Interior Architecture Portfolio - Elizabeth Kaechele - University of Kansas

Portfolio

Elizabeth Kaechele 2024

Design Philosophy

My name is Elizabeth Kaechele, I am a third year Interior Architecture student at the University of Kansas.

I use design as a way to provide comfort and security for all people, specifically for those with disabilities others cannot see, while striving to be sustainable.

I have a passion for problem solving and representing complex ideas through graphics and diagrams.

1

Embrace House

Revit, Enscape, Adobe Partnered Spring, 2023

Home for a family from Jordan that focuses on sustainability, comfort, Autism Spectrum Disorder sensory needs, and cultural considerations.

Partnered project. My responsibilities included renders, concept goals, elevation diagrams, furniture and lighting selection, and sustainability research. Residential Building Lawrence, KS

Concept Goals

Safe and comforting atmosphere with sensory spaces for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Comfortable furniture, dimmable lighting, sound dampening

Connected to nature through outdoor transitions for social events

Modular walls, plants and wood, conversation seating, accessible outdoor areas

Blend Western and Middle Eastern design to create a private space

Western contemporary furniture with Middle Eastern architectural elements

Sustainable furniture, materials, and systems

Low flow toilets, recycled materials, light motion sensors, water collection system

Create an inclusive space for each family member

Mom’s workshop, Dad’s office, Yousef’s sensory nooks, Salma’s art space

User Personas

Fadi Hadaad

Age: 40

Occupation: Programmer

Characteristics:

Enjoys Writing

Enjoys Cooking

Design Decisions: Private office near the family but quiet so he can work. Kitchen open to living room for social connections.

Aziza Hadaad

Age: 38

Occupation: Jewelry Maker

Characteristics:

Modern Taste

Enjoys Hosting

Design Decisions: A workshop connected to the house, lots of storage for materials and special tools.

Social areas around the house.

Yousef Hadaad

Age: 9

Occupation: Student

Salma Hadaad

Age: 7

Occupation: Student

Characteristics: Characteristics:

On Autism Spectrum

Enjoys reading

Design Decisions:

Several quiet areas connected to the main living space.

Very Social Enjoys Painting

Design Decisions: Well ventilated art studio near her bedroom with lots of natural light.

Well Being and Sustainability

WELL Requirements

Well building Standards

Indoor Air Quality

Comfortable

Integration of fitness

Healthy lighting

Optimization for cognitive and emotional health

Safe and clean water

Body and Mind

Connection to nature

Quiet and healing space

Ergonomic furniture

Indoor active spaces

Healthy Lighting

Natural lighting

Low flicker light bulbs

Manage glare

Task lighting

Dimmable lighting

Natural Materials

Air Quality

Operable windows

Big entryways

Manage exhaust

Air monitors

Particle filtration

Garage

LEED Requirements

“Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design”

Low water use

Water redirection

Energy efficient systems

Durability

Environmental materials

Air filtration

Rainwater Management

Areas with native plants

Vegetated roof

Permeable pavers

No turf

Energy Efficient

High performance

windows

Quality Insulation

Thermal Enclosure

system

Motion sense lighting

Lower Water Usage

Shower

Toilets

Washing Machine

Dishwasher

Sinks

Autism Spectrum Design

Sound System

Collection of white, brown, and music

Room Heating

In their bathroom to make showers more comfortable and less of a shock

Operable Windows

Access to nature and to control temp and breeze

Organization/ Storage

It is important to make sure he can put things where they belong

Healthy Lighting

Natural lighting, warm, no glare, task

Sensory Nooks

Escape from the busy house to be still

Projectors

Distractions of light that he can control in bathroom

Guest Living Room

Daughter’s Room

Middle Eastern Architecture

Mashribya

Used for controling light design, dividers of space, privacy, originally used for ventilation

Social spaces, connected to nature, opportunities for private areas Interior Courtyard

Often used as doorways, cultural as well as structural element, often found in mosques, good dividers of space Rounded Arches

Privacy

“The state of being free from being observed or disturbed by other people”

