Meet our new (temporary) book nook
When I worked on the farm in Costa Rica, there was a big painted placard displaying the finca rules, and it was kind of an inside joke that #1 was “Grind It Up” — because it didn’t really mean much, beyond citing the catchphrase of a local alpha named Tartuga. But friends and I would quote it a lot as we worked through house chores & personal trials, alike — “You gotta grind it up!” An equally silly and serious nod to the need for patience in life, and the investment of some tedious work.
I fantasize about Hybrasil House someday having its own big painted placard showcasing the main house rules, and I wouldn’t be opposed to putting “Grind It Up” on there in tribute. But if that is #1, #2 might be “Nook it up”, because that’s really my cultural battle cry!
Nooks !
Nooks everywhere !!
The cushion is currently just some upholstery foam with a blanket folded around it, but it does the job. We do, however need a softer back against the wall!
This isn’t just a preference I have; it’s a design philosophy for promoting community by facilitating passive social exposure.
See I wanted the layout of Hybrasil House to leverage its open floorpans, which are conducive to group hang-outs / casual salons / musical sessions, with nooks that carve out private-feeling spaces within that common area. Basically an introvert-friendly clubhouse.
Kind of what I understand to be a principle of Frank Lloyd Wright’s philosophy on architecture — celebrate the bright, open, elevated possibilities of claiming space, but don’t neglect our need for feeling sheltered, held, and cozy within that.
One example of ‘nook magic’ that we’ve enjoyed for a while is the “flop zone” behind the couch…
The Flop Zone behind the couch is a popular spot for painting portraits
Well really it was the need to clear space for a Christmas tree that inspired the latest nook here at Hybrasil.
Previously, the rolling cart of books had been flush against the pink wall — a wall that has always been destined to become the backbone of our community library — but I’ve turned the cart perpendicular to create a new corner, improvised some book stacks at the other end to enclose the space, and filled what’s in-between with cushions for a floor-level snuggle zone.
This is by no means a final design, but I like to do these vague installations before committing to a bigger project, so I can get a sense of how the footprint and sightlines of a hypothetical design will actually feel and change the energetics of the larger space. (This approach draws a bit from my training in Permaculture Design, which suggests changing one thing at a time and then observing for a while — through a cycle of seasons if possible — before making permanent impact or layering additional change.)
For instance, right now I’m using the book cart as a stand-in for a custom modular piece I’ve been mentally designing, which would actually have a kitchen cabinet on the outer side rather than more book shelves (I love to feast my eyes on piles of books, but the way I have it right now tells me it will be too visually busy for the dining area), and I’m also using it to assess how tall I actually want to build it, since the best use of space shouldn’t preclude the possibility of eye contact between people in the hearth area and the banquette, two zones that sandwich this nook on either side.
The dining-side of this new book nook. Right now just old paint cans & boards, but the next version will host kitchen goods here and be visually tamed by curtain that matches the banquette upholstery.
I think the depth will stay true to the roller cart and the height will go no higher than the edge of the top shelf.
In the ultimate iteration, I would like the inner nook shelving to be minimally stacked, or mainly decorated with objets d’art & candles — the idea is to have that space available for us to pile up our active reads, giving them a temporary home within easy reach.
Because, as you may know, at Hybrasil we each like to page through a bouquet of books at any given time, sometimes a pile of sources that relate to long-term research projects, sometimes an intuitive mix of pleasure reading, continuing ed, and local press … So those two or three shelves should create space for such impromptu collections to grow organically without feeling disorderly or in the way,
I think of this as a great gift to ADHD-type minds (which I both host and attract) — normalizing nonlinear literacy !
Finally, you see pictured above me in the first photo a big golden-framed bulletin board some neighbor once curbed a few years ago. It’s currently off-center since the re-arrangement, but I’ve decided to use it more intentionally as the blog develops, to serve the HH mission of signal-boosting locally-powered clubs and businesses that align with our value of Village… and to post some relevant headlines at the heart of our house discussions. In my family we call that a Kennedy Board — scéal fada, but if you see me around, ask me why and I’ll tell you ! So, expect to see more of that on here, and hopefully it will help connect us with other creative Austin institutions.