Residential Units

On Wednesday, we presented our ideas for the apartments. Here is the presentation that I exerted a lot of energy to finish on time...

Notice the slogan: Live.Shop.Play.Energize.
I like that it covers every function for the site, but its also short and sweet.

Unfortunately for me, the 2 bedroom units in the middle of the building aren't feasible. Aparently according to code, there cant be an apartment unit with no windows...image that. And while the skylights were a fun idea, I dont think they'll work very well with this space, at least not how Im using them at the moment. I also need to reconsider the existing windows and how they will work within the space...Obviously, I have a lot of reconfiguring to do!

Game Plan

As we start to plan out the spaces, we've been working on a space plan for the entire site. Here are images of my space plans and traffic flow plans, in floor order (1st, 2nd, roof)

Since building 2 is the largest building, Ive decided to use it for residential space. Most of the apartments will be located on the first floor, while the second floor will include a lobby space with access to the green roof courtyard located on top of building one. Elevators and staircases placed evenly throughout the building create a very easy traffic flow through the 2 buildings.

Site Analysis

Design Haiku

Jo spread out a bunch of pictures throughout our studio space and we were told to choose one that connects to our idea behind the Oneida Mill redesign. We were then given the opportunity to write a haiku connecting the image with our idea. Im not a poet, but here is the end result.

Connections exist

Between people and places
Where busy lives merge

The idea behind this haiku is that the spaces will be laid out so that whether you live at the mill or are just visiting, there is plenty of opportunity to connect with new people. There will be plenty of community space, and an encouraged social life will be apparent.

The uses of each building are as follows:

Building 1: Retail Center
Building 2: Residential Units

Building 3: Restaurant Space
Building 4: Theater/Event Space
Building 5: Public Gym

There will also be a number of courtyards, including outside dining, playgrounds, and stage areas connecting the 5 buildings to each other.

Oneida Mill

Oneida Mill is an old cotton mill in Graham, North Carolina. It is completely run down, windows bricked up, and not being used for anything. For my fourth year studio project, I have the great pleasure of turning it into something beautiful and functional, creating a place to live, shop, and play! After a site visit, we got to see just how big this place is..and its huge! There is plenty of space to work with. Here is a Site plan that I will be working from.

Buildings 3 and 4 have a second floor also

Some Neat Lighting Fixtures

Here are some unique lights/luminaries I found while searching about. They are pretty inventive if you ask me...I want one of each!

These are also very cool, but a little...wacky. You'd have to be entertaining a crowd that has a good sense of humor!

Reflection

Now that the semester is over, its time to reflect back on the work I've done. I really enjoyed Retail Retold (IAR 301), and Im glad I had Suzanne as my teacher. I feel like I have a much better understanding on how a retail environment works. There is a system to setting up a store to draw people in, and its not as easy as I thought it would be. Im not going to lie, working on the same building...even though it was separate parts...got a little bit old. But it was more like real life than doing a new project every week. Although I normally dont enjoy group projects, working with Jamie and Jimmy was actually enjoyable. Im seriously considering retail design as a career option. I dont have a final grade yet, but honestly, I dont care about the grade. I feel like Ive come a long way from my first year, and Ive learned a lot about design -and about myself- since then. Ive done so much this semester to ensure that I was happy with this project, and I can honestly say that I am. I would LOVE to see Sight Waves become a reality!


(photo taken by Christine White at our family home in Blounts Creek, NC) :)

Presentation Template

Here are my ideas for my presentation template. Please let me know what you think!

Fixtures

Frustration

Im having a really difficult time trying to finish the layout of my store...I found a layout I was happy with, but then realized that I had forgotten about the columns, and ended up having to change everything. The digital walls idea is a great idea, but Im still struggling with what images to use. It doesnt help at all that Im not a master at photoshop..or that Sketchup keeps choping my walls into tiny little pieces. This time last week, I was really excited about where I was in this project, but today Im actually frustrated beyond belief, and I feel like my ideas are just slipping away while my project crumbles to the ground. Im in serious need of some help.

Sight Waves is a Monster Im struggling to tackle

2nd thought....
what if I change the location of my store? why not choose one that only has ONE set of columns? I think Ill have to try that...

Put into Perspective