Separate guest and family areas

Guest bedroom on first floor

• Family bedrooms on top floor

Walled off interior courtyard

Tall plants in front of house

• Mashrabya in windows

Hospitality

“Hospitality is the art of making guests feel welcome and comfortable”

• Guest meeting room near entryway

Different types of furniture to appeal to many different people

Soft, cushion-y chairs

Hard, supportive chairs

Furniture designed for autism

• Social gathering spaces

Interior and exterior

Client Values

Reflected Ceiling Plan

Galet Moss Pendent

LED, blown glass, cozy and Luxurious

Flat Moon Recessed

Recessed lighting for minimal look

Tempo Vivace Pendent

Stainless steel mesh, LED

Luceplan Fan

Adds movement of air

Djembe Pendent

LED, dimmable

Marset Pendent

LED, dimmable

Level One

Elizabeth Kaechele 2024

Kitchen, Dining Room, Courtyard; Enscape Render

Mom’s Jewelry Workshop, Patio; Enscape Render

Main Living Room, Courtyard; Enscape Render

Courtyard, Balcony; Enscape Render

2

Montessori School

Hands On, Montessori School

Lawrence, KS

Revit, Enscape, Adobe, Mohammad Dastmalchi

Fall, 2023

Montessori School on University of Kansas’ Campus. A space for deaf and hearing children who want to have control of their education in a safe, fun, and comfortable environment.

Taken from an existing shell, the interior was designed to be intuitive for easy wayfinding and easy teacher collaboration.

Concept Goals

A learning environment inspired by our world. Organic shapes, varieties in texture, natural light will fill the space.

Students will be taught with the Montessori method to uphold a student oriented and a hands-on discovery based classroom for great preparation for the future while being immersed in nature.

Colors will be cooler in hue and lighter in tone with warm accents found in wood details to encourage creativity and calmness. The school will be accessible to deaf children in all aspects of design.

To create a social and autonomous atmosphere and additional comfort, classrooms will be arranged in group settings with several furniture options.

User Personas

James Torrez

Age: 3

Deaf Preschooler

Characteristics:

Signs short phrases

Social Play Learns via Observation

Design Decisions:

- Ability to move furniture

- Conversation circles

- Vibration reduction

- Displayed work

Abigail Lytar

Age: 6

1st Grader

Characteristics:

Likes story time

Curious

Learns via Conversation

Design Decisions:

-Indoor Play Area

- Group oriented spaces

- Individual learning spaces

Alex Paul

Age: 3

Toddler

Jenny Nguyen

Age: 35

Teacher

Characteristics: Characteristics:

Just started walking Learned object identification

Mumbling sounds

Design Decisions:

- Places to climb

- Different textures

- Soft/Round edges

Enjoys collaboration

Chaotically organized Has two kids

Design Decisions:

- Classrooms of same age adjacent

- Spacious teachers lounge

- Personalization of classrooms

Circulation Paths

LEED Requirements

“Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design”

Design Choices

• HVAC system away from class

• Noise reducing walls

• Acoustic Partitions

Energy Efficient

• High performance windows

• Quality Insulation

• Motion sense lighting

Lower Water Usage

• Toilets

• Washing Machine

• Dishwasher

• Sinks Acoustic Performance

Ceiling

ARKTURA

Atmosphera® Swell

Acoustical dampening

White Oak

Lighting

Eureka Lighting

Diffused glow

Motion Sense

Saves energy

Arena Ball

Toilet

Ocean Footprint

15% of normal water usage

Lid eliminates germ spread

WELL Requirements

Well building Standards

Body and Mind

• Connection to nature

• Quiet and healing space

• Ergonomic furniture

• Indoor active spaces

Healthy Lighting

• Natural lighting

• Low flicker light bulbs

• Manage glare

• Task lighting

• Dimmable lighting

Air Quality

• Operable windows

• Big entryways

• Manage exhaust

• Air monitors

• Particle filtration

Design Choices

Plants

Planting stations

Windows to see nature

Green & Natural Colors

Lighting

Eureka Lighting

Dimmable

Diffused glow

Helios

Windows

India Mart

Fresh air to classroom

Ventilation

Birch covered steel

Virtual Reality

Wayfinding

Testing Procedure

To create a productive space that users are able to navigate easily, Virtual Reality was used to test possible distractions, paths, and signage. Users were asked to role play as a parent, check in their student at the reception desk, navigate to their student’s classroom and then edit the building.

