The "original" Ten-Forward

[Unicron]

When Andrew Probert was doing initial designs on the Galaxy class, he had envisioned what eventually became Ten-Forward (which he dislikes, because he feels it's not really proportional to the saucer) differently. Instead of a big bar/lounge area, there were smaller observation decks where you could go and look at the stars. These areas would have been more private and contemplative.

While I think the final version was more or less okay, I do like this idea and sometimes wish it had been included either on TNG or a later series.

 

[Forbin]

Oh, 10-forward is definitely WAY too small to be the social center of a crew of over a thousand! What can it seat, 20 comfortabley?

 

[FalTorPan]

In my 2005 interview with Mr. Probert, he suggested that the four large window-like details on the saucer underside -- the features referred to as "fixed-focus navigational deflectors" in the TNG Tech Manual -- might actually be a large lounge space. That would be cool.

The interview also points out with a diagram why Ten Forward as designed wouldn't really fit in the rim of the 1701-D's saucer.

 

[Nardpuncher]

^^^ That's a great interview. It's a long page but I'm surprised how fast I could read through it.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Oh, 10-forward is definitely WAY too small to be the social center of a crew of over a thousand! What can it seat, 20 comfortabley?

Maybe there's more than one.

 

[Timo]

The ship certainly has a number of lounges that the officers and crew like to visit: we see several during the first season. There may also be dozens of bars and restaurants. It's just that the one run by Guinan is the most popular one, both due to the most central location and to Guinan's skill with people.

The only thing unrealistic about the setup is when Picard arranges important diplomatic meetings in Ten Forward, when he could at least once in a while do so in the Sky Lounge or the Purple Nebula, or the Restaurant at the End of the Galaxy (on Deck 42, of course).

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Forbin]

Oh, 10-forward is definitely WAY too small to be the social center of a crew of over a thousand! What can it seat, 20 comfortabley?

Maybe there's more than one.

There may be other lounges, but there's only one called Ten-Forward.

 

[Trekker4747]

The ship certainly has a number of lounges that the officers and crew like to visit: we see several during the first season. There may also be dozens of bars and restaurants. It's just that the one run by Guinan is the most popular one, both due to the most central location and to Guinan's skill with people.

The only thing unrealistic about the setup is when Picard arranges important diplomatic meetings in Ten Forward, when he could at least once in a while do so in the Sky Lounge or the Purple Nebula, or the Restaurant at the End of the Galaxy (on Deck 42, of course).

Timo Saloniemi

Well, it was the 10-Fwd set but for all we know it was another lounge along the rim of the saucer.

It always seemed to me that 10-Fwd was just one of many spots on the ship to hang out, it was just the most popular because of its location. Though, in "reality" it should've been larger. But it's a tv show with limited space for sets.

Those nice, dramatic, windows on the leading edge of the bridge "island" would've made for a really nice lounge.

 

[FalTorPan]

^^^ That's a great interview. It's a long page but I'm surprised how fast I could read through it.

Thanks!

 

[Finn]

Oh, 10-forward is definitely WAY too small to be the social center of a crew of over a thousand! What can it seat, 20 comfortabley?

I don't know. The student lounge at my old college (tho I'm gonna return this spring semester but that's a whole other story) is about the same size and it serves 2000 students just fine, not to mention staff, faculty, alumni and visitors who go there sometimes.

Children aren't allowed so many parents may not go there very often since they would be stuck with their kids often, so they probably have family friendly lounges to go to. Plus they don't go there at the same time. Also, there are probably people who never go there.

 

[kissthestar]

There may be other lounges, but there's only one called Ten-Forward.[/quote]
Well, there's also the 9-Backward.

 

[RoJoHen]

Oh, 10-forward is definitely WAY too small to be the social center of a crew of over a thousand! What can it seat, 20 comfortabley?

I don't know. The student lounge at my old college (tho I'm gonna return this spring semester but that's a whole other story) is about the same size and it serves 2000 students just fine, not to mention staff, faculty, alumni and visitors who go there sometimes.

Children aren't allowed so many parents may not go there very often since they would be stuck with their kids often, so they probably have family friendly lounges to go to. Plus they don't go there at the same time. Also, there are probably people who never go there.

All of this is true.

2000 people really isn't a lot for that size of a lounge. With their 3-shift rotation or whatever, you have to remember that 2/3 of the crew are working or sleeping. That only leaves 1/3 of the crew (what, 600-700 people) who are both awake and have free time. A bunch are probably hanging out in their quarters. Some are in the holodecks. Some are in the gym.

I think the size is pretty perfect, actually.

 

[roguephoenix]

yea always wondered that about the 10-forward, but i figured there were other rooms similar to it, much like you'll have the main hall of a bar and offshoots of rooms for more people.

still, the enterprised d is THE enterprise for me. even the e is not as appealing to me as the d is probably because i grew up with the d and means more.

 

[WillsBabe]

I never get tired of looking at Probert's designs. There's a real sense of adventure and of reality to them. I agree that Ten Forward is a great idea but the execution was bit lacking. It's too small and seems a little cramped, but they do different camera angles from time to time to try to make it seem more spacy.

 

[ST-One]

The other thing that really makes absolutely no sense at all about the 10-Forward-set were those 2 or 3 steps that devided the bar-section from the seating-area... stupid...

 

[RoJoHen]

Have you never been in a restaurant that had steps separating different sections? It happens all the time.

 

[ST-One]

Have you never been in a restaurant that had steps separating different sections? It happens all the time.

That is not what I meant.

Look, the windows on the forward edge of the saucer bend into the floor. There simply isn't any room for the bar-area to be lower than the the seating-area with the windows in the floor.

 

[FalTorPan]

The other thing that really makes absolutely no sense at all about the 10-Forward-set were those 2 or 3 steps that devided the bar-section from the seating-area... stupid...

From a set design perspective, the steps make perfect sense. They increase the apparent size of the set.

From a "realistic" perspective, they increase the height of the overall room, making it even less likely that the room would fit within the rim of the Enterprise's saucer.

 

[Timo]

But the steps also create the impression that there's no room to spare beneath the windowside tables, at the narrow rim, so they have to be raised by a few steps - while the bar itself, farther in, can afford to be higher, with a lower-down floor.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Forbin]

The rim of the saucer isn't flat, it curves up to the edge. Hence the dual-level floor to help follow the curve.

Part of the TV-set reason, I imagine, was to allow the windows to curve under the platform floor giving an impression of depth. Had they built it one-level-only on the stage floor they couldn't have done that. Hence the raised platform as an elegant solution to the design challenge.