My Design Happiness

I have to admit, I am a big video game nerd. One of my dreams is to be a concept artist. My favorite game is Mass Effect (1 and 2). Unlike most games, the game-play isn't the only novelty as Mass Effect features a fully realized sci-fi universe complete with real characters and back stories that crowd my dreams and thoughts. I would love to take this final project as an opportunity to explore concept art and the idea of providing a glimpse of an entire universe, story and atmosphere with one scene. First I would like to take a cue from Tracy Wright (and her Van Gogh recreations) and perhaps copy to my best ability some of the concept art of my favorite developer Bioware.

Design That Makes Me Happy and Design I'd Like to Improve

This house/villa from Freshome.com is well designed and makes me happy. As I live in a finished attic apartment I have angled walls and window wells. Light coming into a space in this way has a lot of character and unique atmosphere. From the outside the structure is stunning as well. I can imagine playing soccer, or grilling outside underneath the structure's dramatic overhang. It's like being inside, while linked to the outside, and just as well being outside while feeling a sense of interiority and placement.

Everywhere we went in India, we saw these little Yellow and Green Moto-Taxis. They always made me happy when we saw them zooming in between traffic. They scuttle across the road like roaches with their bulbous shape and their small skinny wheels. I would like to redesign them so they are safer, more accessible, more efficient and sustainable, while still retaining thier distinct personality. I chose to do a water color to capture their personality.

Presentation Board

Karen and Sarah's Apartment Views

Case Pieces

Interior Elevations

Lighting and Furniture Specifications

More Sketches

Programming

Multi Plans

We drew lots of plans in class and since I hadn't even looked at my plan yet this exercise was very beneficial to me.

Piecing It Together

I had to make sure that my dance floor area and kitchen was open enough with the harmony I am making my way towards. So why not explore the possibilities with another set of sketch perspectives. I feel like I also have a close to finalized color scheme as well.

The Pieces To The Puzzle

These sketches illustrate individual pieces for Karen and Sarah's apartment. Walls can be built out to house some functions and storage of the space. though this truly compresses the space, it creates a psychological exspansion of space, as there is less busyness and visual clutter.

Case Piece Models

These models illustrate what I plan to do with my ceiling area as well as how Sarah's instruments will be displayed.

Design strengths of My Classmate Megan Kaufman

Above is the "hero shot" from a kitchen design project Megan Kaufman created last semester. Her strengths are many, as Megan's casual modern style features definite forms that seamlessly blend together. Her designs are never predictable but still familiar. Megan often incorporates furniture peices into walls, and even the ceiling. She seems to design with entourage in mind as furniture and storage pieces display art, cookware, and seating in a creative and thoughtful way.

Warm and inviting atmospheres are often created through Megan's soft color use. Her hard work and dedication has has brought her to a very refined and definite rendering style. Her attention to texture is always successful as she never "over textures" an object. Wood grains and granite sit in the space rather than stand out, bringing her renderings closer to reality. Megan and I share an affection for drawing scale figures as well. Her scale figures are often shown engaging the space, effectively illustrating its purpose and harmony.

User's Needs Programming

My Strengths As A Designer

Project development has always been about embracing impulses and instincts. "Unlikely" and impossible feats of architecture and form should be developed before being dismissed. Exploring different forms, colors, and functions ensures that my designs have character and that my imagination and interest is deeply invested. Putting a face on the user/client as well as his/her story informs the space I design. It is important to me to design with these person(s) in mind so that interests are not just taken into account but incorporated into the function and form of the space.

In my presentation of space I enjoy using hand drawing skills to reflect the fullest extent of expression and atmosphere. I find that the user's imagination is engaged in the space more so though hand drawings than by other means. People, pets and entourage can be depicted in their natural occupation of a space bringing the design even closer to reality.

Kitchen Standards

The following information was obtained through The National Kitchen and Bath Association

-Entrances at least 34" wide.

- Door should not interfere with appliances. Clearance should be 18" past door length.

- Work triangle should be used where distances travelled to each station should be between 4'-9',

- A large and tall appliance should not block two work centers.

- No major traffic circulation should pass through work triangle.

- Work isle width should be at least 42." In a "U" shaped kitchen the isle should be at least 60" wide. Spaces should have at least 60" minimum diameter for ease of wheelchair maneuverability.

- Walkways should be at least 36."

- Seating areas should have at lest 36" clearance between walls and counter table space. 60" for wheelchairs.

- Seated counters and tables should have 24"x18" deep knee space.

- Sink should be located between cooking surface and refrigerator.

- Knee space under sink 27" minimum for wheelchairs with a 34" max sink height.

- Sink bowl should be no deeper than 6.5"

- Exposed water ducts should be insulated.

- At least 24" Preparation area next to sink.

- If sink is located next to a corner there should be at least 3" frontage from adjoining counter with at least 21" of free space at adjoining counter.

- A section of continuous countertop at least 30" wide with adaptable knee space included.

- Countertop height should be between 29"-36" and adjustable for wheelchairs.

- Dishwasher should be within 36" of edge of sink. 21" clearance space between dishwasher and sink.

- Floor space of at least 30"x48" adjacent to dishwasher.

- Have at least two waste receptacles near cleanup/prep/sink areas.

- 15" of work area on handle side of refrigerator.

- 30"x48" clear workspace in front of refrigerator.

- at least 12"-15" of work-top area on both sides of cook surface. These areas must be at the same height as the cook surface.

-Countertop should extend at least 9" from back of cooking surface.

- Create knee space under cook top for wheelchairs with protective surfacing under the counter.

- 24" clearance between cooking surface and nonflammable surface above.

- cooking areas should be well vented. Vent controls should be placed 15"-44" above floor.

- Do not place cooking surface beneath a window.

