Cassandra's Design Strengths

Cassandra is a strong designer in how she is able to take experiences in everyday life or from travel and interpret them into her designs. She appreciates thing that others may not notice and turn them into a stand out part of many of her designs. She also has an extensive knowledge of unique design ideas that others have done and can take inspiration from them while making her down very different.

Bookshelf Exploration

Dual Comfort

Exploring the "sleeper sofa"

User Needs

Unity Village : Harold Kramer : Specs

Kitchen Standards
-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
-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.

-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.

http://www.nkba.org/Guidelines/default.aspx

Phase 3 Concept

The concept for phase two of unity village was to create order within the chaos of the everyday by utilizing the grid which naturally occurs within the existing architecture of the building.

My client is an elderly man who uses a wheelchair. His love for book collecting shows me that he is relaxed by his collection. Also, the fact that he is a collector and enjoys showing off his books means that he is naturally orderly.

When his children and grandchildren come to visit there can be chaos within the space because of the abundance of people in the limited area of his apartment. Order must be ceated to make the apartment seem like a peaceful and orderly place even while his family visits as well as allowing him sufficient space to maneuver his wheelchair.

Who is Harold Kramer?

Mr. Kramer is a retired, 63 year old man who uses a wheelchair. He often had his children and grandchildren visit and they use the guest room quite frequently. Often the living room will function as a makeshift guest room. Mr. Kramer is an avid book collector and enjoys displaying his vast collection for visitors. He eats out often and only cooks when his children visit.

Final Perspectives

View into food prep area


View of reading/relaxation corner


View from food prep area into daycare


View of hall leading to daycare

Rendered Floor Plan

First Perspectives

View into food prep area


View from food prep area into daycare


View of reading/relaxation corner


View of all leading to daycare

User Needs

Spaces	Physical Needs	Psychological Needs
Lobby	open, plentiful and comfortable seating, inviting setting, well lit, secure, circulation	friendly, welcoming, sociable,
Reception	full access, wide visibility, informative	friendly, welcoming, approachable, sociable
Daycare	child safe/proof design, age appropriate toys, colorful environment, safety, well lit, circulation, divided areas for eating playing napping, desks, seating, storage, daycare only bathrooms, kitchen area, outdoor play area	educational environment, sociable
Offices	secure, well lit, desks, seating storage	welcoming while private
Meeting Room	versatile, large table and seating, presentation recourses, versatile lighting,	private
Coffee Shop & Internet Café	tables, seating, abundant outlets, coffee bar, well lit, outdoor seating	sociable, safety
Mail Room	mailing recourses, mailboxes	safety piece of mind
Bathrooms	toilets/urinals at appropriate heights for elders and children, hand rails, handicap accessible sinks and toilets, hand dryers at appropriate heights accessible soap dispensers, non-slip flooring,	private

Lyndon Street Artworks

Lyndon Street Artworks is a place where artist of all types come and work together to create a place that thrives with life and culture. Not only are there painters, drawers, sculptors, and multimedia artists but also musicians and writers come to Lyndon Street to perform and present to the wide audience that comes to enjoy the talent. When first entering the reformatted warehouse, there is a welcoming area with couches, tables, and the artwork of the various artists housed in the building as well as those who are affiliated. The first Friday of every month offers an opportunity for open viewings and networking with the artists which spreads the word of what these artists do and how they express themselves.

Design Thinking

The main ideas of design thinking that stand out to me most are the thoughts of design is big and should focus on small single objects for aesthetics. Design should also not just involve the designer. The people that would be using a space or the related demographic should be incorporated into design decisions and to find the needs that must be met.

For Unity Village:
The aspect of the first floor that I feel needs a large amount of attention id the daycare. The questions that I must answers are those of not only just aesthetics and safety but also taking into consideration what is going on in this area and how it will be used in multiple ways. While I have worked with children on many occasions I know somewhat of what children of daycare age like do to and what is most enjoyable to do. I can use this knowledge to create an area that will cater to the needs of these children and their caretakers.

IDEATION

[excerpts from Shaping Interior Space by Roberto J. Rengel]

