Brooke Blanchette Portfolio

BROOKE

Blanchette

I defy the norm, I dream up what isn’t possible, I develop a new experience, I design.

Hi, I'm

Brooke!

If you are reading this, your curiosity must be as strong as mine. From a young age, curiosity and art started to become the foundation of how I go about designing today. Whether I was scribbling in a coloring book or wandering into strangers' houses on Halloween, I was preparing my design skills by overstepping the set boundaries. I am an artist in a design world with a passion for developing experiences that people of all ages can enjoy. As the youngest of four girls in my family (no, you do not need to feel sorry for my dad), I have always valued the time and making memories with those I love. It is my goal to pass on quality memories through the designs and experiences I create. ​ Still

Interested?

​ This may come as a surprise, however, there is a lot more to me other than having family values, art skills, and the creativity to design unique spaces. For example, I have a competitive itch produced by playing sports my whole life. My driving skills are superb from avoiding Michigan potholes and snow. I am always down for a good dad joke. Watch me come on top at a Euchre tournament. And let's not forget how I can swirl four small ice cream cones at once with just one hand. Don't let my ice cream skills intimidate you, I'll tell you the secret when I talk to you next!

CONTENTS ONE

PAGE 6 REFLECTION The sustainable installation brings awareness to food insecurities across the University of Kentucky as well as the surrounding community.

TWO

PAGE 20 UNIVERSAL ENGAGEMENT The condos and multipurpose spaces tell a story about the coming together of a community where people are able to interact and engage with each other and their environment.

THREE

PAGE 30 WOVEN TRAJECTORIES The interdisciplinary studio traveled to Beijing, China for 10 days, as well as, Cincinnati, Ohio in order to understand confined living in a dense urban area.

The research leads the group to transforming a row of cars in a parking garage to a hotel overreaching an alleyway.

FOUR

PAGE 42 TOWN BRANCH PARK The visitor center is the result of combining human and nature. The representation of water and limestone creates an experience of bringing the outside into an interior space.

FIVE

PAGE 52 DESIGN IS FOR ALL The visitor center is the result of combining human and nature. The representation of water and limestone creates an experience of bringing the outside into an interior space.

ONE

REFLECTION FOOD INSECURITY INSTALLATION 3rd Year Studio Rhinoceros, Photoshop

More than 30% of students at the University of Kentucky are food insecure. Food insecurity is a hardship that no person should face alone. Unfortunately, students and even adults do not feel like they need to seek help. In honor of the Universities Fighting World Hunger Summit, the installation is constructed to bring awareness of the emotional struggle one feels when they are food insecure. The installation allows for self-reflection and encourages the realization that even though a person feels trapped and alone, help from the community is not that far away; all you have to do is make the first step in the right direction.

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TRAPPED DEFEATED HUNGRY There are multiple levels of food insecurity that are undetectable by looking at a person. People with food insecurity go through their day feeling trapped and alone while they wrap their minds around where their next meal will come from.

The confinement of money and access to food is depicted in the sketches that inspire the shape of the installation.

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The 2D and 3D parti encompasses the emotional strain food insecurity has on a person.

2D PARTI The division line, taking the form of a fun-house mirror, represents distortion of the truth a food insecure person creates which further isolates them from acceptance and seeking help. The larger circle represents the greater community that is reaching out to help.

3D PARTI Shadow alludes to the unknown population who has food insecurity, while the light represents realization and those who seek help. Metal is a tough material, however, it is malleable. Metal can change with the right force just like a person seeking the right help can see a change in their life. The current feelings of food insecurity are apparent through the use of the color violet. Dark violet evokes feelings of gloom, sadness, and frustration. Too much violet creates irritability, impatience, and arrogance; while too little violet emits feelings of powerlessness, negativity, and apathy.

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DIAGRAM KEY

Size of circles and thickness of lines reflects the amount of use

NORTH

Congregation of People

Foot Traffic

Vehicle Traffic

Site

Based on site analysis, preliminary sketches and models are placed in order to utilize the slight elevation incline, the need for seating, and to create areas of confinement for self reflection in the open space.

