Habitat for Humanity

On September 28 I went to the Habitat for Humanity site with a few other class mates. The weather was not the nicest and it was slightly raining. Once we got there we got an overview of what Habitat for Humanity does. We met all the workers and the woman who would eventually be living in the house. We went over the safety rules to make sure none of us got hurt, then we got straight to work.

There was a wall that was already started, so we got to assist in finishing it. There are these pieces called "greenies" that are nails with a circle of a rubber substance around the top. This allows a better protection against water and they were only used on the water proofing section of the wall coverings. Once nailed they are completely flat, as long as it was done correctly and they are easier to see. Next we were ready to put up the wall. Before that Bob, the head construction worker, put little pieces underneath the wall so that we could get a grip on it. All of us were spread out which made pushing the wall up much easier. We had to hold up the wall while it was connected to the other walls with nails. When putting up the wall we had to make sure that the floor line was straight against the designated line along the edge of the floor. It was a successful lift.

Next we started on the opposite was, but this time we had to build the whole thing. We had to get the pieces of wood, but before using them we had to make sure that they weren't warped in anyway. To check that, you have to hold up one side and look to the bottom to see if it curves. Each section had windows that needed to be accounted for. There are specific dimensions and wood lengths that need to be used. Hammering is no joke and after a while my arm started to become tired. Thankfully we got a break for lunch. After that we continued the wall and set that one up just as we did the other one. This wall was a little off the line so someone on the had to hammer it from the outside.

Building the wall and putting it up opened my eyes to how a house is constructed. Having to do the physical work really proved to me the construction of a house is very important. I got to see all the aspects to constructing a house and it made me appreciate the structure of buildings.

Sketch Crawl

We met the Seattle Urban Sketchers at the Seattle Center Armory to sketch around the center. The best advice they gave was to never stop sketching and that I can only get better the more I work at it. Their sketches were what I hope mine will someday be. I realize that everyone has their own style but I want to enhance my sketching skills and my familiarity with the markers and other sketching utensils. Through sketching I also wish to increase my ability to draw to scale, because right now I do feel that I have the tendency to draw a little larger than what I am actually looking at. I do feel that my drawings end up looking quite well but I want to not run out of room when trying to draw a space.  I know that I have evolved since the beginning of last year and know that I can only get better. Only an hour a day can create life-long sketching skills.

EHS Design Job Shadow

My job shadow took place at EHS Design with Danielle Nevils. It was great and very eye opening to me. I walked through an incredibly elaborate room where the elevators were located into an open business area. Danielle gave me a tour and a brief history of the building. It was first the Seattle Stock Exchange building and the owner of EHS design decided that they would use as many of the original pieces as they could throughout the space. The building has open spaces for the interior designers, the architects and another company that they shared the space with called PicMonkey. I was able to watch Danielle work on a project using autoCAD and I got the opportunity to ask her some questions about what I needed to learn and to do so that I am prepared to work in the real world. So I wasn't only sitting there watching her finish the project, she had me go into their elaborate library and  gave me the opportunity to help with another project. She told me that there are times that she is working on 3-6 projects at once. I am going to have to perfect my time management. Dani allowed me to assist her in one of the projects for a building where music will be made. She had already started the project but had me help pick out a table. I was able to see the wide collection of books that they had. I found a few different ideas that I believed would fit very well into the space. After that she had a meeting with a product representative, Juila Gütt, who brought in new samples of carpet. Many of these new products were mainly for office spaces and other corporate areas. I was able to see how those pieces could be applied. Being able to see a quick before and after was very enjoyable to me because seeing the small sample and the ending product is inspiring to know that I could be doing that type of work. They then took me to lunch at Boka, a stunning and beautifully designed restaurant. Once we got back she gave me an assignment to work on. She wanted me to figure out a color scheme for a beer website she was working on. I went on the internet to look up the different types of beer and the aspects that related to making beer. We discussed what worked and what should be altered. It was great to get an opinion from another person. I had a fantastic and inspiring time at my job shadow and hope to visit EHS Design again soon.

http://www.ehs-design.com/#/home

Frye Museum

 

We visited the Frye Museum and met the architect, Rick Sundberg. He wanted the museum to be a visitor experience more than just a museum. The design could have been typical with the main entrance in the front but that’s not what they wanted, they desired something better and more extravagant. The water that you walk by is eye-catching and very calming as you walk the ramp up to the entrance. The reflection of the light from the water shimmers against the wall in a constant flowing motion. The purpose of the renovation was to make natural light a main priority. He didn’t want the museum to be lifeless and dull. To help involve daylight, they created navigation through it. The dome in the entrance is a perfect sphere. It is incredibly big and creates a sense of openness. The rooms are very large and have only a handful of pieces in each one. Many of the pieces were extremely unique.

