projects. Sometimes it's difficult to look at a polished, completed project and get a sense of everything that went into it. We asked Laurence to share some photos (and a video) of the construction of the Mobile Work Unit for a little bit of extra perspective on this exciting project...
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Here's the drawing set for the 2012 tiny house that would eventually evolve into the idea for the Mobile Work Unit.
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Inspecting the biggest round of the biggest tree. This one was seventy-two years old!
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We had fun making a rubbing of the tree while the wood was still fresh. These pieces would become the cabinets!
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The trailer has arrived at the garage and construction is ready to begin.
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Priming the brackets inside of the spray booth.
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Welding the brackets onto the trailer.
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The trailer and its parts are painted in Coroflot's signature color.
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The beauty is in the details (and sometimes the messiness).
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Tools of the trade are necessary. A little bit of inspiration is welcome.
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A volunteer from Portland State University's Architecture Department sanding the posts while beams are hoisted into place.
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Attaching posts and beams with bolts to secure the frame.
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Sanding more lumber.
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Always double check your to-do list.
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The frame is in place and the first polycarbonate wall panel is secured!
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Securing the raised roof into place once piece at a time.
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The punch list gets straight to the point. This is the home stretch!
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View from the outside of the Glisan Garage at 714 NW Glisan St. in Portland.
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Four months later construction on the Coroflot Mobile Work Unit is complete!
As a bonus, check out this video of the Mobile Work Unit being built:
Learn more about the Coroflot Mobile Work Unit:
Product Design Meets Architecture! Peek Inside Coroflot's New Mobile Work Unit!
Take a Look at the Coroflot Mobile Work Unit's (MWU) Modular Office System
You can also read about Coroflot's Mobile Work Unit on designboom, Fast Co. Design, Curbed, Dexigner, Treehugger, Contract Design, Design Milk, and of course, Core 77!