Wafinding proved to be an important element of Deafspace design because deaf students cannot hear as easily if someone is walking around the corner and possibly collide. Making sure the students are safe and able to navigate is important. Proper wayfinding in the space also gives students the sense of independence since they can manage themselves around the building. Survey

Toddler Classroom (ages 15 months - 3 years old)

3

Furniture

Revit, Adobe, Ann Hossler Fall, 2023

Project Brief: Design and build an object to meet a need. Or define a design problem and investigate resolutions.

Concept: Three four-legged stools of varying heights that have a face that resembles a sliced orange. Mainly to disply other artwork, lamps, and plants that do not currently have a proper place. Stain to match current furniture and minimal paint to match artwork.

Ideation

Concept: Three four-legged stools of varying heights that have a face that resembles a sliced orange. Mainly to disply other artwork, lamps, and plants that do not currently have a proper place. Stain to match current furniture and minimal paint to match artwork.

1. Inspiration

2. Sketches

5. Context

4. Study Model

3. Concept Sketches

Building Process

3. Sand

1. Digital Files

6. Seal & Assemble v

4. & Stain

5. Paint

2. Cut out with CNC

Details

1. Build stools to scale on Revit. Transfer the file to illustrator. Clean up the double lines and close shapes. Make sure it is at 12” = 1’ scale and the file is the exact size of your wood.

2. Send illustrator file to the CNC and cut it out on 3/4” plywood.

3. Sand it down with progressively smaller grit until there is no splinters and fits in the holes.

4. Condition the pieces so the color is even. Apply against the grain and wipe off excess before it dries. After it dries, apply stain with the grain and wipe off excess before it dries. The longer it sits before wiping the darker the color. I found a foam brush to be easiest.

5. Paint the grooves of the stool and dry before sealing.

6. Apply the polyurethane sealant with the grain. After one coat lightly sand it with 220 grit sandpaper. Apply three coats sanding in between each one. Put the legs with the fitting stools.

Elizabeth Kaechele 2024

Study Abroad

Study abroad trip after second year to learn and document (via live sketching and diagramming) the Nordic architecture in Northern Europe.

Emphasis was placed on the role of architecture and urbanism in shaping everyday experience including sustainability, materiality, and phenomenology. Finland, Sweden, Denmark Watercolor, Pen, Graphite Shannon Chris & Chad Kraus 2023

Scandinavian Experience

With a group of thirty students and two architecture professors, I studied in Helsinki, Stockholm, and Copenhagen during the summer of 2023. We looked at buildings such as Hamlet’s castle, Alvar Aalto’s studio, and traditional Finnish architecture.

I experimented with several mediums to try to capture the environment and enjoyed quickly sketching in public. My favorite part was the culture, history, and traditions of these countries form the amazing guides and tours we went on.

Further European Exploration

After my guided study abroad in Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, I took the opportunity to travel more throughout Europe. These pencil drawings are mostly of London and parts of Ireland but I also traveled to Germany, Italy, France, and the Netherlands. I wanted to capture a mix of everyday objects and iconic architectural landscapes to help me remember the amazing time I had traveling by myself for the first time.

I had to learn how to take the train, stay in hostels, and navigate cities in foreign languages alone. Truly the most exciting experience I have ever had.

4

Personal Work

Acrylic, Watercolor, Photography, Digital 2021-2023

I have always enjoyed representing what I see around me. I have always loved painting and sketching and more recently I have been attached to digital artwork and architectural photography. The following artworks are a collection of paintings I have submitted to art fairs to simple watercolor sketches I do while hanging out with family.to photos I took on Study Abroad.

Girafffe - Watercolor - 2023

Stairs - Acrylic - 2021

Campus - Watercolor - 2022

Oranges - Acrylic - 2023

Red Boot - Procreate (Digital) - 2023

London - Photo - 2023

Sneakers - Procreate (Digital) - 2023

Copenhagen - Photo - 2023