Archive for October, 2011

Overview

This project allows students to role-play, investigate and analyze the specific needs of a wheelchair user and relate those needs to the built environment – specifically the home and work environments.

Assignment

Client Profile

Your client is a single mom with a 10-year-old son. She is a well-known, highly respected painter and illustrator, and recently purchased a charming bungalow built in 1928 to live in and use as a studio. She is also a wheelchair user that has full use of her upper body and is fully self-sufficient limited only by the need for the wheelchair.

House

The existing layout of the bungalow does not adequately meet the unique needs and abilities of your client, and requires renovation to operate efficiently. The final design should include the following spaces/rooms:

• Living room
• Eat-in kitchen* (well organized w/dining for four)
• Master bedroom*
• Master bathroom* (include roll-in shower w/seat space)
• Bedroom
• Studio*
• Laundry room/closet

Demolition and relocation of interior walls will be required, but you must work within the existing footprint of the townhouse. No changes in the exterior walls are allowed, with the exception of door and/or window changes if deemed necessary.

* Utilize specialized cabinetry

Specifications and General Requirements

• Interior walls are 3 1/2” wood studs with 1/2” gypsum wallboard on both sides (total thickness = 4 1/2”)
• Two means of egress (min.) are required, and one is required in the master bedroom
• Perimeter walls cannot be changed, with the exception of adding exterior door(s)
• 10′-0″ ceiling height maximum

Barrier-Free Requirements
Kitchen

• Counter height: 32”
• Backsplash height: 14” (distance between top of counter and bottom of cabinet above)
• Knee space: 26-29” clearance at the sink, mixing area, eating surface and cooktop (with caution)
• Toe space: 9”(h) x 6”(d)
• Turnaround: 66-72” in kitchen, 60” at changes of direction
• Cabinet pulls: 18” A.F.F. minimum (no lower)
• Door levers (no knobs): 3’-0” A.F.F.
• Reach requirements (maximums)
  • Unobstructed side = 54”
  • Over 24” counter side reach = 44”
  • Unobstructed forward reach = 48”
  • Over 24” counter forward reach = 44”
• Mobile carts are helpful and have many applications
• Open shelving is beneficial
• Helpful space saver conveniences are multi-functional and convertibility

Bath

• Roll-in shower w/36” opening, 1 1/2” grab bars (x3), non-slip floor, seat or separate showering wheelchair
• HC toilet w/adequate circulation for transfer, 1 1/2” grab bars (x2), appropriate storage nearby for supplies
• Roll under sink w/insulated pipes and off-center drain, appropriate storage for vanity needs

All Areas

• Switch plates, thermostat height: 42” preferred, 48” maximum
• Pathways: 36” minimum
• Corridors: 42” minimum
• Doorways: 32” clear width minimum (pocket doors or double doors are options)
• Meet clear space required on the latch side of all doors for side or forward approaches
• Door swings must not encroach on the 60” turnaround diameter by more than 12”
• 60” diameter turnarounds must be placed as needed
• Lever handles are required on all doors

Special Requirements

• Stoops at the entrances must have a flat landing on both sides of the door that accommodates a 60” diameter turnaround
• 18” x 48” storage space located at the side entrance for inside and outside wheelchairs
• Ramps have a maximum 1:12 incline ratio and are required at the front and side doors
• Van is 6’-10” x 15’-6” and has a right side entry

Process:

• Sketches: 30 sketches (minimum)
• Reading: Color Space Style – Ch. 8, Construction Drawings and Details  for Interiors – Chs. 6, 12-13
• Writing:
  • Design Process and Conclusions Statement
  • Design Concept Narrative

Final Deliverables

Presentation Materials:

• 18″ x 24″ Drawing Sheet (vellum or quality drawing paper)
  • Demolition plan @ 1/8″ = 1′-0″
    • Include demolition key w/graphic symbols indicating wall, window and door changes
  • Furnished floor plan @ 1/4″ = 1′-0″ scale
    • Indicate key turn around areas on the plan w/a 60″ dia. circle
    • Include interior elev. symbols (kitchen and master bath), room labels and north arrow
    • Note: Ramps are required from garage and the front sidewalk into house
  • Elevations of kitchen and master bath @ 3/8″ = 1′-0″ scale (10’ max. ceiling height)
    • Max. ceiling height= 10′-0″ / Min. ceiling height = 8′-0″
    • Show the wheelchair user in at least two views

• 18″ x 24″ Finish Boards (x2, foam core)
  • Include all finishes, materials and colors
  • Schedules (door, window and finish)
  • Design concept narrative
• Include Title Block on each sheet/board that includes
  • Project name
  • Your name
  • DSGN 242
  • Fall 2011
  • Sheet number (1, 1 of 3, 1/3, etc.)

Process Documentation:

Neatly organize the following process documents in a report binder or folder with your name on it.

