- iARC design blog -

FINAL: specs and diagrams

2010-12-12T18:52:00.000-08:00

Material Specifications

circulation diagram

space massing diagram

foot traffic diagram

FINAL: details

2010-12-12T18:06:00.000-08:00

cad drawing of the full storage wall

perspective of storage wall

detail board

labeled detail

cad drawing of all 4 doors opened

detail of the sliding walls open

alyssa's detail of the Skyfold Classic partition wall

Diana's detail of the amphitheater

FINAL: renderings

2010-12-12T17:51:00.000-08:00

Rendering from inside the multipurpose room looking out onto the amphitheater space.

amphitheater view

multipurpose room with the Skyfold partition up, showing how the space as a single large multipurpose room.

FINAL: multipurpose/amphitheater space presentation

2010-12-11T20:50:00.000-08:00

North/South Elevations

Siteplan

Consensus 11/19/10

2010-11-20T11:44:00.000-08:00

sketch showing how the circulation desk is going to connect the whole building, we haven't decided on a single unifying element right now but it will span across the whole building.

After our presentation at O'Brian-Atkins as a class we knew we needed to come to a consensus on some of our design concepts. So we decided our main design drivers were Lifelong Learning, Community, sustainability/cradle to cradle, and also designing in way that would encourage inter-generational learning.

We also need to relate the interior of the space to the exterior of the library (i.e what interior architecture is!)

We also came to a consensus that the central circulation desk should somehow be the unifying element for all the spaces. However, there was some debate as to what the circulation desk should be, should we just have a 'book bar' instead of a fixed desk??

current cad plan we're all working off of, you can see the unifying band that runs through the building.

11-17 O'Brian/Atkins informal review: Multipurpose / Amphitheater Space

2010-11-19T21:43:00.000-08:00

Floorplan as of 11/17/10

Above is the floor-plan as we had it designed to present to O'Brian - Atkins, with the left being multipurpose/amphitheater as well as, the offices. The center is an atrium that connects and is a pause between the two sides of the library. The right side is the stacks, computers, kids/teens area.
These are the 3 pdf's that my group - multipurpose/amphitheater, presented today at O'Brian/Atkins for a pre-final informal presentation.

Materials:Furniture and Wall Options

Materials: textures and finishes

Circulation Diagram

Sections; building design

2010-11-02T21:53:00.000-07:00

These are the sections the group I was apart of did for our part of the building design. I was in a group with Lilly and Missy, we made these sections in Revitt.

Section cuts

North to South Sections

East to West Sections

Site Plan Charrette & Design

2010-10-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

sketch I did of the front of the library, rendered in photoshop

Sketch of the back of the library, rendered in photoshop

Current Site Plan, we took our square footage from 15,000 sq. feet to approximately between 10,000 and 12,000. The curved right side would have a glass curtain wall and that would be where the stacks are located. The left side is our "solid" side and it has office space, a meeting room, and some utility space.

We hashed out a lot of ideas today during class and collectively decided to move forward with the design that Sara and Maiken's group had proposed but obviously tweaking it a little. The main concept we took from their design was having a central circulation area with two wings that would branch off from that central atrium. We also played with ceiling heights and areas jutting out of the building. We want to have parking in the back as well as a green space dividing the parking and the library itself.

A sketch I did based on the site design charrette.

Vance Chavis Library - Building Design Charette / Advisory Meeting 10/15/10

2010-10-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we attended the Chavis library advisory meeting where members of the community and people who are connected to the library attended and we were able to present some of our ideas, as well as, get their feedback. Here are a few of the things they communicated to us through discussion and through a hands-on exercise we did with the people who attended...

Today, we decided what our concept statement would be for designing the library. The studio, as a whole, would have a unified concept which is,
"The re-design of the Vance Chavis site, building, and interiors will reinforce and strengthen the library's commitment to life-long learning, to community enrichment, and to environmental and social sustainability."

