Lobby Doodles

After a tiring all-nighter that us interior design majors are seeing in our lives more and more as finals approach, I needed a way to stay awake in my 8am Art History class. Its a lovely class but can be an easy place to catch a quick snooze, especially so early in the morning! Two head nods and one big twitch later, I realized I needed to attempt to keep my eyes open. I started doodling. Just quick, sloppy sketches of my reception area. The top image is to the right upon entering and the lower image is to the right.



Landor Office Book Project: First Draft

Final Project

After two rough last weeks of the semester, a handful of all-nighters and a couple of tears, we're finally finished! It was a time consuming process but in the end seeing all of the work come together really pays off. I'm looking forward to creating the office space above Cafe Forma next semester. Looking back on the last few months, the only thing I would have done differently is manage my time better. More work in the beginning means less all-nighters in the end. Other than that, I am very pleased with the way my project turned out!

Process Presentation

Concept and Wellness Statement

     By incorporating color, shape and diagonal line, inspired by Picasso’s Mediterranean Landscape, into Landor’s new Seattle office, the work environment will inspire the team members. The office will promote creativity and energy and increase motivation towards projects.  An explosive interaction of color, shape, and diagonal line will provide differentiation between spaces. These elements will create transition, as one moves through the office, beginning with a strong emphasis on diagonal line and ending with a splash of color, preferably in the work space. Because collaboration and creativity are very important in the work place, communication areas will be readily available. Landor’s clients will marvel at the design statement of these facilities.

            People spend an average of 40 hours a week in the workplace. That being said, the wellness of these employees must be taken into account when designing an office space. Poor eating habits, stress and even physical problems with the body are commonly linked to ones place of employment. Taking time to eat a healthy lunch is often uncommon during a busy work day which often leads to fast-food or quick, unsatisfying snacks. Lunch break should be a time for one to relax and take a moment to relieve stress while enjoying a healthy meal. Spending too much time behind a desk can start to affect ones physical health leading to carpal tunnel syndrome or other CTDs. Addressing these problems while designing an office will provide a more comfortable and productive atmosphere for everyone.

            A building should be designed with its users in mind. Comfortable surroundings will impact human performance which in turn can increase clients and sales. In order to provide a more appealing space, the standard cubical desk day must come to a halt. Herman Miller products are made specifically for people sitting behind a desk all day, providing support and comfort. The most important problem being addressed in the office is stress and poor eating habits. A coffee shop and café will take up the better portion of Landor’s first floor. This will give employees a place to relax and grab lunch in close proximity to the workplace without factoring in travel time. Break rooms will also be provided on the second and third floor for addition relaxation options. Wellness in the office will encourage workers creativity.

    Cafe Forma will be opened for breakfast and lunch to not only serve Landor employees but also Seattle's residents.  It will have a fun atmosphere where costumers can enjoy italian favorites such as paninis, flat bread pizza and wraps.  The design will involve the same elements as the attached office; diagonal lines, shape and splashes of bright primary colors. The italian food, inspired by Seattle's sister city, Milan, will allow employees to take more time for lunch and have a place to grab a snack during break. Comfortable lounge areas and dining tables provide a place to eat, meet up with friends, or just catch up on some reading. Cafe Forma will make a great addition to Seattle.


   


Floor Plan

CAD Floor Plan

 



Landor Project Template- Made in Adobe Photoshop CS4.



Poster 1

Poster 2

  
 

Landor Office Design Project: Process Work

My Design Process:



  

Bubble Diagram

Criteria Matrix

Mezzanine Slide Scribble

Lobby Scribble

• The two scribbles above are both showing perspectives of the mezzanine and the second floor. The designs also show the diagonal columns penetrating through the space.



Brainstorming Pod Scribbles

• Brainstorming pods are used to bring in the use of shapes. Four spaces, each its own unique shape, will each have a different type of sitting area inside. Beanbags, hammock chairs, air seating, etc. Below are images of seating ideas.

Pod Chairs



Mezzanine Ideas



Mezzanine

• The above photo is the mezzanine design I chose. Its on the North and South wall and connects by a walkway. One side has stairs down and the other has a slide.


First Floor Block Diagram

Second Floor Block Diagram

Mezzanine Level Block Diagram

• For my block diagrams, I made little models of each room with the appropriate square footage and moved them around on the floor plan. This was very helpful during space planning.

• A quick idea for Cafe Forma. The use of diagonal line in the posts surrounding the center counter area will bring high energy and tie the wellness center into the rest of the Landor building. Splashes of color are going to be used in the furniture.

• This is an image of a contemporary cafe by Jade Design Consultants.  I enjoy the primary colors with the black and white. its a very similar color scheme to my wellness center, Cafe Forma.  I also really admire the ceiling design over the bar.





