Melcher Residence-Revit

This was a final project done in my Revit class where we were to practice more with the program while developing skills in Revit dealing with the exterior of the building's facade and openings. A very rough interpretation of a structure and more a model study, but a start to learning more about the program.

Painterly Space-Revit Model Study

This was my first real REVIT project that allowed me to explore what it was like to build a structure in REVIT from the ground up, as well as make a topography. As you see, this structure doesn't have a whole lot of detail and that is because this project was a form study. It allowed me to explore a structure and how it's over all shape and context connected with the exterior surroundings. This is the model of my Painterly Space project as seen down a couple posts. I am looking forward to my advanced REVIT class this coming semester and will learn much more about the abilities of the program, as well as how to navigate around it.

AIDS in South Africa-The Lost Generation

This was a group project that was done with two other people and it was submitted into the nation wide IDEC competition. This project addressed the AIDS epidemic in South Africa, but primarily the "Lost Generation". The "Lost Generation" is the people (mainly children) who have lost one or both parents to AIDS and are then left to deal with the hardships of raising their siblings, keeping a roof over their head's and food on the table. This can be very hard and overwhelming for children and teens with four or more siblings and is no way a child deserves to live. After doing research with the group we found that there was a huge difference in the daily life between a child with one or both parents and child with no parents at all. These children with no parents were forced to become the parent in the situation. We found that children who had a parent were able to experience their own free time and leisure after school and those with no parent had no time to their self, even to do homework of their own. This is why my team decided to design an easily interchangeable sports field that could be duplicated in the areas that were mostly effected by the AIDS epidemic. Sports and recreation are huge in Africa and so an outdoor sports field seemed to fit with what we were wanting to do. This sports field's many different playing field options was made possible by simply applying chalk lines with a chalk dispenser and providing the field with a sturdy, covered bleacher set. These bleachers would allow children to come with their siblings and watch them play while the eldest got their homework done or maybe even allows those who have no free time to enjoy themselves.

Market Third Place Design-Sassy Sangrias-a sangria and tapas bar

This is my third place in the Spokane Public Market, completed this last Fall. We were to come up with a design solution for a business establishment that would provide the market place in the downtown area with a third place setting. A third place is a place that you would call anything other than your work or home (your first and second place). This third place also was to promote informal association which is association you wouldn't other wise have with another person elsewhere. As a designer it was my job to figure out a way in which I could make this happen in my establishment with the careful selection of seating, decor, food and most of all space planning. This establishment had to have a great client program explaining how the design worked into the market and why it would be a great way to integrate the "market people" and the general public. The program also had to explain how the design idea would promote the market and more importantly, what element of the design would "connect" the market to it making it a working whole. My design is a sangria and tapas bar that uses all of Spokane's local fruits, vegetables, wines, and farmer's goods to make their sangrias and tapas. The market also uses Spokane's local produce and sells them with in the market place. When I visited this local farmer's market in the downtown area of Spokane, I noticed a wide array of people float in and out all day. This was very important and beneficial to know as the designer. I then designed a space based off my knowledge of knowing who comes to the market on a day-to-day basis. Besides the eclectic bunch of people you can always count on seeing in this type of space "market people", I too saw other kinds of people from different walks of life; the homeless, businessmen, families with small children, students and tourists. This is one of the main reasons why my sangria and tapas bar worked so well in this space. This not only attracts the wine lovers community, but also the market's eclectic bunch of people who may not think of such a place as a third place to them. I feel with my sangria and tapas bar I promote informal association amongst the market an the wine lovers community, as well as great talk about Spokane's wonderful food and people.

Griffel Retreat: A Musician's Retreat-Poster

This here is the presentation poster that goes along with the architectural model that I built for the client in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. On it are the floor plans of both the top loft/studio area and the main living space below it, an elevation/section cut of the South side of the structure, parti sketches from my process work, the inspiration piece, views of the finished model (exterior and interior), a statement about the client and finished space and lastly some nicely rendered views of the inside of this wonderful space. Of course with any projects comes many lessons of what not to do next time and also improvements from last time. After having been reviewed by some local designers and interior design professors here in Spokane, WA, I learned what was working overall and what could be changed to make for a better design. I feel I could have researched a bit more about some of the fixtures that I choose to use in the space and perhaps find ones to better suit the overall design. For example, the patio door that I choose to insert in the main living space as the rendered living room view shows could have been replaced with a nana wall. This nana wall rather than the goofy looking patio door would have been a better solution to my design, opening the view up to the exterior that I tried so hard to make apart of the over all design. I also learned that understanding the significant parts of my design and touching upon those while making them a huge part of the over all presentation is very important. For example, talking about how I created this space to ultimately define the line between public and private. I do this by having the North side (entry side) all wood and no windows eye level, and then on the South side of the structure having large floor to ceiling windows that overlook the gorge in both the bedrooms and living room/kitchen area. This was something that one of the reviewers really liked about my design, and said was done excellently, but was never talked about in my presentation. It's the small things like this this that make for an even better design next time. Very fun assignment, yet so hard to move from 2d-3d.

Griffel Retreat: Light Moment Study Model

Part of this Gorge project was to explore the different variations of types of light and their effects on different shapes, spaces, mediums and materials that may be relevant to your design. With doing so, you were able to move forward from this design with knowledge of how light may be cast when designing an actual 3-D space. My Light moment was then used in my space with the knowledge of when and where the sun rose and set on my existing relic. This was an over all great experience that helped me design a great space for Brandon to retreat to. I learned that dark spaces with a punch of light can really make the space memorable and inspiring. Also, that materials such as copper, reflective surfaces like mirrors and glass can also inter fear with light differently and cause un expected "light moments".

Griffel Retreat: A Musician's Studios Space

For this project we were asked to design a unique space under 1200 sq. ft for a musician, artist or writer and dedicated solely to his or her's art. This here is my musician's Columbia River Gorge Retreat where Brandon is able to come and relax while also having the freedom and space to write and record music. This space is a unique experience that begins at the entrance to the space as shown in the first image. The glass tubular like forms that are protruding both inside and out of the space are remittance of the light moment model I experimented with in an earlier study as explained above. This idea of the tubes that filter in light from the inside and out are carried to the top story of my space (Brandon's Studio) which acts as a loft. As you are able to see in the other two images, this light moment is a very inspiring phenomena and thus is the reason why I placed them in Brandon's recording space. The energy of the light that is produced from these tubes is in a high up and dark area, making for a big impression and more importantly a perfect place for writing and producing creative music. The retreat includes two 88 sq. ft bedrooms (one with a full master bath), a kitchen/living space, a full public bath and two patios on the South side both over looking the beautiful landscape of the Gorge. The top half inner tube patio includes an outside wet bar and room for patio seating. The landscape around the retreat allows for vehicle parking and also aircraft parking, as my musician is also a US Army helicopter pilot who owns planes of his own. This is truly a space that one can escape to spend time with family, friends and or himself. This space has all the amenities he needs, just not excessive amounts.