Vance Chavis Library - Site Design Charrette 10/08/10

2010-10-12T13:27:00.000-07:00

Overlapping rectangular buildings with a courtyard within the interior of the building and have parking on west side.
Entrance on North East Corner.

square shaped plan with parking on the west side of the building.
Entrance on the North East Corner

As a class we did a design charrette during class on friday october 8th. My group came up with three ideas for building shape and orientation on the land available to the library. An L-shaped library, a square library, and then 2 overlapping rectangles. My group thought the entrance would be best on the North East corner of the building because of the main roads that would trickle into Lee street from that direction and it would keep the entrance on the corner of benbow and lee street.

Current site design diagram based on what was brought to the table during our design charette.

As a class we decided on a more "urban" type design, specifically for the parking. The parking would be behind the building so that the library would be right up against the sidewalk and the street. Wanted to keep the square footage around 15,000 feet because that is the average size of the libraries that have already been remodeled in Greensboro.

Assignment 3.0 - Precedent Studies

2010-10-07T13:09:00.000-07:00

My precedent studies were on two separate libraries. The first was a library in the Greensboro library branches, the Kathleen-Clay Edwards Library located off of New Garden Rd. in Greensboro, NC. The other was the Viipuri library in Russia that was originally designed by Alvar Alto. Without realizing it, the two libraries turned out to be similar to one another. Both were built within parks, emphasized light and had specific areas for children. The first 3 images are from the Viipuri library, floorplans, a sunlight diagram I created from the information I found on the libraries skylight's. I also created an image diagramming the figure/ground adjacencies, along with the vehicular and pedestrian circulation around both libraries. I also took photographs of the Greensboro library and included the ones I thought my helpful to record for my precedent. 2 floorplans of the Kathleen Clay Library and another diagram which lists to features of both libraries.

Assignment 4.0 Site Analysis

2010-10-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

The first project we had to begin our designing of the Vance Chavis Library was a Site Analysis. As a group we were asked to study the solar orientation, vehicular/pedestrian circulation,historical context of the Library, as well as, the figure ground,scale/massing. I focused on the Solar Orientation and the scale and orientation of the spaces that are currently in use in the library. The first 2 images are what I created based on my studies of the building's solar orientation. The third and fourth images are the final boards my group presented. The last image is the diagram I created based on the spacial adjacencies that are in the current building in which the library is housed. The main thing I took away from this assignment is how important light is in a building and how poor the quality of natural light the current building is getting. Also, I realized how blocked off all the spaces in the current building are. There needs to be an open floor plan that allows for free flowing spaces.

FINAL DRAWINGS

2010-09-26T16:20:00.001-07:00

Sketch Models

2010-09-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

These are photo's of my sketch models.
-The top is a close up of my proposed dropped ceiling, I fell in love with this shape.
-The middle photo models (from left to right); wall heights in relation to one another with dropped ceiling, seating model, a model that explored color, wooden slats model (which I later decided not to use in my final design), the last is a model to explore material in the best way to make a curved wall in my model.
-The bottom photo models (from left to right) dropped ceiling, the first scaled model of the space, Since I explored human dimension in space to extensively I made a model of close social space, the type of space that I was basing my design around, I felt it was important to model scaled dimensions of the human body in one of my sketch models, the last is an exploration of materials for the color that would be behind the glass in my design.

Reading Room; seating study

2010-09-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

I also studied how one might sit while reading a book, these are a few of my sketches from that study.

Reading Room- Human Form Studies

2010-09-05T17:42:00.001-07:00

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As I was designing I shifted my focus to the human form. Its dimensions, personal space, and proximity to other people. Which led me to my final concept, Form Follows Function; the Human Form. All of my design decisions began to stem from this study.
The first drawing I sketched from the dimensions given in the book, HUMAN DIMENSION & INTERIOR SPACE by Julius Panero.
The second is a sketch model I made from clay that illustrates the "Human Ellipse", the model is also proportional to average human measurements.

Reading Room- process work

2010-09-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

Original footprint of the art gallery with square footage. Theres also some sketches and floor-plans that were apart of my process in designing the space. Mostly hand-drawn but one image was created in photoshop by overlaying a sketch of the curved walls over a photograph of the current gallery.

Reading Room - precedent images

2010-09-05T17:23:00.003-07:00

Some images that I found during my research that helped guide my designs.

