The reception area coming out from the elevator deals with compression. The hallway is lower in the elevator and continues into the reception area. The guests the feel a sense of release as the are expanded into the open, well lit communal space and break-out rooms. The art studios are an expansive space which highlights the length and abnormal shape. The walls are floor to ceiling windows with give the artists panoramic views with varying light options. The windows are encased in living walls which stimulates creative innovation and calms the individuals. The studio offers clean desks, multiple sinks, lockers, communal materials and a comfortable reading space for breaks.
Renditions of the same space are necessary in order to fully elaborate on the possibilities of a space. For my second plan I focused on a vastly different set of characteristics for the space. I challenged myself to eradicate any walls possible to blur the space between public and private and to allow an open concept plan while still being able to function as a research laboratory. While public space and private work areas are essential in a research environment, I rearranged the space into more easily collaborative space; such as putting the chem lab next to the small break-out brainstorming modules, or the art studios next to the plant research labs. Below is my updated floor plan. As you can see all the walls are now windows with the one exception of the plant research lab which needs to be contained without light. The paths of egress have opened, creating more accessibility, and there are more brainstorming rooms where cross-connections can be made. Also, the walls in the wood working lab and the fabrication lab are moveable which means that is something is large, the walls can be moved. Also, the walls for those two rooms are angled to decrease the amount of noise and dust that unavoidably happened when fabricating.
Another feature of the space is the rotating large door into the art studios. They rotate on a central hinge allowing them to remain open or fully closed to increase air flow or to create a more private space. This space feels open, connected, accessible and morphs with it's needed use which truly amplifies the office mission of stimulating cross disciplinary connection in the world of sustainable surfaces. Through thorough programing of the lab space I have finally been allowed to begin drafting. My first attempt I want to strongly relate the potential of functionality, with a clear division between public and private space. Since this is laboratory is private, and the innovation is on a need to know basis many of the rooms and opaque to deter the general public from curiosity.
Besides the scientific research another emphasis of the space was interdisciplinary collaboration between fine art and chemistry. Sharing work spaces, information and break rooms encourages cross connections and new ideas. Below is the first programatic attempt for the laboratory space. Goals: - The LA Museum of History and Science wants to emphasize collaboration between the fine artist and scientists to foster a strong sense of community partnership in the future of our environment. - To maintain the forward progression of bioresearch providing the public explicit insight into the changes they can make to their own lives. - To secure a safe space where an open door policy excites in interests the workers. Considerations: In this lab scientists are developing materials and plants that efficiently neutralize fine particle air pollution without creating ozone. The research includes exposing species of plants to pollutants that subsequently are scrutinized to learn algorithms of chemical desaturation in the plant cells featuring alkane substances. Cross-disciplinary studies are encouraged and supported in the facility by connecting scientists, bio-engineers, fabricators, graphic designers and fine-artists into proximity of each other. The facility offers public and private spaces, rentable art studios, a fabrication lab, a chemistry library and an advanced chemistry laboratory. - Functionally this lab will provide a interdisciplinary creative space via brainstorming brea out group spaces. - The researchers and the artists will share the same office space with no dividers or individual desks. - The space will foster cross contamination between disciplines resulting in more fulfilling conclusions and opportunities to explore subjects with different vantage points. - The building will undoubtedly expand and this lab will develop throughout the years ensuring the quality of the offered equipment and services are relevant. - Longevity of the space is not a prominent feature as the LA County office of Education (LACOE) understanding the importance of innovation. - The laboratory may not extend past the already determined floor plan. - The laboratories must have sanitation rooms, chemical hoods, and chemical storage. Probmatic Concept: Respect the integrity of the subject by ensuring no malusage of lab equipment. Employ the use of the weather to adjust the indoor climate and air flow to aid concentration of workers. Offer weekly classes to the public with the scientists to encourage the saturation of the research into the public realm. Weekly break-out socials to allow researchers to talk to other researchers and artists about the steps they’ve been working on. Rent art studio space to local artists. Space Needs: (Refer to previous post for more details) Designing the labs introduced new type of interior design geared away from architecture and instead, giving precedence to human flow patters, layout and space needs. After consulting with coworkers I have a better idea about what is needed in a lab space. I have also spent some time researching medical facilities to better understand the necessary sanitation parameters. Function:
- Since this laboratory deals with chemicals there will be ventilation which will decontaminate the air within the room as well as the air as it leaves the building. - Plant life within the office and brainstorming rooms will be visible due to the increased productivity of employees and the decrease in air pollutants. Form: - The relationships between the various labs must be versatile and employ some moveable walls in order to host large tour groups or weekly classes. - Most of the walls will be made of glass ensuring that sight lines are open which will encourage interest in other people’s work. Economy: - Since the laboratory will also be hosting a range of fine artists the space must include easily accessible art studios with ample storage as well as having multiple brain storming rooms and desk space for researchers and artist to interact. - The private and public spaces will be mixed which will secure a space for an open door policy. Time: Due to the increasing need of pollution reducing materials around the world as well as in the city the building needs to be constructed within the year. With the research the building materials on the inside and the outside will undoubtedly need updating, however they should be able to last for the next 10 years without needing to be replaced and repaired regularly. Designing the labs introduced new type of interior design geared away from architecture and instead, giving precedence to human flow patters, layout and space needs. After consulting with coworkers I have a better idea about what is needed in a lab space. I have also spent some time researching medical facilities to better understand the necessary sanitation parameters.
Below is my space needs list. This week marks the beginning of a new module at school.
