"jenga" 1.0

For this project, we had to design three spaces based off a concept word, each with a different form of the concept and a different "kit of parts". The kit of parts provided were: two columns one wall, two walls one column, and two solids. My concept word was "well up".

For the first space which is long and narrow (32'4" x 11'), I used the idea of bursting. Whenever something wells up, it eventually is forced to burst. I used the kit including 2 columns and 1 wall. The wall serves as a separation between the public and private space. A column is placed on either side of the wall. The countertop in the kitchen leads over to the first column where it encompasses it, becoming a table. Then the countertop is repeated in smaller scale as shelves that travels up the column, with decreasing intervals. The top shelf is elongated and makes contact to the 2nd column on the other side of the wall, in the bathing area. This system of shelves defines the idea of bursting. Before the burst, it gathers (countertop turning into the table and shelves), rises (shelves climbing up the column getting closer and closer), bursts (final top shelf), then spreads (top shelf leading to a new space). The materials for this space

help relate to the concept. I wanted the shelving unit to stand out and demand attention, so I have these being a black, shiny granite. Whereas the rest of the unit is more dull and neutral; concrete floors and exposed brick walls.

The second space is a 22'x22' square. The direction I went with this space was welling up and the way it represents elevation, verticality and linear forms. The kit of parts in this unit is the two solids. I designed a complex loft and built in center with ceiling installation as my two solids. Upon entering the space, you walk in under the loft, supported by wall planes and vertical beams. The loft houses the private space of the unit, the sleeping area and reading nook on top, and the bathing area underneath enclosed by the supportive walls. The second solid is a way to incorporate the other "centers" of the unit: kitchen, dining, study and living areas. A series of boxes and shelves make up these spaces to encourage unity and flow in the space. These solids represent the idea of elevation because there are many aspects that are elevated from the ground. The design of this space with the vertical lines and raised planes keep the viewers eyes going upward, towards the high, 14' ceiling. The materials used for this space are a concrete floor and deep mahogany wood to make up the solids. These two materials contrast each other not only in color, but also in luster. These material choices draw attention to the solids - upward.

The third and final space I designed for this space is the largest, at 32'4" x 22'. The concept behind this design was perhaps the most common view of the phrase "well up": extreme and overwhelming feeling or emotion. This space was harder for me to design because I had to base it off of something that wasn't physical, like the previous two. So I went with designing to provoke these feelings and emotions involved in welling up. Therefore this unit is meant to be shown off to friends and family and be a gathering place to make memories. The kit includes two walls and one column. My hope for this space is that the viewer will walk in and feel a sense of luxury and richness with desire to invite people over. The floors are a rich and very dark uncommon Qing Spyder Strand Bamboo, where the walls are made of a contrasting white marble. The walls are sinuous which is something that is seen less often. The walls are placed strategically so that the private area is clearly less important. The first curved wall starts with an almost full circle, housing the bathing area for optimum privacy. The circular wall travels around to create a barrier for the sleeping area. The second wall is introduced upon entrance, it separates the kitchen from the living area with a slight curve and an indented section with an overlooking bar table. The column in the space has a fireplace that fits around the base. This fireplace, the bar table, and the large public living spaces all help the idea of having guests and making memories.

Bio Revisited

On the first day of class this semester, we had a discussion about our goals, our strengths, and our general design biography. Class icebreakers like this can be difficult but interesting, and always leave me thinking.

When asked to write down some of my goals, I had to take some time to think about what I truly want for myself. One goal that I have always had is to strive to challenge myself. I want to do this by exploring other ways of doing things and see what works best for me. Another goal I have is to get better at expressing my thoughts and designs. I want to keep practicing and learning new software and other ways to render digitally and by hand. This semester I hope to collaborate more with my peers to get optimum feed back. I have learned that talking to my classmates and professors can really help so I want to do that more. My final goal is a goal that I share with most of my classmates. I am in this program to narrow my design focus and figure out what I really love designing.

Talking about personal strengths is something else that is hard for me to do. After being modest, I came up with a few. I believe that I can produce graphically aesthetic compositions. I also have adequate knowledge of a range of digital software and have the ability to learn new software quickly. Lastly, I am able to work well alone and also in groups.

As a typical design student, my many interests are broad. I came to UNCG into Interior Architecture with interests in residential design. I have a fascination for homes near the beach and the opportunity to relate the architecture to the surroundings. Then I found an appreciation for home restoration and renovation. I don’t know a lot about restoration but it is something I would like to experience and learn more about. Into my second semester of first year, I started looking into luxury hotel, apartment, and condo style design. Most recently, I have shown interest in retail set design. While some of these interests are more current, they are all options for me while I continue to keep my mind open.