Reading Room- process

2010-09-05T17:20:00.001-07:00

These are all images that I considered while designing my reading room.

Reading Room iAR 411

2010-09-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

Our first assignment for this studio was to design a reading room in or around the studio arts building on campus. I wanted to design mine in the art gallery thats located in the lobby of the building. Currently, the art gallery is somewhat of a wasted space. The doors are almost always so the space doesn't live up to its potential. Since the gallery is in-between the art side of the building and the interior architecture side all students could use it and would possibly build comradely between us as students. I began with an embracing concept but it slowly evolved into a concept that was centered around the human body's proportions in space.

Ashley Bedroom Furniture Shot

2009-09-16T18:12:00.000-07:00

This was an Ashley Furniture bedroom suit that was "West Indies".

Ashley Living Room Furniture Shot 4

2009-09-16T18:10:00.001-07:00

This living room set was a more modern group of furniture, so I tried to design the set accordingly. Shot for Ashley Furniture while I was interning at Viewpoint Studios

Ashley Dining Room Furniture Shot

2009-09-16T18:07:00.000-07:00

A dining room shot I directed for Ashley Furniture while interning at Viewpoint Studios

Ashley Living Room Furniture 3

2009-09-16T18:04:00.003-07:00

Another Ashley living room shot I directed while interning at Viewpoint Studios in Greensboro, North Carolina

Ashley Living Room Furniture 2

2009-09-16T17:59:00.001-07:00

This was the 2nd shot i directed as an intern at Viewpoint Studios, it's another living room shot for Ashley Furniture featuring one of their sofa and loveseat sets.

Ashley Living Room Furniture

2009-09-16T16:29:00.000-07:00

My first shoot I directed myself as an intern at Viewpoint Studios for Ashley Furniture. The main shot of the living room furniture, as well as, the "mood shot"

THE MILLS: section of the buildings

2008-10-07T09:49:00.000-07:00

THE MILLS: Floor plans for buildings 1, 2 and 3

2008-10-07T09:46:00.000-07:00

The Mills: Section of champions!

2008-09-26T15:29:00.003-07:00

Vestment

2008-09-24T18:24:00.001-07:00

CNNC Concept Statement

2008-08-26T11:39:00.001-07:00

My concept for CNNC's Cultural Center was based around making connections. My design encourages imigrants to connect with one another, the staff of CNNC, as well as their new environment.

My Presentation

2008-08-26T11:37:00.001-07:00

Final Floorplans for CNNC

2008-08-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

Model of Ground Floor

2008-08-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

CNNC Detail of Slated Wall 1"=1'

2008-08-26T10:52:00.000-07:00

CNNC LOGO

2008-08-26T10:51:00.001-07:00

Materials Presentation

2008-08-26T09:20:00.001-07:00

Employee's Lounge Axon & Model

2008-08-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Large Conference Room Axon& Model

2008-08-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

Lobby Axon & Model

2008-08-26T09:12:00.001-07:00

CNNC Reception Desk

2008-08-26T09:07:00.003-07:00

Final Section Elevations for CNNC

2008-08-15T09:01:00.000-07:00

My first CNNC logo

2008-07-03T12:53:00.000-07:00

CNNC sketches of reception desk

2008-07-03T12:51:00.000-07:00

CNNC Boards

2008-06-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

My concept for CNNC's Cultural Center was based around making connections. My design encourages imigrants to connect with one another, the staff of CNNC, as well as their new environment.

Cnnc Flooplans and Section

2008-06-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

CNNC Perspectives

2008-06-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

iAR 212: final VOTE poster

2008-03-04T10:26:00.000-08:00

STUDIO: roughdraft_floorplan & 1st section

2008-02-27T07:54:00.000-08:00

iAR 212: VOTE_roughdraft

2008-02-25T19:21:00.001-08:00

STUDIO: sketchbook process_exteriors

2008-02-21T12:47:00.001-08:00

STUDIO: sketchbook process_interior

2008-02-21T12:44:00.001-08:00

Quick interior sketches along with some dimensions for rooms in the space.