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VIOLET LED LIGHTS INSIDE CREATE UNEASY AND ANXIOUS EMOTIONS

ALL THREE INSTALLATIONS ARE MADE FROM MIRRORED STAINLESS STEEL. THE MATERIAL IS EXTREMELY DURABLE, 100% RECYCLABLE, AND LOW MAINTENANCE

1’-6”

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5’-6”

SEATING FOR THE BUS

4’-1”

18’-6”

LOWER ENTRY MAKES A PERSON REACT

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THE PORTAL THAT VIEWS THE GRAND INSTALLATION. SYMBOLIZING THAT EVEN THOUGH A PERSON FEELS ALONE AND TRAPPED DUE TO FOOD INSECURITIES, THEY NOW KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE IN THE BATTLE

5’-0”

1’-6”

2’-6”

8’-0”

ROOM FOR ONE PERSON TO SELF REFLECT

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TWO

UNIVERSAL ENGAGEMENT MIXED-USE BUILDING 2nd Year Studio

Revit, Hand Rendering, Photoshop

The project’s focus is on universal design as well as understanding public and private movement. Through the understanding of landscape architecture, the mixed-use building is strategically located across from Town Branch Park. The sense of community and engagement within the park transfers to the building’s interior spaces, through the use of drop-down ceilings, in addition to the motif of organic forms. Both the private and public spaces allow for interaction despite a person’s age or physical disability.

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EXTERIOR EVALUATION With the collaboration of landscape architecture students, the location of the multipurpose building takes place of the existing three buildings across from Rupp Arena and kitty-corner to the Town Branch Park.

The building is pushed back from the street in order to create a nook with the park as a transition when entering and exiting. The location is sustainable as it has close proximity to mass transit and stores.

The building site and shape allows people to experience Lexington from a variety of perspectives. People become aware of their surrounding environment as they view Town Branch Park, Rupp Arena, and cultural neighborhoods. The building encourages community connection as well as the engagement with nature.

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MULTIPURPOSE

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The five public floors and the green roof provide varying entertainment elements not currently found in Lexington that encourage social interaction among friends and strangers year-round.

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RESIDENTIAL The four floors of condos allow a variety of people despite their age and physical ability to interact efficiently in the space. The importance of social engagement is emphasized through the large public living spaces.

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VOLUMETRIC DIAGRAM

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FOURTH FLOOR

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Focusing on the four-bedroom condo, the space is designed for the greater sense of community. The bedrooms are small in order for people to spend most of their time in the public sectors of the place. The space provides an engaging atmosphere due to the organic walls and ceilings. In addition, perspective views allow natural light to flood the condo while creating connectivity to the outside community.

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THREE

WOVEN TRAJECTORIES GLOBAL STUDIO 2nd Year Studio Revit, Rhinoceros, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lumion, CNC

The global second year interior design studio combines with third and fourth year architecture. In groups, studies are produced to analyze China, specifically Beijing, in order to understand the culture and built environment. These studies will inform our understanding of Beijing before traveling there for 10 days. The same studies will also be preformed on Cincinnati, Ohio. Research is based off the groups assigned taxonomy. These will further influence the final product of designing a structure and its interior space.

NETWORKS: Emily Andreasson Brooke Blanchette Courtney Keilman Alexa King Savannah Stallcup

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BEIJING

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Contrast

Pattern

Juxtaposition

Time

Layering

Scale

Contrast

Density

Hierarchy

CINCINNATI

Contrast

Pattern

Juxtaposition

Time

Layering

Scale

Contrast

Density

Hierarchy

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WOVEN TRAJECTORIES

DEMYSTIFY | ENGAGE | INSPIRE

A DOWNTOWN DESTINATION FOR BRIDGING THE SPACE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND NETWORKS This project proposes an alternative, contemporary boutique-style hotel design approach that can embed itself into the existing urban fabric. The project, entitled Woven Trajectories, demonstrates how to achieve this goal by occupying a portion of Cincinnati’s infrastructure.

The intent of selecting this site addresses both metaphysical and physical bridging conditions that both span perceptions and as well as alleyways in inner urban areas. The project site, at Weaver Alley and the back of the Garfield Parking Garage, seeks to transform these types of “terrain vague” spaces by demystifying them from a “place of danger and neglect” into a “destination for service and enjoyment.”