- A fire extinguisher should be placed near the entrance/exit of kitchen.

- microwave oven and cabinets bottom should be 3" below user's shoulders and no more than 54" off floor. Microwave must be at least 15" off floor for wheelchair users with controls below 48" off the floor.

- At least 15" work area below or adjacent to microwave.

- 15" workspace next to oven. Workspaces across from oven must be at least 48" away.

- At least two counter heights should be offered.

- At least 158" of countertop 24" deep should be offered.

- use clipped or rounded corner counters.

- 150 square feet of shelf/drawer frontage for small kitchens, 350 for medium sized.

- Frequently used items should be 15"-48" above floor.

- GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) protection necessary for all appliances in servicing work-tops.

- All work stations should be well illuminated.

- At least one wall switch for lights. Lighting should be adjustable.

Bathroom Standards

The following information was obtained through The National Kitchen and Bath Association

-Doors minimum 2-10" opening.

- No entry should interfere with fixtures.

- Minimum ceiling height of 80".

- Clear floor space of at least 30" in front of fixtures.

- 30"x48" at each fixture for wheelchair maneuverability.

-Plan for knee space at lavatory for a seated user.

-consider wheelchair user's method of transfer to the toilet.

- Lavatory heights between 32"-43" according to user.

- Lavatory sink height should be no more than 34" for the seated user.

-Chipped or rounded corners on counters.

- Interior shower size at least 36"x36". 36"-42"x 60" preferred for a roll-in shower.

- Roll-in shower entries at least 36" or more.

-Shower controls located between 38"-48" above floor.

- Hot and cold identified with red and blue indicators.

- Controls should be operable with one hand.

-Grab bars 33"-36" above floor.

- Grab bars able to support static load of 250 lbs.

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-Controls in roll-in shower above grab bar but no more than 48" off floor.

- Handheld spray unit should be provided with at least 59" of hose.

- Shower seat 17"-19" above shower floor.

- A removable tub seat should be at least 16" deep.

- The waterproof material should extend at least 3" above shower-head.

- Bathtubs with seats should have a horizontal grab bar at side wall of seat and at opposite wall.

- Toilet grab bars located on rear wall and side-wall closest to toilet.

- Glass used in tub or shower enclosures must be tempered.

- Hinged shower doors open outward.

- If steps are necessary they must be placed outside shower/tub and a bar/handrail is mandatory.

- Slip resistant flooring should be specified.

- Toilets/bidets should be spaced 15" on center from any obstacle.

- Toilet seat should be 15"-19" from floor.

- Storage of frequently used items to be 15"-48" off of floor.

- Door/drawer pulls should be operable with one hand.

- User's height to be taken into consideration regarding mirror height. Full height mirror for seated individuals.

- Toilet paper holder should be 8"-12" from toilet bowl and and 15"-48" above floor.

- At least one GFCI electric receptacle installed within 36" of outside lavatory edge.

- Switches and Receptacles shall not be installed within a shower.

- Task lighting should be provided for each functional area.

- At least one wall-switch controlled light provided.

- Light switches must be suitable for damp locations.

- Mechanical exhaust system vented to outside.

- Ventilation controls should e placed 15"-48" above floor.

- Radiant floor system, toekick heater,wall heater, heat lamps/fans should be used for heating.

Detail Sketches

These sketches are based on the "everything is built into the wall" ideas I've been having. Karen's instruments are housed within the walls. They will lay in profile so their elegant curves harmonize with the space. The rings on the walls (previous post) curve down to create Sarah's balance bannister. Chairs and seating will be incorporated into the walls as well.

Building With No Plan?

Suzanne encouraged us to think about designing first before looking at our space plans. Based on some previous detail sketches, I decided to do just that. I started out with roughed in kitchen counter blocks and continued from there. As I want to focus on systems of tension I created a "hanging" ceiling. Bent half-ring columns support the ceiling while breaking off into more rings which begin to form shelves, the support bannister, and floor elements.

I often hold off color scheme development until the end of the project. This time I decided to find a photograph/painting of jellyfish to take my color scheme from. Though these colors can use some refinement this process was very helpful.

Building Tension

when dancers and musicians perform they "ride the rail." They teeter on a narrow path of indeterminate perfection complete with a certain level of stress and tension. My space must synthesize with that moment when the dancer is arched and the violinist's fingers are spread apart.

What can I do for Karen and Sarah?

Karen is a Music Therapy student as well as an excellent muscian, Sarah is a dance student who loves to cook. What kind of space would they like to live in?... I went out and asked them (figuratively).

I traveled to the far end of campus where the music students reside. I trudged around the busy hallways until I came upon two young ladies having Jimmy John sandwiches. Fortunately they helped me figure out what Karen needs.

- Large windows.

- Lots of open space allows the musician to create her own atmosphere out of her acoustic art.

- Lots of natural light.

- Hard wood floors may create an echo or make the space louder when played in.

- Integrated wall systems where everything is built in with a place in mind. Clutter is not good.

- Some sort of sound proofed partition may be necessary so as not to bother Sarah. Or perhaps there can also be some sort of design incorporating both of their abilities. One plays music while the other dances.

I continued on to the to the dance studios. Fortunately the three lovely ladies pictured above were able and willing to help me gain some perspective on the ideal dance spot.

- The ideal dance floor material would be some type of wood- perhaps bamboo.

- The space needs to be large and open, and once again free from clutter.

- A technology station connected to a camera which can film Sarah as she dances.

- Lots of natural light with a dimming system to provide some manipulation of atmospheric qualities.

- A place for exercise mats and balls.

- Some sort of privacy wall.

- A mirrored wall.

These students provided me with some perspective on Karen and Sarah. I need to create a space for their physical bodies while allowing their minds to transcend space.