iar 202. wi2.

The first space I designed reflects the properties of a crystal in its symmetry, brightness, and transparency. The room is 32'4" x 22'. The "kit of parts" I chose for this space was two walls and a column. One enters the room from a door centered in the wall and ascends several stairs to a higher level. A small pool, seven feet square and three feet deep, welcomes the occupant upon ascension. The pool serves for bathing, relaxation, and meditation. A column rises from the center of the pool. Directly above the pool, a projection from the ceiling echoes the interior void of the pool. Built into this projection are lights to illuminate the water. Natural light comes from six windows on the wall opposite the entrance and four windows on the wall to the right. An seven foot long inward-facing couch faces the pool on either side, the back of which serves as a wall, seven feet high. The walls provide for additional semi-private spaces, in which one can relax, prepare food, eat, etc. On the lower level, a toilet and a sink are located left of the stairs, in a little nook that receives the most privacy from the outside. A shower head projecting from the wall is located to the right of the staircase.

The second space reflects the process of crystallization - a shift from liquid to solid, water to ice. The room is very linear, measuring 11' x 32'4". For this space's "kit of parts," I chose two columns and a wall. One enters opposite a long wall containing six windows. Six windows are located on the wall opposite the door, which serves to illuminate the entire space. The left side of the room is rather asymmetrical, informal, and free-flowing. It consists of bathing and food preparation/consumption facilities. A wall separated the different functions. Beginning halfway along the length of the room, six stairs ascend to a higher level. The stairs and the higher level form the "solid" and "crystalline" side of the room. This side is completely symmetrical. A bed projects from the shorter wall and faces the stairs. A column frames the bed on either side for symmetry and a sense of formality.

The third space reflects the crystallization of an idea. The space is a square - 22' x 22', with two windows on the wall opposite the entrance and two windows on the adjacent wall to the right. The "kit of parts" I chose was two solids carved for occupation. One enters from the far left side of a wall and begins a short journey around the room, walking around the perimeter on a raised platform - one solid - and gradually "spiraling" inward and upward towards the center. This represents the journey one undertakes in the formation of an idea. The spiraling path also reflects the idea of meditation, as one ascends slowly and methodically. Along the way, in the corners of the room, are areas for food preparation, bathing, and using the bathroom. In the center of the room is a semi-enclosed nook - the second solid - with a cushioned seat, symbolizing the realization - "or crystallization" - of the idea. From this nook, one can look out towards the two windows of the wall opposite the entrance.

iar 202. wi1 revisited.

In last Friday's studio class, we were asked to revisit our "design bios." So far this semester, my flow of ideas has been rather labored. However, I feel quite a bit more confident about this first assignment than I did the first few days after it was given to us (as is to be expected). Once the details of what is to be expected have been mentally digested, this tends to happen.

Unfortunately, it will be hard to work out a concrete schedule of what I plan to accomplish each day in the next week or so because I'm still working through the design. I've decided on how to approach my concept - crystallization - in three different ways (one for each space I am designing), but a lot of little details need to be worked out before I can do most of the work that is required for presentation. I don't have very good time management skills due to the fact that I'm so methodical in my design decision-making. I spend too much time thinking and not enough doing.

In my last post, I typed out a list of my original goals for the semester. While all these goals still hold true, I can now narrow down the list according to what seems most relevant at the moment. Right now, I am concerned with improving and speeding up the flow of my ideas. I am also planning to become more familiar with certain computer programs in a matter of days, as utilizing them will certainly save time. For my perspectives, I plan to render them with markers on tracing paper, a technique I've used for previous assignments and was very pleased with.

I believe that I am capable of more than I think I am; it is just a matter of pushing myself to that point.

iar 202. wi1.

In Monday morning's studio, we were first instructed to write down some goals for the semester. Thus, I hope to…

…develop a better understanding of how people move, behave, and interact within interior spaces, which will improve my designs in a practical way…

…develop better time management skills to reduce stress and improve the quality of my work…

…have more confidence in my work as I develop a more professional outlook on interior architecture and design in general…

…integrate the principles and elements of design more fully into my work and my descriptions of it…

…develop a clearer identity of my unique design style (do I have one yet?)…

We were also asked to write down some of our design strengths. This is the list I compiled for myself:

- detail-oriented

- good at communicating with words (writing and grammar)

- perfectionistic (a strength and a flaw at the same time)

- decent drawer

- careful with craft

To this list describing my strengths, Cassandra and Kelly added:

- able to produce thorough design layouts to communicate to an audience

- good at defending ideas

- produces clean work

The change style indicator exercise categorized me as a "conserver," borderline "pragmatist." This seems fairly accurate, but is not exactly what I wanted the result to be. I tend to be a bit rigid in my approach to problems and projects, but I have a strong desire to generate explosions of creativity!

Throughout my life, my brain has not been able to decide whether it wants to be "left-brained" or "right-brained," a fact which resulted in some identity frustration. As a kid, I always loved to draw, but during my later teenage years, I went through a very "left-brained" stage in which I nearly abandoned artistic pursuits. I credit the Interior Architecture program with the re-awakening of my artistic side. I chose this program because of a nearly life-long interest in designing and decorating spaces, but I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into. As I move through the program, I understand more and more what Interior Architecture is about. I am interested mostly in the design of individual interior spaces as well as product design.

Learning new ways to "think outside of the box" is another fervent goal of mine. Being in this program has definitely helped to stimulate my mind, but I still have a long way to go.

In my designs and drawings, I would like to develop a unique and recognizable style. I hope to endow my future drawings with a slightly stylistic and whimsical quality without sacrificing necessary elements of realism. Nature has been and will continue to be a preferred influence.