The Intern Designers for this session were chosen based on their performance at a two-hour intensive workshop session. The students watched a presentation introducing several design concepts such as balance, contrast and rhythm; and were then asked to make a model that represents that concept. The students got a taste of the collaborative process, as they were grouped into pairs and asked to each represent the concept in a different way than their partner chose to do.
The Intern Designers finished the workshop with a strong sense of what The Designery is all about, as well as the challenges and rewards of the creative process.
Armed with the knowledge gained during this brief introduction to the design process, students were prepared to begin the spring session.
The first project of the session involved the building of a set of cubes that the students then arranged into abstract sculptures. They then made schematic drawings of these objects, including all four elevations with appropriate line weights and an axonometric view. The students learned model building skills and basic orthogonal drawing while experimenting with the concepts learned in the workshop.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Given the program of a satellite building for the Cooper Community Center, the students were asked to develop a design proposal using the boxes from the cube project as a starting point. The students learned how to do site analysis to come up with a concept for their project, and then learned about scale to rearrange the boxes to create space that would accommodate the program. The students learned about diagramming as a tool to represent the ideas that they came up with during the site analysis, and how those ideas were translated into the design proposal. They also learned how to make plans and sections to communicate their design, and then presented their work at their first critique.
(The Intern Designers experience their first critique)
GROW CLASSROOM
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This session, one group of Intern Designers elaborated on the design of a classroom space that was begun by last session’s group for the Learning Prep School’s horticulture program. The goal for this session was to move the project through the design development phase to create a presentation model and set of boards to be used by the Learning Prep School in fundraising efforts.
The Intern Designers developed a strong parti for the classroom, using the appropriate metaphor of a blossoming flower to influence the classroom’s transforming architecture. The Interns developed fundamental design skills throughout the process, including concept development and articulation, how to design using an iterative process, model building, CAD drafting, diagramming, and collaboration. The project yielded a strong design and accompanying presentation materials that the client was thrilled with.
Since this project was a continuation from the previous session, our predesign work primarily entailed getting the group familiar with the project and what had already been done. Prior to beginning any design work we visited the project site, interviewed the client, and allowed time to become familiar with what was accomplished last session.
This process involved a lot of list making and brainstorming in order to develop last session’s concept to a place that made sense for our group to continue with.
Client Requests:
- more space
- customer-friendly
- access to greenhouses
- more windows
- flexible furniture
- big doors
- sustainable features
Programming Requirements:
- educational display
- work area
- classroom space
- gathering area with projector
- teacher’s desk area
- sink area
- bathroom
- storage space
- backpacks
- pots
- tools
- seeds
- soil
- teacher’s files
- watering cans
- chemicals and sprays
After analyzing the previous session’s work and synthesizing the client’s requests, our group decided to move forward with the concept of the classroom as a transformable space to accommodate different uses.
Intern Designers learned about the iterative design process through sketches and model building exercises during the schematic design phase.
Teamwork was essential during this phase, and the Intern Designers learned the benefits and challenges associated with the collaborative process.
Interns also got a taste for design critique, as they were required to present their work for a group of designers who were unfamiliar with the project.
Ultimately, the group decided to expand the design concept to reflect the most up-to-date research regarding the design of healthy learning environments.
Design Statement:
Research points to a healthy learning environment as one of the leading contributors to student success. Natural light, fresh air, and plenty of space are a few of the factors in consideration. When a student is presented such an environment, the student is able to blossom into his or her full potential. The GROW classroom provides a healthy learning environment for students to grow personally and educationally.
The Intern Designers made lots of sketches and diagrams to explore the ideas behind their concept for the greenhouse classroom. Light patterns, circulation, storage, furniture, and the sectional quality of the space were of high concern.
Once the design was established, the Intern Designers went into full production mode. Several of them learned how to use CAD software for drafting plans and sections, while others worked on building a final model of the classroom and its design features; other students further developed their axonometric drawing skills. By the end of this phase, the group had a complete set of drawings and models to be used in the final presentation.
Like a blossoming flower, the GROW classroom can transform from a tightly closed and compact box into a vibrant, lively workspace through transformable architecture and furniture design. In addition to the transformative nature of the space, the GROW classroom design boasts a new accessible bathroom, large windows for natural daylighting, and many other interesting and sustainable design features.
Design Features:
- expanded footprint for more space
- accordian doors to blend indoors and outdoors
- deck area for outdoor learning
- ‘private lounge’ loft space with space-saving spiral staircase
The slanted roof design was inspired by the last group’s idea of the building serving as a wayfinding beacon. It is cost-effective to build, but also allows us to efficiently place solar panels and ceiling vents for passive cooling. The slope guides rainwater down to the gutter on the south side of the building where it can be collected and stored in rainwater barrels for watering plants. NORTH
Small Greenhouse
NORTH WEST ELEVATION
A new loft space accommodates a ‘private lounge’ that is open to the classroom below. A spiral staircase saves floor space compared to linear stairs, and it also provides visual interest. The upstairs minigreenhouse is the perfect space for indoor plants, and the bump-out design allows light to enter without coming too far into the loft and causing uncomfortable heat gain or glare due to the late afternoon western sunlight.
