coraclark
Virginia Tech Interior Design Portfolio Spring 2024
Hi! My name is Cora Clark and I am a Junior at Virginia Tech pursing a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. I have a passion for design in many forms. Since I was little, I have imagined and re-imagined the many spaces and places I have visited. As a designer, I strive to create spaces that are efficient and where users will feel comfortable and uplifted. I enjoy working with others, being collaborative on projects, and value hearing feedback and new ideas.
Outside of studio, I work in the School of Design office as an Operations Assistant. I’m proud of the many ways I contribute to the Virginia Tech community through volunteering and leadership. In my spare time, I love to read, be outdoors, as well as cook and bake.
My Clifton Strengths describe me well:
Adaptability, Strategic, Positivity, Futuristic, Connectedness
01. Crossroads
Spring 2024 - 3rd year|Individual|- weeks|10,000 sqf
Programs used: SketchUp, Enscape, Photoshop
A Virginia Tech Health and Innovation Center. A place for health and design innovation research to take place, located in the heart of Roanoke, Virginia. Designing an academic space to blend all the necessities for health and design innovation research to take place. Bringing the two together at a crossroads in a seamless manner. Creating a welcoming and comfortable space for students and faculty. Spaces including private offices, classrooms, community kitchen, maker space apartments for visiting faculty, and more.
Overall perspective highlighting work cafe and reception
Concept
Roanoke, Virginia became a crossroad for the railroad system. A crossroad is where different railroad systems come together to meet, in Roanoke creating the Norfolk and Western Railroad. The design for this space is based off of the crossroads, specifically the crossroads for health and design, where they meet each other and how they interact. The layout of this space connects back to the purpose of a crossroads, creating spaces that come together for collaboration and innovation. Using criss-cross patterns to enhance a path of travel, walkways connecting you from one space to another, and places where health and design can meet
Overall perspective highlighting downstairs double high space and collaboration space
Focus perspectives highlighting heads down and study spaces
Axonometric highlighting entire space
Large meeting and Private Office axonometrics
Cross Section NTS
Material Board
Focus perspectives highlighting downstairs collaboration space and upstairs meeting room
Fall 2023 - 3rd year|Individual|10 weeks|8,000 sqf
Programs used: Revit, Enscape, Photoshop
The way we work is rapidly changing for a variety of reasons, and offices are switching to hybrid and co working solutions to respond to their employees needs. The office needs to evolve from a place where people are required to go, to a place that draws people in. The goal of this project was to design a new and enticing workplace in downtown Roanoke, VA. The design should address changes in the current workforces attitude towards the workplace. First, decide a problem to address throughout the design, then propose a solution to develop the design.
Concept
A common design problem seen in co-working spaces post Covid-19 is poor space utilization. Office spaces aren’t being fully utilized as people continue working from home. By making the space more inviting and comfortable, creating “neighborhoods” to mimic personal spaces and interaction places, workers will feel more ownership of space and will be more open to returning to the office. Using angled walls, inspired by the Google logo, to create movement and direction throughout the space.
Floor Plan Level 1
Floor Plan Level 2
*first floor rooms not available to renters (locked) for safety reasons for Google*
*second floor completely available to renters*
Work
and upstairs conference rooms
Axonometricofwholespace,highlightingtopfloor
“neighborhoods”
Physical Model Images
“neighborhoods” of flex workspaces to integrate open space into rows of closed rooms
03. Soar
Spring 2023 - 2nd year|Individual|7 weeks|3,000 sqf
Programs used: SketchUp, Enscape, Photoshop
The project prompt was to design a retail space with items that are tangible. We were given three floor plans to choose from. Each floor plan was situated on the corner of a street. Within the retail space we were required to have a mezzanine level, fitting rooms, ADA restroom, elevator, office, storage space, seating, and displays that reflect our concept and what our retail store was selling. We needed to have a design feature, either on the ceiling, floors, or walls. We also had to really think about materiality while designing our spaces, and provide a material pallet with our final poster.
Concept
SOAR is an adventure store located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. One of the many things Albuquerque is known for is their hot air balloon festival. Hot air balloons are an outlet for adventure, exploration, and curiosity. Basing SOAR off of the concept of hot air balloons, the retail store has a sense of endless adventure. Keeping curves and roundness throughout the space to represent flow as well as the shape of a hot air balloon. The organization of the store is easy to understand and has a distinct path of travel to it. The store is made of many neutral and natural textures with pops of color throughout the decoration, displays, and materiality.
Isometric, highlighting main design feature
Material Board
04 - Unbend
Spring 2024 - 3rd year|Group| 2 weeks|500 sqf
Programs used: Revit, Enscape, Photoshop
A Place of Restoration and Respite for college students. A space on an existing college campus, maximum 50 square meters. The competition is open to interpretations of the safe space. We could either choose an existing indoor or outdoor venue, or we could propose a temporary installation that can be relocatable or reproducible in other locations. There are no programmatic requirements for this project. We crafted the needs and justified the spatial solutions based on our specific site selection and research.
My contribution:
- created space planning layout
- worked within Revit to create form of the space - worked with Enscape to render and edited renders in Photoshop
Concept:
Unbend, a center carefully crafted to offer university students a rejuvenating and inspiring experience. Drawing inspiration from the revitalizing attributes of bamboo, this space is dedicated to elevating mental well-being, fostering creativity, and establishing a comprehensive support system for the University of Southern Florida students. Vascular Bundles of bamboo cells inspired the spacial planning of this space, each “cell” having a different function. Immerse yourself in the serenity of Unbend. In this inviting structure, students can unwind, whether it’s day or night.
Elevations
A comprehensive case study specifically targeted university students, revealing the profound relaxation effects associated with the viewing of bamboo. It was proven that students had lower anxiety scores after 3 minutes of viewing bamboo compared with the control. During students’ visual simulation with the bamboo plant, increased brain activity indicated that there was improved relaxation, attention, and blood pressure significantly decreased.
Bamboo beams to magnify a sense of enclosure in meditation space.
Bamboo partitions offer a sense of privacy in this open space.
Miniature curved gardens to enhance way finding. Sand texture activates acupuncture points, bringing relaxing sensations.