STUDIO: sketchbook process

2008-02-21T12:39:00.000-08:00

These are sketches that I did at the beginning of my process to get a feel for what i wanted the exterior to look like.

iAR 212: Nostalgic Remix

2008-02-20T21:43:00.000-08:00

Nostalgic Remix is inspired from "grandmas antiques". I thought this graphic tee shirt was very interesting because it has a pattern not typically found on a tee shirt on it. The lacy pattern is reminiscent of patterns found on older evening gowns for tablecloths.

iAR 212: Retro Modern Graphic Design

2008-02-20T21:40:00.000-08:00

"Retro Modern" Graphic design is a modern version of 1950's contemporary design. It utilizes bold colors and shapes

iAR 212: Pop Art Graphic Design

2008-02-20T21:05:00.000-08:00

There are two main ways to do pop art. One being a more cartoon/comic book style, and the other is usually related to Andy Warhol's work. The Andy Warhol style as well as the comic book style both utilize bold colors and images.

iAR 212: Bauhaus Graphic Design

2008-02-20T20:59:00.000-08:00

The bold color and simple shapes of this design makes it a good Bauhaus example. There isn't an extravagant layout or graphics, however it is still an image that gets your attention. You can tell the layout was carefully considered and images were strategically placed.

Studio: Cultural Center- first official (or unofficial) floorplan.

2008-02-19T21:04:00.000-08:00

Studio: Cultural Center - space planning

2008-02-19T21:03:00.001-08:00

Studio: Cultural Center - space planning.

2008-02-19T21:03:00.000-08:00

iAR 212: Subway Sublime

2008-02-19T10:14:00.001-08:00

iAR212: Final AD

2008-02-12T18:28:00.000-08:00

iAR: Manipulations

2008-02-12T10:34:00.000-08:00

iAR212: First Manipulations

2008-02-12T10:32:00.001-08:00

IAR 212- Ad: Original Pictures

2008-02-11T17:58:00.000-08:00

Our assignment was to take pictures of a man-made object and a nature-made object. Then we were challenged to manipulate the images into an ad.

Studio: Bubble Maps!

2008-02-10T22:41:00.000-08:00

IAR 212 Magazine Ad's

2008-01-31T07:53:00.000-08:00

1) Kohler Ad : I think this ad is really interesting. You know that it photoshopped or altered in some way but it is done in a manner that the image blends in with the background seamlessly.
2) Furniture Ad : I really liked how the background just fades into a sky. It makes the ad appear really dreamy.
3)DKNY Ad: The background on this one is really interesting as well. The way that the colors are enhanced and faded into one another really catches your eye.

Welcome Mat - Studio

2008-01-29T16:10:00.000-08:00

We were challenged to produce a "welcome mat" for a certain country without using any text. Spain was my assigned country. I began with simply doing research on the country and found that flamenco dancing was a really big part of their culture. I also loved the pictures of these women in elegant poses and flowing dresses. Music translate in any culture and is always welcoming, as is dancing.
I knew that i wanted to incorporate a flamenco dancer within my mat and i had also found that the guitar was actually invented in spain. So i decided to have horizontal slats in my mat to be representative of the guitar. I also made a flamenco dancer out of wire ribbon and starched it so it would hold and then accented the skirt with bright red and green ribbon.

IAR 212 Moods A Many

2008-01-28T18:13:00.001-08:00

We were each given an emotion or a feeling and we were asked to convey this emotion through a composition we were supposed to create in photoshop. I was given "Tense". The first images that appeared in my head when i thought of the word tense were sharp, pointed objects. The three images that i utilized were a cactus, rusty nails, and thorns.