The beginning of every semester is always exciting. I look forward to seeing how much I progress at the end of the semester and looking back at all I have learned.

wi2 (1.1 & 1.2)

356 Square Foot Apartment

When someone wells up with an emotion, the action that eventually takes place is the burst of that emotion. If you well up with tears in sadness, you eventually cry. If you well up laughter, a laugh will come out. In my design of a small, 356 square foot “apartment” with a 14 foot ceiling, my goal was to show this burst happening. Using only two rectangular columns and one wall, the spatial planning was a challenge. The wall is nine feet high and cuts the long space in half, separating public and private space. One column is placed in the kitchen and intersects 9 “shelves” of premium black granite. The first shelf acts as a table and continues to provide as a countertop. The next 7 shelves are smaller than the first and square. They climb up the column while the height separating each shelf gets smaller and smaller. The final shelf at the top travels over the interior wall and attaches onto the 2^nd column. The second column marks the perimeter of the bathing area, where the showerhead is. My concept of a burst is portrayed through this system of shelves and the columns. Starting at the bottom, the emotional path starts to produce and grow until it gets to its breaking point at the top where it spreads and bursts.

484 Square Foot Apartment

One definition of the phrase “well up” is to elevate and the idea of verticality. In a 22’ by 22’ apartment, my design portrays elevation and verticality with lofts and linear architecture. There are two main solids in this space. A solid basically describes anything that can be cut or molded from a mass (for example, the way a sculptor starts with a cube of clay or wood and forms something from it”. When you open the door to this space, you walk in beneath the loft space. The loft has two different levels to it and is the private space, consisting of the sleeping area and relaxing alcove for reading or personal reflection. This loft is comprised of vertical and horizontal planes overlapping each other, creating a private bathroom underneath. The vertical plane on the left of the foyer has vertical cut outs to encourage the concept while letting natural light enter the area, producing linear shadows. The other solid consists of several rectangular units creating areas for cooking and food preparation, eating, desk work, storage, then draws the eye upwards to a ceiling drop where it eventually leads back down to the floor with the same vertical cutouts as in the foyer.

712 Square Foot Apartment

Perhaps the most common definition of “well up” is to be in general full of emotion. The third and largest space I designed is 712 square feet and consists of 2 curved walls and a column. I wanted this space to show emotion with sinuous lines and to give off a beautiful and maybe overwhelming feeling upon entering. The main wall in the space starts in the corner away from the door with an almost full circle, where it twists around forming the boundaries that separate the kitchen area from the living area. The second wall is smaller and blocks off the far corner of the space for sleeping quarters. The column has a four foot diameter with an electric fireplace running through it and seating around it. The components of this space are large and perhaps oversized but it gives a feeling of luxury. The fireplace was added in the living room as a key piece for conversation to gather around or just for personal reflection. There is also a bar/table in between the kitchen and living room to encourage gathering. The idea of conversational areas is important to the concept because all sorts of emotions are likely to arrive when in the presence of family and friends.

wi1

In studio today, we had a discussion about our goals for this semester, our strengths, and where we stand in our design personalities. When asked to write down some of my goals, I had to take a few minutes to think about what I truly want for myself this semester. This is what I came up with: explore my design creativity in other ways by challenging myself, learn new ways to express my designs (new software and hand rendering), collaborate with my peers more to get feedback, and narrow my design focus.

As a design student, my many interests are broad. I came to UNCG into IARc with interests in residential design. Then I found an appreciation for home restoration and renovation. Into my second semester of first year, I started looking into luxury hotel, apartment, and condo style design. Most recently, I have shown interest in retail set design. While some of these interests are fresher in my mind, they are all options for me while I continue to keep my mind open.

Today, we did an exercise where we had to question the way we do specific things, giving each a number on how often we do it. The final number would tell us about our design change style and how we go about doing things. There are two main categories, which our scores placed us in: strong conserver and strong originalist. My score was 8 on the original side. Since it is close to 0, that meant that I was in a separate third group, the true pragmatics. Some of the characteristics of this group were: appreciation of change when its needed rather than change for change sake, practical and reasonable, mediator, prefers goals to help guide, able to learn from mistakes, values harmony in group work rather than making quick decisions. I thought these results were oddly accurate for me. I was also surprised that two of my classmates, Cassie and Faith, had the exact score as me.

Two of the strengths I believe I have are: good composition and the knowledge of digital software and ability to quickly learn new software. The image I chose to show illustrates these two qualities.