Large Greenhouse
BUILDING USE DIAGRAMS
One of the most interesting features of the GROW classroom is the new furniture scheme. A moveable wall system provides space division, an educational display, a white board for drawing or projecting, and various types of storage options all in one module. Nesting work tables and stackable stools allow the classroom to be completely folded up and put away when not in use.
The footprint of the building is expanded to encompass the space of the smallest greenhouse that will be torn down. The classroom ‘grows’ even more when the accordion doors are opened and students can move out onto the new deck area where indoors blends with outdoors. This also creates direct circulation through the space.
Curley School Storage System
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Designery was hired to design and fabricate a custom storage solution for a K-2 science classroom at the Mary E. Curley School in Jamaica Plain, MA. The client, Genet Mehari, found the classroom too large for both her teaching style and the students’ needs; she hoped for a design solution that would alter the spatial layout of her room as well as display some of her class’ many projects and specimens. The final product was to be designed and fabricated for under $500.
SITE ANALYSIS AND PRECEDENT
RESEARCH
The Design Team began by visiting the client’s classroom, and speaking with Genet, the client, about her hopes for this project. The team took note of the current ways Genet stores classroom materials and divides her classroom’s space, hoping to reemploy the strategies that work and re-imagine the parts that don’t.
Intern Designers looked for inspiration and influential precedents in a variety of places. From interior design magazines to construction manuals to child safety guidelines for playgrounds and classrooms, the design team looked at the problem from a variety of angles in order to
come up with a holistic solution.
BRAINSTORMING
Along with researching precedent projects, the Design Team stepped back to imagine the full variety of ways the project could unfold. By temporarily setting aside the project’s logistical demands, designers could explore all the different ways the design problem could be solved, in hopes of bringing these novel interpretations of storage design into the final product.
SCHEME 1: $100 Model
After the Design Team settled on creating rectangular wooden bookshelves, they decided to break into two groups: one tasked with designing five bookshelves for $100 each, and one tasked with designing one bookshelf for the total budget, $500. The goal was to provide Genet with two different options within her budget, and give her a sense of what, exactly, her money could buy.
The first design scheme provided Genet with five identical units at roughly 48”x48”, providing her ample storage as well as ample opportunities to re-arrange the space in her classroom.
SCHEME 2: $500 Model
The more expensive scheme aimed to provide more features, customization, and higher production quality.
This process resulted in a design of three interlocking, modular shelves. Like puzzle pieces, these could fit together in a variety of ways, creating niche’s, walls, and pathways depending on how they were arranged in the classroom.
Ultimately, Genet decided on a design that maintained some of the modular qualities of the more expensive model, while still keeping the cost low enough to produce two identical units.
The Design Team produced several 1.5” : 1’ models of this final unit, all with different features for Genet to choose from.
Ultimately, Genet chose to incorporate the following features into her shelves:
- Wheels
- Fold-down desk/workstation
- ‘Hidden’ storage for the teacher only
- Display style shelving for larger-format picture books
After researching materials, construction methods, and coming up with a detailed construction budget, the Design Team moved into production.
Interns and
During our visit to CBT Architects, the students were particularly interested in the firm’s approach to scale models. The students were inspired to bring the same level of craft and care to their own projects back at The Designery.
Our field trips to Wentworth Institute of Technology and Gensler were very exciting for the students, as they had the opportunity to see first-hand what architecture school is like for a college student, and how that education would prepare one for a carreer in the field. The students asked lots of questions in the materials library, and were very impressed by current and past projects at both
The students broke into four collaborative groups for a bridge-building competition which lasted over the course of two days. Given only one sheet of chipboard and one stick of hot glue, the students were asked to design and construct a bridge to span a distance of 18 inches and hold the weight of as many sketchbooks as possible. In the end, the students were all impressed with their engineering skills, as all of the bridges held more weight than expected.
The students had the opportunity to present their work to YouthBuild Boston staff, past critics, friends of the program, and the general public at an open house at the end of the session. The pride that the students felt for their work was evident in the way that they spoke about the projects in this informal setting.
BOOKSHELVES
Client: The Curley School
# of Designers: 1 staff
# of Intern Designers: 7 students
Factoid: Flexible and multi-purpose furniture serves as open shelf storage, hidden storage, desk space, and book display in addition to dividing the large classroom space into smaller areas.
Cost: Less than $200 per bookshelf
GREENHOUSE CLASSROOM
Client: The Learning Prep School
# of Designers: 1 staff
# of Intern Designers: 7 students
Factoid: Design of a new classroom for the horticulture program supports student growth and flexible learning through its innovative design.