Chapel of St. Ignatius

The Chapel of St. Ignatius was stunning from the outside to the inside. The exterior is made of concrete and has dynamic arches that aren’t typically found in church designs. The water is in a tilt up concrete barrier that was not originally thought of. The structure is breath taking. The large door swivels to open up for a larger entrance. On the doors are oval windows and large, rusted, curved handles. These aspects give more visual interest just to the welcoming space. The church is right in the middle of Seattle University’s walkway, so it’s impossible to miss. The designer believed that it was so special that it should be placed in the center. The white light relates to the collection of students. He believed that faith and knowledge would become the light into our lives. Walking in there are grand arches on the ceilings with a pattern on the walls that can only be seen when light hits it. It is a random, yet organized pattern. The light that reflects into the chapel is affected as the time of day and the position of the sun changes.  The front is lit up with the colors of blue and green that is caused by the natural light shining in through the glass. As the use of color is quite exquisite, I believe that the arches are also a pleasing interior focal point. He made this space unique and grand in many aspects and I am glad that I was able to witness them.

Street Bean Espresso and Shelter

We visited the New Horizon Teen Homeless Shelter. We were informed that many of the kids that came into the shelter were there due to family disruptions and/or were victims of adults. Many of those teens believe that the streets were safer than being at home, which is heartbreaking since home should give a sense of comfort and safety. I was glad to see that there was a place for teens to go to and that not only were they able to visit there, the shelter also assisted the teens with clothing, food and counseling. They also assisted them with job opportunities and other new possibilities. The shelter mainly got kids from the age of 13-22, but there have been children as young as 9 years old. The shelter wanted to redesign their space to be a more inviting space where the teens felt safe. They have been in business for about 15 years and renovated in 1996. Their idea was to make the upstairs an office space and dorm rooms where the kids could actually stay since the shelter is only open Monday through Friday from 10 AM-12 PM then 7PM-9:30 PM. It was great to hear that they don’t turn away anyone that needs help.

The space is very industrial because it is in constant use by many people. The shelter’s drop-in space was once a loading dock and is also the transition space. I feel that they tried to make it more inviting by painting it with bright colors but it is still quite dim and dark. They had a problem with graffiti so they painted a part of the wall with chalk paint so the kids could still draw on the wall if they pleased. One of their main goals is to keep the kids safe so this space is able to let them keep track of everyone coming in and can confiscate any possible weapons, as well as hold any pets the teens might have. Many of the basic needs such as food, laundry, and clothing are provided at the shelter. They do need to keep the space open and completely viewable due to the possible dangers that can occur in closed spaces. The shelter holds activities that the space must also be able to accommodate to.  Many of the people that come in are also handicapped so the area must be ADA accessible. It’s very sad to see that so many kids come into the shelter, but it is also reassuring to know that there is a place they can go so they can be safe and hopefully turn their situation into a positive one.

 

The Street Bean Espresso has a great sense of design. The flow of the space is functional and it is very aesthetically pleasing. When you walk in, the space is open and the color scheme suits a coffee shop. The decorations give the space a little unique flare and it is organized very well. Since the shelter wants to incorporate the coffee shop into their new design, I feel that it could enhance the space quite well.

Westlake Residence

 

The construction site at 325 Westlake that we visited was amazing to me. I was able to learn about the structure and the bones of a building. When creating the building the architects and owner decided that they wanted the industrial look and they would have the structural pieces exposed. The wood was African Iron wood and it is very long lasting and durable. The workers also focused on weather proofing the top patio space. The view was magnificent and the patio space could be used for multiple purposes. Everything that was in plastic would eventually be replaced with glass. Some of those areas included full walls of windows that would face a beautiful view. This site contains some of the largest pieces of glass anywhere. They have about 120 square feet of windows which is huge. Each apartment includes two stories. They have European style bathrooms, which were a bit smaller and more compact. The upstairs included the bathroom, washer and dryer, a closet and a space where a bed could be. The braced frame would be exposed and the additions to the room are built around it. A wall is built along the stairs for storage use. There is a one foot space between the floor and the construction underneath. The ADA space was currently the office but would be put to use once the building was finished. The original building had a bit of work needed since it was built in 1908. I will never forget that code rules, since no designing can take place if the building is not up to codes. I do have a bit of trouble envisioning the space when it is only the construction work and I hope to strengthen that ability. I also hope to revisit the building once it is finished.

zHome

The very first visit on our Seattle trip was the zHome. This apartment complex consisted of two and three bedroom apartments. At first look the exterior is very stunning with interesting geometric designs. Each roof contains solar panels to help provide energy for lighting. These solar panels are able to create the correct amount of energy needed during the season, so nothing is lost. The outside is also filled with a variety of plants instead of lawns because grass is an "exotic" plant that requires too much water and they save a large amount by not including grass. The exterior is also painted with warm and neutral colors such as reds and oranges and wood panel as well. They are close together reducing the amount of space needed. There are two garages that are shared under a complex, so that all of the parking could fit. Not every design is perfect and that just happened to be one of the sacrifices that were needed to be made. Once you walk into the studio apartment through the sliding glass doors the space was open and inviting. The woods panel was tiger wood imported from Brazil and it is long lasting and if I may say very beautiful. The kitchen is quite large in comparison to the overall size of the apartment. The countertops were made of recycled glass and there was no vinyl on the windows. The walls were designed with a special insulation so that the heat and cool air does not leak out. The deck was also made out of the tiger wood instead of having a synthetic deck. The complex is also designed around play areas to create a sense of community. These apartments are a great way to live because they work with the environment instead of against it.