UNused Perspective

Figured I'd add this perspective to my blog since it went unused on my board.  This Perspective shows somewhat the type of lighting in the space.  It is a view from the Reading Wall mezzanine.  I think the other perspectives are more effective in showing the space so I didn't add this one to the board.

Completed Perspectives

Surfing the web

Whenever I'm doing a task on the computer, I find myself on google looking at random things.  Since I'm near completion of my retail space, I decided to look at some different designs if I hadn't already looked at enough.

For a shoe lover like myself, I would love to walk into a shoe store different from the standard Champs or Footaction where I find myself in on a regular basis.  High-end Retail [above]

5 HR Energy

Im sitting in studio waiting to drink my 5 hr energy drink.  Between working my paid job and living in the studio my mind is starting to slow down.  Lets do the math its 12:00 AM Monday = 38 more hours until presentation.  I will need about 7 [5 hr] energy drinks to make it through.  This major has to be the most unhealthiest on campus.  

Street Art

I always find graffiti interesting.  No, I have yet to do my own spray painting on the side streets in DC.  But, I would love to.  Some call it vandalizing, and although it may be a crime in some cases I question it.  The personality, color, and art that it adds to urban areas is what defines the streets, and the neighborhoods.  When outsiders like myself, drive by old buildings, condemned homes and rough pavement, that has words turned into images, I see artwork.

Charlotte AKA the QC

Since I will be going to UNC Charlotte Grad school in the fall I am in the process of looking for an apartment.  The studio site is located in the historic South End which is downtown Charlotte.  I am looking to move somewhere near there, off South Blvd.  Which is also near the new light rail, that I plan to use to commute to and from classes.  

If anyone has any recommendations of places to stay somewhere near S Blvd please let me know.  I have been looking but Charlotte is no Greensboro, and there are so many places to look.

Podium

I am in the computer lab attempting to use Podium to render my perspectives.  I tried uploading them to blogger but because they save under a different type of file it is difficult to turn into a jpeg and upload.  The images came out decent for a first time at Podium, if I can get the hang of this soon I will use Podium to render for my finals.  Im hoping this program will work, because it has potential to make some nice perspectives.

Partying in Studio

Ok. Maybe not partying, but at the hour we were there you'd think it was party time.  

Final Site Model

Today I worked on the site model. It is complete, and ready for my group mate to add her designs to it. In the first critique we got a lot of feedback for not doing anything to the site model, instead we only explained what we planned to do. For the finals we will have our final plan, as Jessica's individual part of the project.

One more week= Complete

One more week of studio. There is much to do between individual designing/production as well as group production and ordering of samples.

Group Tasks:

We all decided that we would work on 2-3 things for the group production.  My tasks are:

1) Modeling- 

      Site Model specifically.  I have started working on that today, and plan to be done by tomorrow.  Pictures coming soon.

2) Rendering- I will assist Debbie in doing the perspectives/section renderings for the final presentation

3) Materials- Ordering material samples/board

Travis if you have any samples we could use for the presentation, that would be great

Individual Design Progression

As a group we decided to focus on our individual design project over the weekend. Previous blogs can be compared to this current image.  Ideas and space planning have progressed to this current design.  The stair and railing are made to seem light weight, and open.  This design expresses that idea.  Now that I have everything seeming light and open, the bookshelves seem heavy, even tho they are hanging shelves.

To Do:

• Pattern and Material changes to floor, significant to the circulation and movement through the space
• Window Display as Graphic in Retail Space
• Complete Stair and Railing system
• How railing is integrated below stair
• Lighting in space

Summer to do:

Since I will be moving in three months, and will be in need of a kitchen table I thought why not build my own. I know what I like, and who better to design for self than myself.
I want a table with clean lines, modern, and stylish but able to fit into a 1 bdrm apartment easily. Here is a precedent of something I found:

Individual Design = Retail Space

I am beginning to work with color, and materials in the space.  I have mainly woods and metals in the space along with neutral colors.  The metal accents the exterior materials used, such as perforated metal and panels.  

Influence on the design of this space came from movement.  For my final I am going to do a diagram that highlights the movement/circulation in the space.  I am still working on ideas for the Art store side of the retail space as you can see the images are focused on the bookstore.

This image shows the shape and material of one bookshelf, I have not formed the shelves or placed books in at this point.
The current design has an open stair, but I will need space for storage and a reading wall below the loft. I am trying to keep the space as open as possible, to not block out any views to the main focal point which is to and from the cash wrap.

Pre-Final Review

The Pre-final review went really well as far as the design of our project.  We received good feedback from the visiting professors, as well as realized some small changes on our own that need to be made to the architecture of the building.  

Now, that I can turn my focus to my individual design I may discover things that will effect the architecture.  The exterior back facade is so disconnected from the front, that I'm hoping some of my interior design decisions can influence window placement and materials on the exterior.  The location of the retail space I am designing is located on the back side of the building, and window placement, lighting, and materials will play an important role in the design.

Re[telling] it

After the first review of my individual project, I contradicted the linear shapes in my retail space. Now, I am keeping the same elements but making them more linear.  This is my re [design] of the space. And some ideas for a the loft design. 
The strongest and more emphasized areas in this retail space is the reading wall and bookshelves. This space emphasizes reading heavily. While it provides some art supplies, the main purpose of this space is to be able to relax and read.

