Free Your Mind!

So far in my design process I have come up with a couple ideas.  However I don't really have a clear vision of what I want the space to look like.  My concept so far is a combination of Converge and Twist.  The definitions are alike in that things are coming from different directions to make a whole.  I feel this ties in with the History of Greensboro being the "Gate City."  My vision thus far is to create these track/panel systems.  I imagine some sort of track system whether it be an actual track or maybe bars hanging from the ceiling.  These tracks would be coming from all directions and going in all directions like a railroad.  However there would be one point in the space where all of these tracks come together.  Then there would be paneled walls of different widths that could attach to these tracks and slide throught out the space.  You could put the panels together to make a room bigger or smaller.  It would be a way of being able to have a flexible space.  The panels themselves would probably be white but i need to do further research into that.  I also want to use glass somewhere in the space but I'm hesitant because of acoustics.  I would love my main structure walls to be red weathered brick.  The downstairs would be mostly for the gallery, collaboration studio, consultation room, and gallery store.  The upstairs however would be a cafe/lounge area.  No food would be served unless noted otherwise by a specific exhibition.  I would love the upstairs to be a bar/lounge however since it is university owned it probably wouldn't go over so well.  I imagine the outdoors to be very chic and modern with large sofas or chairs for people to sit on.  The indoor area of the upstairs would house mostly tables and chairs.  The cafe area would be mostly on the inside, however some of the bar would extend to the outside.  During nice nights when people are outside the bar would be open as one big area.  I would love to have some sort of panels that can be opened and closed to create an indoor/outdoor area or one big outdoor area.  I know that I don't want the skylight to be open to the first floor I feel it doesn't enhance my design at all and the natural sunlight coming from there would alter my design. 

Big Bold Balsy Ideas!

So in the past couple of days I have been doing some research on concepts that I feel fit the Hatchery.  With those concepts I found some inspirational images.  So far I have two main ideas, Twister and Converge.  In the next day or so I will be taking these concepts and generating two floor plans, and lots of ideas.  I think this will allow me to see what concept will work best with the Hatchery and allow me to generate a multitude of ideas.


TWISTED: To combine as two or more strands or threads; by winding together; intertwine.

I thought about this in the context of the Hatchery, where the students who would potentially be collaborating together would be the strands or threads.  The students work will then overtake the space and the space itself would be another layer of strands or threads, and all of these things would work together to form The Hatchery, a single twine.

CONVERGE: To come together from different directions; meet

I chose this definition of converge because I thought it best fit the Hatchery.  This is possible my favorite so far because of the amount of room it allows my thoughts to flow.  I feel this would be a an excellent concept for my Hatchery space because we are truly coming from different directions to meet for this.  Students will be coming and collaborating from different departments.  All types of people will come and meet for performances or shows.  Also we as designers are coming together and meeting as a group to hopefully one day make this space a real thing.

Refurbished Furniture

Here are my furniture pieces that I refurbished.  I forgot to take pictures of them before hand, but the first one was brown wood on the exterior and the top was covered with black fabric.  The second one was dark brown wood.

 2" 6" L x 14" W x 15" H

 

 works perfect as a seat bench under a standard window.  Also has plenty of storage and is very comfortable to sit on.

This piece will work well as an end table for a couch, chair, or bed.  Storage on bottom and in Drawer.  Dimensions: 28" H x 14" D x 16" W

 

Programming...yes i said it

This week while still working on Salvation Army we will also be starting the work on the Hatchery.  The first step: Programming.  In order to design a space that can be unique and easily used by any student or client that walks in we need to know exactly what we will need.  Programming is a pain in the butt, however it is necessary.  I did a bubble diagram that addressed what we would need in each individual space.  I put them in order of importance from left to right.  Also I made a list of why we would need certain things in our spaces.  I found that through out the entire building three things would ecspecially be important.  Lighting, Acoustics, and Display areas.  I believe these three things should be our guiding tools through out the design paying special attention to making sure our space utilizes these three aspects well. 

 

Inspiration for the Hatchery

Our next project for my Revisioning Retail class is to take part in designing a space called the Hatchery.  This space will be a museum/gallery space for students from UNCG to display their work.  The building is in downtown Greensboro, and will have four main spaces.  One, the actual gallery or exhibit space.  Two, a gallery store.  Three, a constulting space to make an appointment with an artist or musician.  And Four, a work space where students can collaborate on projects.  The first step in designing this space was to find inspiration.  Below are a collection of images that I found.  I found it helpful to find images in groups.  Such as most gallery spaces that house artwork are either completly white and little detail or old century baroque and gothic.  Also some museums depending on what the exhibit is, is very modern and uses technology a lot.  I also looked at stores that were kind of plain with pops of color or details.  I didn't find one theme or idea that I liked best so I decided to come up with a collaboration of all sorts of ideas. 

 

 Royal Palace of Venaria, Turin Italy

The Great Gallery

The Saint-Hubert Royal Galleries

National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

Interior of M C Escheresque museum

Museum of Telecommunication

Crocs shoes SoHo customized retail space

 

Louis Vuitton

retail store in Sydney Australia in "the strand"

Tis the Holiday season to GIVE!!!

The past couple weeks my revisioning retail studio has been finalizing our plan for displays in the New Salvation Army Select store in Greensboro, NC.  We've also been working in our promotional groups on projects.  While planning for our displays we've had to keep in mind that the store will be opening on Nov. 6.  This is three weeks from Black Friday and the official beginning of the holiday season.  But as Halloween approaches you can't help noticing the little hints of xmas decors' that are lurking in the back of most stores.  Even Hobby Lobby has all of their christmas stuff out, the only thing missing is the music!  So Brooke Elliot and myself have been working on ideas of how to add subtle xmas elements to the store.  These are the ornaments that I came up with and designed that could be stationed around the store.  I also have plenty of the red and silver ribbon that can be incorporated also, as well as glitter and spray frost for windows!!! oo la la