Claire Branson Interior Architecture Portfolio Fall 2024
Design Portfolio
Project Statement
Through this winery, guests can experience the harmony and value of Sonoma’s unique wines , food , and landscapes . Wine and food converge to enhance and complement one another , translating directly into the visitor’s experience at this winery. Qualities of coinciding and blending are depicted through direct and indirect paths of circulation. Bold, dense structural elements and light, airy openings create a convergence between the interior and exterior. Materials and colors support one another through complementary pairings , while artificial and natural light work to create a quality tasting experience.
Parti
Sonoma Valley, CA
The winery is located within a valley in Northern California’s wine country.
Branding
Mood & Feeling
Enhancing is to intensify , increase , or further improve the quality or value
Wines can be selected to complement a dish or wines can be chosen to enhance a dish. This pairing is a congruent pairing
Wine and food come together in an agreement or harmony ; coinciding and blending together for an enhanced experience.
Site Organization & Circulation
Primary
Main Entrance
Staff Entrance
Office
Tasting Bar
Tasting Seating
Restrooms
Lounge
South
Dining
1. Entry/Exit
Outdoor Dining 3. Chef’s Table Experience
Kitchen
Restroom
Mezzanine Dining
Wine Tasting
Outdoor Connection
Chef’s Table
Experience
Lounge
Wine Tasting
Project Statement
The purpose of Harmony Coffee House is to encourage customers and guests to engage and come together through transcendent works of art , specifically music. This cafe is created in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Society United Kingdom & the Alzheimer’s Association in North America as a ‘memory cafe.’ The goal of this ‘memory cafe’ is to encourage people to engage and cherish their memories by developing a better sense of their personal memories and build an appreciation for the fragile and fleeting nature of memories.
Parti
Phoenix, AZ
The site for this project is located on the ground floor of a high-rise office building in the busy downtown area.
Preliminary Research
An object is not just that, it can be a feeling , a memory , an emotion
Human’s brains internalize things differently depending on their prior experience or memories associated with an object, smell, or sound
Spatial Organization & Planning
People come together and bond over these shared emotions and experiences
Mezzanine Floor Plan
This axonometric shows the relationship between the ground floor and the mezzanine while displaying the overlap and connection of each individual space.
Mezzanine Overview
Ground Floor Overview
I created this parti as a conceptual driver throughout my design process. It’s overall form replicates sound waves pouring outward , while the arrows pointing inward portray those being brought together through the shared experience that is listening to music . This parti application can be seen directly through my custom lighting elements throughout the cafe.
Mezzanine Lounge
Seating & Stage
Front Counter
Studios
Project Statement
This project included designing a Visitor Center for a National Park. The park I selected is Petrified Forest National Park , located in eastern Arizona near the Navajo Nation and several reservations. The ultimate goal of this project was to portray the uniqueness of place through the location’s history , culture , colors , and textures . Through this understanding, the Crystal Forest Visitor Center portrays the unique mood and atmosphere of Petrified Forest National Park to create an immersive experience for users.
Parti
Petrified Forest National Park, AZ
Petrified Forest National Park is known for it’s Petrified Forest Wilderness Area , which is one of the largest in the world. This ‘ petrified wood ’ was created when logs were buried by sediment and debris over 200 million years ago. Oxygen was cut off and the wood began to crystallize , creating the unique material seen throughout the park.
Embracing Transition Through Time
My parti replicates the process of crystallization in the park’s petrified wood. This is applied throughout the design in plan
Site Plan
1 2 3 4
1. Main Road Through Park
2. Parking Lot
3. Crystal Forest Visitor Center
4. Crystal Forest Trail-head
Lobby & Gathering
Information & Services
Staff Office & Lounge
Restrooms
Exhibits
Fossil Excavation Experience
Picnic & Outdoor Gathering
Crystal Forest Trail Access
Vertical Spatial Definition
Tertiary Secondary Primary
Inspiration & Translation
Project Statement
The “link” symbolizes the connection between customers and the jewelry they wear, as well as the connection between sustainable, ethical production and affordable pricing. This concept emphasizes the personal and engaging experience that is customizing the pieces you mix and match to express the customers’ style confidently. “Link” is a philosophy that is used to guide not only the design of the store, but the customer experience as well. “Link” embodies the idea of connection between the customers, the jewelry, the experience, and personal sense of style
John’s Island, SC
Parti
Located on the largest island in South Carolina within a popular coastal tourist shopping area.
Modernism embraced clean lines, geometric forms, and ergonomic design. This design uses modern characteristics such as simplicity, natural materials, and geometric forms The simple rectangle form is repeated throughout the design. This piece works to bring together the client’s different pieces of modern furniture and textiles with it’s simplicity.
Kansas State University College of Architecture, Planning, & Design
4th year graduate student studying for a masters degree in Interior Architecture 2021 - Current
Johnson County Community College
INVOLVEMENT
IIDA
VOLUNTEER WORK
Kansas State University Chapter IIDA Event Coordinator | 2023 - Current
• Currently a member of the Kansas State University student chapter of the International Interior Design Association
• Have been elected as a board member
• Plan and organize events and socials for Interior Architecture and Interior Design students to attend
• Work with board members and professors to host and coordinate other college-related events
Community Service Retreat | 2020
Student Member & K-State Officer and Secretary 2022 - Current
Dean’s Student Advisory Council
Interior Architecture Representative 2023 - Current
Architecture, Planning & Design Ambassador
Member & Board Member 2023 - Current
Women In Design
Member & Board Member and Secretary 2024 - Current
EMPLOYMENT
Studying additional classes & general studies 2020 - Current Barista Starbucks 2020 - 2024
• Learned and applied customer service and communication skills
• Worked with teammates to problem-solve and successfully complete tasks
• Applied organizational habits to create a better space
• Used skills of attentiveness to work sufficiently and quickly
• Traveled to towns in Northeastern Kansas to help community members who needed assistance with labor-intensive tasks
• As part of this group, I spent a week living in these towns helping residents do tasks such as painting houses, fix sheds and garage doors, cleaning, and doing yard work
• Demonstrated skills such as teamwork, communication, active listening, attentiveness, and empathy with team members and community member