IAR 202 Life Portrait

2008-01-25T07:08:00.000-08:00

From Dreamland to True Democracy

January 20, 2008 began as a seemingly ordinary Sunday breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Hickory, North Carolina. But the breakfast date between Renee Chaput, Katherine Atkinson, and Atkinson’s former employer at Boyle’s in Hickory’s Furniture Mart, Mehdi Amrani, quickly turned into a roundtrip flight to the enraptures of the North African country of Morocco.
Amrani began his tale as a child growing up in an affluent Moroccan family in the city of Tetuan. He stressed the relaxed and friendly nature of his native people. He described his home country as a “dreamland” where he could relax in his open courtyard, where no one was ever in a hurry, where the family could count on one another and came together for meals which may take hours on end. We were shown pictures of the architecture so brilliant with color and so meticulously hand-carved, painted, and tiled. It still amazes Amrani to this day that such architecture could survive since the twelfth century while nothing in America is more than 200 years old. With a smile, he spoke of the maids that lived with his family that would bathe them in their Turkish bath.
His world was tropical and mountainous all at the same time. Spain could be seen across the Mediterranean if he stood at the very tip of the city of Tanger where he would begin his tours when he worked as a Moroccan tour guide by bus. After becoming interested in Hospitality at school in Switzerland and Spain, Amrani would tour all over Morocco enlightening tourists at every stop from Tanger, down the Atlantic coast to Rabat and Agadir, then up toward the middle of the country through Marrakech. He practiced the many languages that he’d learned, including English, simply by talking to strangers. Morocco has a very diverse culture with three primary languages spoken: French, Spanish, and Arabic. When the tour guiding in the northern part of the country slowed down during the winter months, Amrani decided to venture over to the States.
After going back to Morocco for more tour guiding, at age 30, Amrani decided to begin a life in the states where he met his now ex-wife. He was contacted by a Vermont man who had met him while touring Morocco and wanted his expertise on importing antiques from Morocco. Amrani als During this same time, in Montreal, the synthetic fur business was heating up. Montreal businesses were opening synthetic fur shops in Vermont at which Amrani found himself working. Amrani simply walked into the store in his suit with no appointment and was directed to the manager’s office. The manager, being equally as foreign as Amrani, made an instant connection and hired him on the spot with no experience whatsoever. After 3.5 years the store closed down and Amrani became interested in the furniture market.
Amrani made some telephone calls to the large and expanding corporation known as Halfmancoeurs, centralized in New Jersey. He traveled there for an interview and was, once again, hired on the spot by the African American president of the company. That month, and every month and year after, Amrani earned rank as the top selling employee. “It’s all about people skills and connections.” After 13 years, the company had begun to go under and Amrani was ready for a change. After he and his wife divorced, Amrani moved to North Carolina where he had a brother living there. After a few months of relaxing, Amrani began searching for a new job.
Being the furniture giant that North Carolina is, Amrani knew that it was the perfect place for him. He made an appointment with the president of the Century Firm through a connection he had in New Jersey. After being told that there were no more positions, he received a call from the Vice President requesting an interview. Loving Amrani’s impressive record from New Jersey, he offered him a job and Amrani has been working at Boyle’s ever since.
And now, at 60 years old, when asked if he had any regrets, he simply replied, “I wouldn’t change my life for anything.” Amrani has no intentions of retiring any time soon or venturing back to Morocco for good for he does not intend to put up with the lack of a “true democracy.” He feels, as many of us do, that Americans often take their freedom for granted.

Pattern Perception IAR 212

2008-01-23T16:39:00.000-08:00

Our assignment was to find an architectural picture and then distort the image in photoshop and create a "naturalistic pattern". I found a modern home on the internet that was made of glass and wood for my image. Since this was my first time really ever using photoshop it was confusing to understand how tools worked. The pattern that I was trying to portray was an abstracted forest. I think for my first time using photoshop i did fairly well, i'm pleased with the outcome of my pattern.

Narrative

2007-11-16T07:20:00.000-08:00

Through Light, Color, and Materials a Suite with a simple elegance was produced. A space that infused tranquility and was functional for both mother and child.

2007-10-26T11:32:00.000-07:00

My Group's Color Model

2007-10-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

My color model

2007-10-26T11:29:00.000-07:00

Self-Reflection

2007-10-13T19:20:00.000-07:00

1. Comment on how this course has changed the way that you view design as a fundamental practice central to humanity.

Before I took this class I never really considered a building as a whole. I thought that the interiors were really the only thing designed specifically for a person. However, throughout history the majority of buildings (especially in the Eastern part of the world) were designed for specific people and for specific reasons. They weren’t just “visually pleasing”, they had a purpose for that society. However, in the United States we are so focused on building as fast as we can for the least amount of money that we can that we do not take the time to consider how the outside and inside of a building should work together. As a designer, I should be considering ALL aspects of a building.