Bookshelves for Retail Space

These are two ideas of hanging bookshelves in the bookstore/art store.  Because the store will be split between two levels, I imagine bookshelves being on the bottom floor with a metal pole giving the appearance that it is hanging from the ceiling.  The shelves give the effect that they are mobile shelves, but are not.  

I have two types of shelves below, the curvilinear shelf gives more of a consistency to the interior design of the building.  *If anyone has suggestions or comments please feel free.

Working on the digital site model

This is our site, from Tate St. past Highland Ave.  I have just traced the lines in Illustrator, to extrude the lines in sketchup.  Wish me luck!!!

Group Materials

Universal Materials throughout the building:

Gravel Wall

Water Feature

Wood 

- Light Ash

- Dark Walnut

- Bamboo

Perforated Metal

Sculpted Ceiling tile

Modular arts

Colors- Green

rubber flooring

carpet tiles

tile floor

brick- spine wall

metal cladding

brushed nickel

Pin-up

These are some rough sketches of ideas for the individual assignment.  Working with 20 ft from floor to ceiling I want to break up my space, and create a loft above for readers.  This drawing below shows an idea I am working with to create a loft on the above boundaries of the space, and still allows a view to the outside as well as below.

Further exploration of the Retail space is shown in the sketches below.  The reading wall, being the crazy idea that it is, has stuck in the design of this space.  I am trying to discover a more reasonable and realistic way to design a wall that one must climb into, in an interior space.  

Urban Design

I don't know if its the fact I was raised right outside of a large city.  Or that I spent most of my teenage years on and off the subway exploring Washington DC seeing the good and the bad. But, I have become more and more interested in urban design. As I drive through Greensboro, I imagine crowds of people at City Center Park, or walking down Elm St.  I wander what is downtown Greensboro missing during the day and during the night that does not constantly invite people to it. Cities have become my passion. 

"No urban area will prosper unless it attracts those who can choose to live wherever they wish". - Jonathon Barnett

Individual Design

The ceiling plane and floor plane in this retail space create a very dynamic space.  The colors draw your attention to the store.  While the merchandise contrast with the color.  Changes in floor color, and ceiling heights creates a movement throughout the space.  

 

These images introduce me to some retail designs, as well as bookstore designs.  I chose these studies because they had some impact on ideas that have followed our design process so far.  

  

Interest in the open stairway, stair design, and programming of stair and checkout space.

 

Stanford University Bookstore

Thinking forward

  

The feedback given during the midterm exam, influenced my focus on the central core.  Prior to the critique our group knew we needed to look at the central core, form, function and aesthetic more closely.  In the sketches, I have changed the form and added function to the reasoning for changing the form.  Since our focus is on views, I turned the central core into a tower that looks out onto Greensboro.  The tower is taller and wider, and I gave it purpose to going to the top.

Working Model

This model was completed for our midterm review of our building on the Lee St. site. I had the oppurtunity to work on a site model for the first time, and this was very beneficial.
The model above explored the scale and porportion of the central core to the two separated buildings. The wood blocks on site show the scale of surrounding builds, and how the building designed contrast the scale, material, and form of existing buildings.

Assignment 3.0 = Materials Study

After reaching a proposal for the building, individually we looked at materials that could compliment, work well, or contrast; the form, site, campus community and/or greensboro. The materials I chose contrasted the campus community but complimented the idea of the buildings form. I found some sustainable materials that compliment each other on the exterior, but contrasted with the interior materials. Adding color to the exterior of the building makes different elements of the building standout. The interior materials have a natural look, but provide different textures. I chose these because our major and interest make us hands on people, and the textures in the building provide a different feel.

Perforated Metal- intended to be used as an exterior element that attaches to the building and works as a shade over the N and S side of the building. This material adds to the idea of creating movement throughout the building. The application of this material leads one's eye across the facade of the building to the main entrance.

Local Recycled Rock- used along with a cement sealant as a wall application. This is an interior material, intended to be used where pin-up space is not. This type of wall adds texture to the interior environment. Because we are hands on people, the interior materials have different textures rather than all smooth surfaces.

Cork furniture- gives personality to furniture. Has ability to tack notes, or projects onto furniture.

Bamboo Slats- overhead application, creates level changes in the ceiling

assignment 2.0 = Midterm Building Proposal

Side facing campus

Side facing lee st.

After long nights over the course of a week and a half we reached a breakthrough in the proposal of this building.  With the orignal idea of an art form, we designed a building that uses different materials than others in greensboro to standout from lee st, the height of the building can oversee to other iconic buildings or important places in greensboro and the central circulation route connects the two buildings (private & public).

Furthermore we must explore the design, material and form of the central space that connects the two buildings.  This structure is an important element to the concept for our design, and must standout more.  

final spring break of undergrad

Spring Break I visited the National Building Museum in Washington DC. I couldn't take pictures in the gallery, but it was nice to see the work of an Architect who designed areas/spaces/lookouts along 18 National tourist routes in the mountains of Norway to allow tourist to take in the beauty of the country. The spaces were built on different sites (site models were included with extreme changes in topography) with different concepts to give tourists exposure to different parts of Norway nature.
http://www.nbm.org/exhibitions-collections/exhibitions/detour.html

Trip toward Atl.... didn't quite make it

   

Campus Night lighting