  We report the efficient and fast ($\sim 2\mathrm{Hz}$) preparation of
randomly loaded 1D chains of individual $^{87}$Rb atoms and of dense atomic
clouds trapped in optical tweezers using a new experimental platform. This
platform is designed for the study of both structured and disordered atomic
systems in free space. It is composed of two high-resolution optical systems
perpendicular to each other, enhancing observation and manipulation
capabilities. The setup includes a dynamically controllable telescope, which we
use to vary the tweezer beam waist. A D1 $\Lambda$-enhanced gray molasses
enhances the loading of the traps from a magneto-optical trap. Using these
tools, we prepare chains of up to $\sim 100$ atoms separated by $\sim 1
\mathrm{\mu m}$ by retro-reflecting the tweezer light, hence producing a 1D
optical lattice with strong transverse confinement. Dense atomic clouds with
peak densities up to $n_0 = 10^{15}\:\mathrm{at}/\mathrm{cm}^3$ are obtained by
compression of an initial cloud. This high density results into interatomic
distances smaller than $\lambda/(2\pi)$ for the D2 optical transitions, making
it ideal to study light-induced interactions in dense samples.