2. Select one building, space, or object that we have talked about in class or is contained in the readings for this course. As you encounter this object, space, or building, suggest how it links forward to design practice today. Select an image of your chosen artifact and include that on your blog.

The Crystal Palace was a truly modern building for the time period in which it was built, and has helped mold our architecture today. It was one of the first structures to utilize wrought iron and glass as its main materials. They really tested the materials strength and durability because it is an enormous structure, both vertically and horizontally. This building was an inspiration for our modern day skyscrapers. We still construct skyscrapers out of steel and glass. And we are always trying to have the tallest building possible.

3. Accepting the view that we always fall back on history, how do we create a new perspective that both embraces the past and says something innovative about our present circumstances?

We need to find a balance in today’s society. We have the technology to build great spaces. But we need to start considering quality again, rather than quantity. By utilizing our technology and past inspirations we have the opportunity to be truly innovative. Mixing technology with Gothic, Classical, Greek and Roman Styles could result in modern buildings that would define us as a culture.

2007-10-09T18:18:00.001-07:00

Our "Moment"

2007-10-09T18:17:00.001-07:00

More Views of Our First Model

2007-10-09T18:14:00.001-07:00

1st Model of "My Sister's House"

2007-10-09T18:12:00.000-07:00

TEAM STATEMENT

2007-10-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

The combination of geometric and organic shapes flowing through the space gives a sense of embracing and comfort.

2007-10-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

INDIVIDUAL NARRATIVE

All of our charrettes and designs have been centered around the 1950's. We assembled a book of designers, artists and architects that produced work in the 50's and we have drawn a lot of inspiration from that. I research Tina Lefer who was a fashion designer. She saw that there was a need for casual clothing for women because the home was becoming a more laid-back environment.
When designing the interior, exterior, and moment models, as a group, we considered a lot of different options. We wanted for our space to be open and inviting. We wanted to use curved lines inspired from the 1950's design. But most of all we wanted for the space to actually feel like a home.

2007-10-05T11:30:00.000-07:00

Dragon Fire October 5, 2007

Our goal for my sister’s house is to allow the design to provide a welcoming, calming, and safe atmosphere while encouraging a positive outlook on life.

Today is my first day visiting the shelter where I’ll be staying for a while.
I’m excited and nervous at the same time.
Okay, I’m here and the place looks really nice from the outside.
It’s a uniquely constructed building, unlike the other plain shelters I’ve seen.
It’s time to see what the inside is like.
I walk into the lounge area and am overwhelmed with the sensation of being at home.
The room is suited perfectly for my son and me.
He points out how cool the recycled blue jean couches and curtains are.
He wants to take the pair he has on and make something with them.
I ask him if we could wait until he grows out of them, that shouldn’t take long.
I appreciate how resourceful they are by reusing the jeans; maybe they could let me in on a few tricks.
As we stroll into the kitchen my eyes are drawn to some very attractive cabinets.
I’ve never seen cabinets like these before.
They look like glass but feel more like plastic and they seem to have been dyed in a ray of beautiful colors.
This room is already one of my favorites,
it instantly raised my spirits.
There’s also fencing hanging horizontally from the ceiling used to hang pots and pans,
another resourceful idea.
Next we go into an office area,
another one of my favorites.
The room is sectioned off into private areas by using these dividers that look and feel a lot like the cabinets in the kitchen.
The dividers open and close by simply pulling them one way or the other.
This room will be perfect for when I need to do my schoolwork.
I’m about to be starting high school so I’m sure I’ll have a lot.
Finally I make my way over to our room.
It’s very nice and already has a few decorations.
There are several lamps hanging that are made from that same plastic-glass material I saw earlier in the kitchen and office.
They’re so cute and look like they came straight out of the 50s.
This place is amazing and I’m so blessed to finally have a place for me and my son to call home.

2007-09-20T18:44:00.001-07:00

2007-09-20T18:38:00.001-07:00

2007-09-20T18:31:00.001-07:00