Moving on from the retail/ interactive museum design, I have started designing laboratory floors 4-16. In this lab scientists are developing materials and plants that efficiently neutralize fine particle air pollution without creating ozone. The research includes exposing species of plants to pollutants that subsequently are scrutinized to learn algorithms of chemical desaturation in the plant cells featuring alkane substances. Cross-disciplinary studies are encouraged and supported in the facility by connecting scientists, bio-engineers, fabricators, graphic designers and fine-artists into proximity of each other. The facility offers public and private spaces, rentable art studios, a fabrication lab, a chemistry library and an advanced chemistry laboratory. Below are examples of the feeling I want to have throughout the space. Throughout the entire retail space my most important feature is that of communication and education. In order to do this I have created this living indoor/ outdoor space that has moving walls and a retractable ceiling.
To make ensure that my guests feel like the space is interactive and home-like I wanted to include as many natural finishes as possible, most of which will be locally sourced. Below are photos of finishes and inspirations for the space. My first programming of the museum felt inefficient, and cluttered. The space felt layered, but unorganized. I reprogrammed the flow plan of the space to emphasize compression and expansion qualities of air waves (executed by ceiling heights) as well as focused on creating a more indoor/outdoor space where visitors could be educated about sustainable living and coalescing their lives with nature. How do I go about creating an indoor/outdoor space that supports education and communication? Using the case studies from Morocco, India and Africa I wanted to stick with the idea of the central courtyard, ensuring that any additional levels could easily view down into it. I also wanted to feature a screen to block the sun on the West side of the building to shade the building from direct sun exposure. Below is the new plan view of the retail space showing how the second and third floors will be stacked and their site lines into the central courtyard. I also wanted to deemphasize the retail portion of the store, and decided that the ideas of compression would allow people to feel cozy and comfortable, but to eventually be drawn into the courtyard. Also, I wanted to give dominance to the learning aspect of the building. I fulfilled this function by dedicating one side of the space to retail and then stacking the learning levels on top of each other to give more weight and gravity to the learning portion. Due to this change in programming I rendered some new schematize designs which explored the scale and relationships of the project. Below is an orthographic rendering of the new space showing the North, West and East elevations. Also, in this new plan, I wanted to mingle visitors as much with nature as possible and as such the roof is retractable and can fold under the third level. Also the windows are on tracks and are able to open, teaching people that living with and in nature is possible. North is the front view of the building. The East elevation shows how the third level sits on top of the building as an extra entity. It also shows the angle of the window which will direct the viewer's eyes to focus down into the courtyard. The West elevation shows the glass wall which- in reality- will be covered with the Moroccan screen, but was omitted to show how the ramps will be stacked. In this rendering the American Disability regulations were followed. My next step was to develop the design into greater detail and give a more complete thought example of what the building and space was going to look like. Below is a rendering of the North side of the building without furniture. I feel satisfied with my progress and my redesign. The client does not care how long a design took, only what it finishes as. I feel confident in my final rendition of this retail space.
*** I have done more research on the act of programming which can be found in my 'Research' tab. I’ve solidified a floor plan which I am happy and confident will be a compatible skeleton for transmitting my Big Idea (sustainably connecting people with the natural world). I worked on showing layers visually by introducing two floating levels within the space. I also looked to the molecule for inspiration in the overall foot print, by mimicking their wide and narrow flat shape. Also using my research from the Middle East and African cultures, I centered the plan around a courtyard which will act as a way to incorporate nature into the structure, but also act as a socializing grounds where people may enter and thong out and chat. Below is my bubble programing floor plan that deduces where everything will go within the structure. After I decided where everything should go, I continued to narrow down what structures and furniture will be in the space. Keep in mind that this is simply the retail space in a larger structure, and also note the directional arrows. The whole building is actually built around the idea of the sun and wind directions. The west side of the building will be mostly covered in beautiful plants and grates to minimize the sun exposure to help the building not retain heat. Also the center courtyard will act as a fan by helping with air flow within the buildings. As such, the programming of the floor plan capitalizes on creating spaces based on light and people-traffic. Below is the floor plan with furniture structures and walls. The next important things to test is how people will move through the space and I wanted to begin thinking about what types of shoppers there are. How many people will actually walk up the ramps to access the third floor? What sorts of knick-knacks should be included in the store? I did a quick human-flow plan to see how accessible the different sections of the building are and how likely customers will be to pass by and see the merchandise. Below is my flow chart of human traffic and how customers might move within the space. I want to continue thinking about how people move within space. Even if I offer spaces which work with the idea of compression and release (like Frank Loyd Wright did), or create an interior which lets the customer feel supported, comfortable with an increased desire to browse, what I really want to focus on, is being able to create spaces which foster conversations. I want employees to be able to walk and educate the customers, as well as start conversations without being like sales people. I want customers to be able to check out where ever they are standing, like Apple, which will allow the employees to be more helpful.
Human interaction is limited these days when it comes to the interplay of technology and talking. I want to create a space that fosters real communication with face to face contact. One way to help that is to surround guests with organic shapes, plant life, neutral colors found in nature and constant steady airflow. Biomimicry as a subject has a vast amount of research on productivity and personal connection, some of which I’ve read. The next step is gathering my material board and really creating a sustainable, inspiring environment that intrigues browsing and supports conversation. For this study I also completed a study model which is documented below. |
AuthorAs a student at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle WA I entertain a variety of factors while designing space. Archives
May 2016
Categories
All
|