• Photocopies of all sketches/process drawings
• Completed universal design experience worksheet

Schedule + Deadline

• Wed., Oct 12: Project 3 assigned
• Fri., Oct. 14: No Class (Art & Design Visiting Committee), independent progress
• Mon., Oct 17: Experience wheelchair use, needs list, concept development (bubble diagrams, adjacencies, space planning)
• Wed., Oct 19: Floor plan and furniture placement (w/barrier-free circulation)
• Fri., Oct 21: No class (Fall Break), independent progress,
• Mon., Oct 24: Floor plan and furniture placement
• Wed., Oct 26: Floor plan and demo plan due – Group critique @ beginning of class, Elevations
• Fri., Oct 28: Elevations
  
• Mon., Oct 31: Elevations, finishes + schedules
• Wed., Nov 2: Finishes + schedules, presentation drawings
  
• Fri., Nov 4: Finalize presentation drawings + materials
• Mon., Nov 7: Finalize presentation drawings + materials
• Wed., Nov 9: Design process and conclusions statement due (post to blog), Finalize presentation materials
• Fri., Nov 11: Project due at the beginning of class – Final Critique

Grading Criteria

Project = 25% of final course grade

Link to Grading Criteria

Resources:

• Bungalow Floor Plan
• Accessibility section from Interior Graphic Standards
• ADA Accessibility Guidelines
• Texas Accessibility Standards
• Universal Design Education
• Universal Design Alliance
• Barrier Free Living (Architectural Products)

The design concept statement intends to communicate, through writing, the primary concepts utilized in the design. It is often referred to as a narrative and should be approached as such – you are telling a story of the space. What is important about the space and why. What theories, information, approaches, etc. support the decisions you made. Is there an overarching theme or idea that ties everything together?

The design concept statement is not simply a description of elements within the space (the graphic presentation should communicate that adequately), but rather a description of the quality of the space. With that said, please remove yourself from the equation – do not use the word or phrase “I” or “the designer.” This piece of writing is meant to describe the space, not the designer of the space.

The design concept narrative should be between 250 – 300 words.

Student Example

Daniel’s parents want a room where he and his older brother can interact and use their imagination. An existing master bedroom and bathroom in the family’s house are to be remodeled to meet this need. The design of the new suite for Daniel and his brother is a response to Daniel’s specific interests, as well as child development and color theories. The environment created is intended to nurture the brothers’ imagination, learning, growth and personal interests. After interviewing five-year-old Daniel, his interest in flying was clear; therefore, the primary theme of the space is centered on aviation. Antonio Torrice’s theories related to the relationship between color and child development are implemented into the design through the use of yellow, orange, green and blue, which encourage calmness, growth, wellness and speech development. “Centers” were created to provide distinct spaces for the brothers to engage in different activities such as games, puzzles, reading and kinesthetics. Overall the room displays a vibrant array of colors and an aviation motif to encourage and develop their interests, while having the flexibility to change as the brothers age.

Generic Example

A master suite has been adapted and renovated into an interior environment for five-year-old ________ and her sister. The solution is based upon the concepts of “Color, Choice and Convertibility” to fully complement the children’s growth and maturation, and to infuse a personalized design scheme. Guiding concepts for the solution were discovered during an interview with ________. The colors of choice are ________’s favorites: ________, ________ and ________. This spacious suite is designed for varied activities in a ________ theme reflecting the girls’ interests.

The west wall features a carpeted stage and a chest nearby contains dress up clothes. Another feature is a “Leaping Castle,” a three-foot high platform designed for jumping and harmlessly landing onto a large cushioned pillow. The secret to this special Princess castle is a hidden ladder placed inside on the east wall. The stage and castle are easily removed after the girls get older. Convertible, feminine bunk beds extend from the feature centered in the room. Each personalized bed is designed with safety and functionality.

Two paint easels on the south wall satisfy the girls’ creativity. Additionally, a bench and worktable are provided for computer work, homework assignments and art projects. Tile is used as the flooring in the art area for easy cleanup. A window seat is located in front of the large window for warm days and reading, and an adjacent bookcase contains many favorite books. A cabinet secures a wonderful aquarium to the east. The remodeled bathroom contains ample convertible cabinet space. A shower replaces the original bathtub and a new dressing room is located within close proximity to the bathroom and is accessible from two sides. The design solution provides a room full of favorite things according to the concepts of color, choice and convertibility.

Earl's low relief alpine mural

Digital drawings showing progressive detail

Earl’s Gourmet Grub is an eatery located in Los Angeles. FreelandBuck designed the interior space, including a large low relief mural along one wall of the space. As the second image illustrates, FreelandBuck digitally translated a photo of an alpine landscape into a grid-like pattern using progressively smaller squares to provide more detail. The finished piece uses white maple veneer laminated onto standard sheets of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), which is then precisely cut by a computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine.

Detail of de Young copper panels

After seeing this project, it reminded me of the de Young museum in San Francisco, which I visited a couple of years ago.The facade of the de Young Museum, designed by Swiss architects Herzog & deMeuron, was created using a similar digitally-informed process. The architects digitally translated images of tree canopies into patterns of circular perforations and indentions, which were then pressed and/or cut into large copper panels. The intent was to replicate the impression of light filtering through a tree canopy, which resonates with the tree-filled park in which the de Young is located.

Here is a recent article from Architectural Record that provides more examples of the use of digital fabrication in architecture and design.