The Basement Ceiling Saga, Part Two

   [Cue cacophonous organ.] I was now staring at the bottom of the upstairs floor joists. What to do? How can I replace an entire ceiling for cheap and still maintain the modernist flair of the rest of the house. Fortunately, I am in a position where I am free to experiment. All total, there would be three new ceilings to come.
   The most important asset of this space was the 8' plus ceiling height. In order to make the most of the space, all additional structure needed to remain as close to the joist as possible.
   The first iteration was made from pegboard and screwed directly to the joist bottom. The panels were backed with black felt to provide a cohesive look from below. I really liked this playful solution, however it did not provide easy access to the pipes and wiring.

   So the next version needed to allow for the same convenience as the original drop ceiling. A board and batten grid was developed and it worked! The panels could be removed easily, but aesthetically, I hated it.
   This dilemma was now in its second year and was weighing heavy on our weary hero. His wife did not care, nor did she find this problem to be a "big deal." She just wanted to know why they could not have drywall, like normal people.
   After years of studying modern design, there was a spark. A slatted bench came to mind as well as a flurry of maquettes. This was it, here is the horizon, could it be made and at what cost?