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DIAGRAM KEY Size of dots (above) reflects size of urban element or venue

NORTH

Garfield Parking Garage

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Immediate neighborhood of intervention within the urban context of Cincinnati

Intervention within the urban context of Cincinnati

Retail, hotel, and restaurant locations

Resources for homeless and low income populations

Murals, size of dot reflects scale of mural

Proximity of green spaces to site intervention

Metropolitan areas typically comprise a fabric of intersecting networks for communication, commerce, culture, history, movement, industry, and human interaction. In Cincinnati, the networks of the urban context stratify along the lines of economic standing, cultural history, and industrial disconnection. Urban rifts and voids that exist in the urban fabric today are a consequence of such rigid segregation and manifest themselves in actual “forgotten” and “disconnected” locations, such as alleyways.

COMMON NETWORKING SPACE DN

COMMON NETWORKING SPACE

ELEVATOR SHAFT

ELEVATOR SHAFT

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LEVEL 6 Level six is a rooftop green space which provides opportunities to engage with the environment, to engage with other people, and to network.

ELEVATOR SHAFT

DN

UP

ELEVATOR SHAFT

WATER HEATER AND PLUMBING CHASE

LEVEL 2-LEVEL 5 Levels two through five are populated by bedroom suites and common spaces which provide opportunities.

ELEVATOR SHAFT

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UP

BATHROOM

HOUSKEEPING LAUNDRY ROOM

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COAT CLOSET BATHROOM

ELEVATOR SHAFT

WATER HEATER AND PLUMBING CHASE

ELEVATOR

LEVEL 1 Level one hosts the hotel reception and management facilities in addition to the balcony lounge which connects to lower level bar.

UP

UP

MEN'S ROOM

LADIES' ROOM

ELEVATOR UP

KITCHEN

FOOD AND SUPPLY STORAGE

WATER HEATER AND PLUMBING CHASE

LOWER LEVEL The Lower Level hosts the Urban Trajectories Restaurant Bar and Lounge which provides direct engagement with Weaver Alley and acts as an urban destination for people and an intersection point for the diverse networks of Cincinnati.

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The restaurant bar acts as a critical component in reviving Weaver Alley into an urban destination. The venue brings people into the alleyway to interact and thus subverts the typical reaction to avoid alleyways. By employing marginalized populations, such as recovering addicts and homeless individuals, Woven Trajectories makes the alleyway an exciting place imbued with renewed interest that will provide additional opportunities for long-term economic sustainability. Furthermore, the incorporation of forgotten groups into the workings of Woven Trajectories and the transformation of Weaver Alley allows a re-weaving of the sharply segregated economic networks in Cincinnati.

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FOUR

TOWN BRANCH PARK VISITOR CENTER 1st Year Studio

CAD, Laser Cutter

The creation of the visitor center emerged based off the influences of Karim Rashid and the surrounding environment. The organic shapes, inspired by Karim Rashid’s designs, represents the movement of the river and the layering of limestone. The two natural elements are portrayed through the layering of lines and shapes. The visitor center is the result of combining human and nature. The organic shapes and the glass walls creates an experience of bringing the outside into an interior space.

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The cut outs within the organic shapes are layered to create the sense of moving lines as a representation of a river. The forms are stacked to create depth like limestone and to also embody unique karst shape illusions. The form of the wall screen influences the design of the Town Branch Visitor Center.

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The building’s design encompasses the surrounding natural landscape. Being a visitors center, the structure does not tower over the landscape, instead, it celebrates nature by mimicking its shape and movement. The Town Branch Park visitors center is an educational destination that encourages the interaction between humans and nature.

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FIVE

DESIGN IS FOR ALL RE-ESTABLISHING DIGNITY 2nd Year Studio Paint on Cardboard

The homeless community is stigmatized every day. They would rather sleep on the street than go to shelters where the workers treat them as a nobody. While they may seem like they have lost a lot, their dignity is their possession that should be cherished. Design is for all.

The sustainable prototypes will allow Lexington citizens to see the homeless community depicted beautifully as they pass by on the streets. The goal is for everyone to become familiar with the homeless population so they realize that they are people too and should be treated with respect.

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In order to preserve dignity and to release the stigma around the homeless community, portraits are created on trash found in the streets to signify that just because something is left on the streets does not mean it should be forgotten; it has the ability to transform into something beautiful.

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LORIE Inspiration was found after speaking to Lorie outside the public library. She talked about her life and how she ended up in her current situation. Her story makes her who she is and because she is homeless, people do not give her the time of day to truly see her.

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BROOKE

Blanchette babl229@uky.edu issuu.com/brookeblanchette brookeblanchette.wixsite.com/portfolio