Sister City



Seattle, Washington

  By evaluating a culture different from our own, we can learn how to improve our lifestyle. The words work and stress are used far to often in the same sentence.Creating a balance between work and home life can take the stress out of a daily routine.  In the United States, most health disorders are because of the unhealthy eating and living habits. For this project, research of Milan's wellness in their culture will be compared to that of the US.
      Seattle, Washington, the "Sister City" to Milan, Italy is going to be the location of Landor's new office. Both cities are home to shopping, historical landmarks and great cuisine. These two locations also share the same Mediterranean climate and are bordered by mountains. A big difference however is Milan's lack of a large water feature. Seattle surrounds the Puget Sound, affecting the cuisine immensely, while Milan only has a man made lake city people escape to in the summer.
   Milan is a fashion powerhouse. The city is driven by well dressed workaholics who spend their down time on shopping. Even if shopping in "The Rectangle of Gold" is too expensive, locals head to the nearby outlet stores. The price tags still aren't cheap but hunting through runway fashions for a bargain is always worth it.  The outlet stores are located right outside the corso Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the oldest malls in the world. For a nice relaxing day, a walk through Fiera di Senigallia is a top choice. It is one of the many flea markets within the city.
   When shopping gets to be too much, relaxation can be achieved at any one of the famous spas such as, Lepri (owned by a famous hairstylist), Terme Milano, and the Bulgari Hotel. Spas however, are mostly sought after by tourists or wealthy vacationers. The city has a boisterous night life, a lot like Seattle, where happy hour starts after the work day is over and lasts well into the early hours of the morning. Hollywood is usually crowded with hip and artsy people while Loolapaloosa offers wild dancing. Meals are often a time to spend catching up with friends and family. Coffee, cafes, and happy hour are a time out from the stresses of work. These are the customs that keep stress levels down. Leave work at work and have a nice dinner with the family. Meal time in Milan is not rushed, everything else waits.
   A major difference between these two countries is eating habits. Americans generally get a quick hour to eat lunch so businesses can remain open throughout the day. In Milan however, they have whats called the three hour Pranzo. Italians take their time to gather around a meal and savor gourmet food. As for the Americans who are so busy rushing themselves, they usually grab a bite to eat at the quickest location, aka McDonald's.  Fast food restaurants are a pandemic spreading through the streets of the US.  They allow laziness and decrease the motivation to pack up a healthier lunch or pick a better choice.
   Looking at Americas all work and no play lifestyle compared to Milans work AND play lifestyle really shows where the stress comes in. Bringing a better dining environment into the work place may decrease the amount of fast food visits by employees stressing to eat within a short break. Taking another leaf out of Milans stress free environment could be to have a small cafe or convenience store within the building. It could offer magazines, snacks, coffee, cafe tables, and maybe WiFi. Adding small touches of relaxing activities at work would make it a more enjoyable and stress free environment.

Herman Miller

    On Wednesday October 6th, a Herman Miller representative gave an informative presentation on the company and its systems. Overall, the presentation was upbeat and interesting.  I had not known about many of Herman Millers policies directed towards the well being of its employees and the environment. For instance, employees must be within a certain distance of natural light. I personally loved hearing that. Who wants to sit in a cubicle under fluorescent lights all day? Definitely, not me. Another policy that really stood out was the company's need to blend in with its surroundings. This is accomplished beautifully at the world headquarters in Zeeland, Michigan. Herman Miller also stays environmentally friendly in their product design by renewing, reusing and recycling. They have over 10 "Cradle to Cradle" certifications on products ranging from seating to keyboard and mouse supports. This company gives the design world and the environment a beautiful future.

The Design Yard, Michigan.



 The first mind blowing product our rep introduced us to was the new Embody chair. According to Herman Miller, this chair promotes benefits for our body and our minds. Its understood that this chair allows more oxygen into our blood stream which improves brain function and boosts creativity. It's also advertised as a positive alternative to regular desk chairs, specifically for people on the computer all day because its provides back support and prevents stiffness. As if that wasn't enough to make an office designer drool, this chair is also environmentally friendly. The chair uses nonhazardous waste, renewable energy, recycled content, and at the end of its life-cycle, 95% can be recycled. Is that a chair or what?

The Embody Chair by Herman Miller

   Herman Miller addresses ergonomics in the office by a research-based set of products titled "Thrive." Thrive's entire idea is based off the phrase, "Feel better, Work better." This line offers ergonomic solutions in the office promoting healthy alignment and gives guidance on the correct way to use products to their full advantage. They think of people before the product and back it up with research. The Embody chair, as mentioned previously, is the newest part of the Thrive portfolio. The spine-like fingers supporting the back of the chair are made to constantly support the spine and keep a healthy alignment whether leaning backwards or forwards. Herman Miller looks at every aspect of their product and lets the consumer know what's in it for them.
   The entire presentation made me want to dive right into our new office design project. So many options and solutions are found through this company. One system that really stood out to me was the "Resolve" system. It's a pole based system that can be very useful for squeezing more into smaller spaces comfortably. Our rep informed us it can be very difficult to design with because of its lack of linage but also makes for an interesting outcome. Resolve allows a space to be fun and imaginative. Because this product is based on the 120 degree connection, it centers the worker and allows for maximum desk space. Learning about these systems; their advantages and disadvantages has really opened up a wide range of options for my office space. Thank you Herman Miller for a wonderful, informative presentation and the jar of honey!!