-The decisions made during the early design stage become the foundations upon which the rest of the design is built.
-The concept of fit in interior design is concerned with issues of comfort, style, and occasion.
concepts start with no predetermined form
-design concept: an insightful and fitting overall basic strategy
-a concept in interior design could be said to be a general strategy or approach for the solution of a design problem having specific circumstances. A design concept aims to conceive a response to solve a design problem in a very particular way.
-The main concept addresses the main design problems of the project and provides a dominant structure or idea that all other design ideas adhere to.
-While some main concepts may consist of a single idea, most consist of a handful of ideas that, together, constitute a single, or at least consistent, approach.
-Concepts can be philosophical, thematic, functional, artistic, mood related, or stylistic.
-Design concepts can only be determined on a case-by-case basis when the particularities of a project are known. They are externalized through verbal statements, concept diagrams, and concept sketches.
-Written statements are most often used to convey character (image) concepts.
-The problem is that many written concept statements never get to the point. The point of design concept statements is to tell the audience, as efficiently as possible, about the designer’s approach to solve the design problem.
-The best design statements share the following three attributes:
1. Design concept statements speak more about the design solution than the design problem.
2. Design concept statements are selective.
3. Design concept statements are economical. [packs a lot of info into a short statement]
-To test a concept to determine whether it is a design concept, simply ask yourself the following question: Does this statement tell me anything about the approach to the design solution.
-One cannot possibly hope to address every single issue of the project in the design concept.
-ways of approaching design concept statements include the use of statements that try to paint a picture of the experience you can expect.
-Reducing the parts to a minimum requires some abstraction.
-Simple arrangements tend to work best.
-Young designers should also think simultaneously about order, enrichment, and expression while generating concepts.
-There are four important aspects to consider when coming up with the organizational concept for a project: placement, circulation, massing, and geometry.
-Relationships determine issues of proximity.
-The best organizational concept diagrams address the massing of the overall project.
-Generally speaking, it is a good practice to have less rather than more masses in space and simple rather than complex figurations.
-Recommended stages of concept development:
...understand the project
...identify salient issues
......this project is all about...
......truly significant aspects of the site include...
......unique aspects of this project include...
......the functional requirements obviously point to an organizational pattern that...
...a few adjectives that fit this project are...
...conceive workable approaches
...externalize the approaches
...consolidate ideas and choose a direction.
-There is a myth that concepts have to be unique and different.
-Ideas usually arise as thoughts, mental pictures, or diagrams or drawings while you sketch. It is important to capture ideas when they arise, even before judging them.
-Two ways to externalize concept approaches are visual and verbal.



Rengel, Roberto. Shaping Interior Space. second. New York: Fairchild Books, 2007. 138-71. Print.

Unity Village: First Floor Sketchup

The largest challenge that is present at the moment is that the first floor of Unity Village has a smaller interior floorspace as compared to the second floor. But this challenge is somewhat compensated by having balconies outside.

Preliminary Layout

As the designers for the first floor of Unity Village we began to layout the basic space allocations for each of the different space types. We needed to work these spaces around the preexisting structures such as columns, stairs and elevators.

Spaces:
Offices
Meeting Rooms
Daycare
Coffee Shop/Internet Cafe
Mail Room
Restrooms
Closet Space



After more closely examining the layout that we began with we realized that adjustments must be made in order to accommodate for the floor to ceiling windows and the placement of all the exterior doors.

Unity Village Scenes

Full Isometric


North Face


South Face


Ground Floor Parking


First Floor Entrance


Second Floor Perspective


Isometric


South Wall


North Wall


Ground Floor


First Floor


Second Floor

Makeshift Shelter Reflection

As a hands on thinker the Makeshift Shelter project allowed me to design in a way that I really enjoy and can flourish. While working with a team I was able to construct a functioning shelter which can be used as a haven for socializing while only using materials that were found. Being restricted to only using reclaimed materials helped to connect this project to the devastating situation that the earthquake in Haiti has caused as well as allow us to experience what the people of Haiti are going through. Between the beginning processes though the construction to seeing the final outcome of our project we always had Haiti in mind.

Beginning this project, my group members and I got together and came up with an initial plan for our interaction of socializing. We brainstormed what the definition of socializing would be and what kind of structure would allow for the most optimal way to invite conversation among people. After researching, we decided that a circular or many sided structure would allow for the most interaction and still enable all the participants to see each other. Once we decided on a hexagon we move on to think of what kind of materials we could use as the structure. While working with some cardboard we found a way to manipulate it into a triangle at such an angle to create a perfect hexagon. The restriction of five materials at first was a very stressful discovery but we found that it helped tremendously in the design of our shelter and created a stronger design overall.

The largest obstacles we experienced while designing and building the structure were how well the cardboard structural supports would hold up the weight of the roof and the design of the roof as whole. Instead of using glue we found that plastic write created tension in the columns and allowed for them to be more structurally sound without further adhesive. The bamboo and the left over cloth from the walls created a light weight while visually interesting roof for our structure. I realized that our design was a success when we had nine people in and around our structure socializing and having a good time. I was extremely pleased with the outcome of this project. I felt that our design was cohesive with the designs of those around us and all together formed a well composed city of shelters.

This project will always remain with me because of the large scale and how hands on it was. Also, the connection to the Haiti disaster made the end product a much more rewarding experience than had it been just to create a shelter with out significance.

Makeshift Shelter & Haiti Relief

Solo Reflection: The Friends and the Hut

One hot day in early summer four old friends, separated by different colleges, met up at a park to hang out and play for old times sake. After many hours of reliving childhood on the swings and merry-go-round the four friends began so seek shade to escape the midday sun. After walking down a dirt path they come upon a peculiar hut made of what looked like gray canvas and shower curtains. They first thought to stray away from the structure thinking it was a bum's hut but it's location in the middle of a field sparked too much curiosity. They cautiously ventured over to the hut and as one of the friends peered in she saw that within the structure were places to sit. As they entered, the relief from the sun relaxed them and soon they began talking about their college adventures and old memories of good times. The cross breeze from the doors on opposite walls was refreshing. The friends continued to hand out at the refuge throughout the summer as if it were their own personal oasis from life and the outside world.