Undergrad Interior Architecture Portfolio

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PORTFOLIO Selected Works 2023-2025

CONTACT ediubaldi13@gwu.edu 732-569-7404 https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-diubaldi/ issuu.com/emmadiubaldi

CONTENT 01. Cyclical Roots

4-25

02. Next Project: Corporate Office

26-37

03. Study Abroad: Sketches

38-41

04. Artist Apartment

42-47

Software used: Revit, Autodesk Rendering, Enscape, Procreate, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign

CYCLICAL ROOTS

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A place where nature guides grief and rebirths the tangible sense of human

ntral Lias a vital enhancdge and

e’s presch landing into an end, brary is mmunity sanctusense of me cononment. ance of ing of a a jourmore iner upon ite. This al bridge vitability

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01. CYCLICAL ROOTS A space where grief is held and released Cyclical Roots is a place where nature guides grief and rebirths the tangible sense of human. Here, the ashes of the departed rest, allowing the bereaved to walk among them and find solace in their presence. Designing a space for those who grieve is a deeply human act—one that gives form to the invisible and weight to what cannot be spoken. It provides a quiet offering of care, where architecture becomes a vessel for memory, love, and the slow, necessary work of healing.

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CYCLICAL ROOTS

Meaning behind

CYCLICAL ROOTS The seasons inevitably change in cycles of winter, spring, summer, and fall; growth and decay The human existence is a cycle of life and death; celebration and grief.

As one ends their time on earth, they are no longer tangible in the ordinary sense.

Yet the body’s lungs already breathe the silhouette of a tree.

The soft patterns of a loved one’s hair continue in the delicate veins of a leaf, reminding us we were always born of nature, and to it, we return.

The veins once traced on a wrist reappear in the sudden strike of a lightning bolt.

Grief is ever lingering and so is the soul and love of one’s departed. They are rooted in the cyclical nature around us, if one chooses to believe.

CONNECTION

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CYCLICAL ROOTS

SITE ANALYSIS

SURROUNDING CONTEXT Route 239 Commercial spaces Residential neighborhoods Holmes Run stream

GREENERY The abundance of nature offers visitors a sense of privacy and sanctuary.

SITE SKETCH Closer look of the nearby nature.

Site location: Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library Alexandria, VA

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CYCLICAL ROOTS

NARROW RELEASE Concept model

CONCEPT Distills the experience of grief into spatial form: compressed thresholds embody the suffocating weight of loss, while unfolding volumes gesture toward release and renewal. This tension between enclosure and openness shapes a ritual passage through mourning, offering a visceral, reverent progression toward healing.

Parti

Abstract floor plan

A hand-crafted model of my building includes the conceptual model within, thoughtfully illustrating how the idea of narrow release, through a visual contrast of compression and expansion, reflects the project’s emotional intent.

Abstract section

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CYCLICAL ROOTS

PROGRAM DIAGRAMS Massing Diagram 4

3 5

6 2

7 1

11 8

10

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KEY 1. Entrance 2. Reception guest bathrooms janitor’s closet 3. Ceremony space 4. Columbarium space 5. Resting gallery 6. Reflection space 7. Columbarium space 8. Enclosed garden mechanical storage 9. Staff lounge, storage 10. Staff bathrooms 11. Indoor field

Occupancy Diagram 4

3 5

6 2

7 1

11 10

8 9

Highest capacity Medium capacity Lowest capacity

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CYCLICAL ROOTS

SECTIONS

Longitudinal Section

North

Transverse Section

West

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CYCLICAL ROOTS

1 3 2

13 12

14 4

5

6

7

FLOOR PLAN

11 10

9 8

KEY 1. Entrance 2. Reception 3. Janitor’s closet & visitors’ bathrooms 4. Ceremony space 5. Columbarium space 6. Resting gallery 7. Reflection space 8. Columbarium space 9. Enclosed garden 10. Storage 11. Staff lounge 12. Staff bathrooms 13. Mechanical closet 14. Indoor field 13

CYCLICAL ROOTS

Interior elevation

The ceremony space encapsulates the spirituality and weight of grief through simple forms defined by generous proportions, gently softened by the lingering rays of hope cast through overhead skylights.

CEREMONY SPACE

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CYCLICAL ROOTS

Tucked away in the corner of the ceremony space, lies a reflection area that encloses a barren winter tree. A tree that resembles grief in its starkness and stillness– stripped of its leaves, exposed, much like a person enduring sorrow. The sunlight against the tree’s dormancy holds the promise of rebirth and strength.

CEREMONY SPACE

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CYCLICAL ROOTS

Interior elevation

The columbarium space is intentionally tight and compressed, forcing the user to confront their suppressed grief. The close quarters create a sense of discomfort, which mirrors the emotional tension of loss. This constriction forces a deeper acceptance, pushing the individual to acknowledge the weight of their grief and learn to coexist with it.

COLUMBARIUM SPACE

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CYCLICAL ROOTS

Interior elevation

Skylights guide the gaze upward, offering a quiet release and a reminder of resilience in the presence of absence. Through flowing water, private rooms, and a transforming tree, mourners find growth and meaning in solitude.

REFLECTION SPACE

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CYCLICAL ROOTS

Section

The enclosed garden marks the final moment in the passage through grief. The roof folds down to expose a clearing where light gathers. At its center, flowers take root—emerging as a life that once was. To water them is a quiet act of love, a way for the living to tend to memory and let the departed return gently to the earth.

ENCLOSED GARDEN

JDUGHQ

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CYCLICAL ROOTS

ENCLOSED GARDEN

This space ends with the exit of Cyclical Roots. The mourner is led down a pathway hugged by trees, embraced by the sun’s warmth, the rain’s emotion, and the cloud’s softness. Crossing this final threshold symbolizes that the day remains the same, but life beyond won’t hurt forever. There may be no shortcut to erase the pain of grief, but there are many ways to feel close to the ones you love.

25

CORPORATE OFFICE

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02. NEXT: CORPORATE OFFICE This project involved designing an office layout for NEXT, a fictional Steelcase partnership set in a Chicago high-rise, while aligning with specific program requirements.

My goal was to create a dynamic and visually engaging workplace that breaks away from traditional corporate monotony, using bold colors and unexpected forms to spark creativity and ambition. To meet the program’s needs while enhancing the user experience, I incorporated wildcard spaces, including various art studios, where employees can unwind, express themselves freely, and step away from the daily workflow to recharge.

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CORPORATE OFFICE

This was a preliminary exercise before finalizing the official concept design. In this study, I focused on the visual impact of proportions, experimenting with the integration of grid-like elements alongside disruptive, fragmented pieces. The goal was to create a bold wall gesture that would serve as a stimulating and welcoming focal point.

VIGNETTE

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CORPORATE OFFICE

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Disruption using fragmented walls

Disruption using a monumental staircase

Disruption using leveling viewpoints

Concept model

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CORPORATE OFFICE

DISRUPTION

FINAL CONCEPT

To disrupt the normal corporate work environment with protruding rooms on the 7th floor that aim to create unanticipated circulation and exciting viewpoints that ultimately provide an interactive atmosphere with the 6th floor.

7th floor 6th floor cut out stairs

This diagram shows the overlap between the 6th and 7th floor plans, creating that disruptive visual concept.

7th floor 6th floor

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CORPORATE OFFICE

Level 06 Floor Plan

G F

'1

H

F A

A. Reception B. Client Display Area C. Open Pantry D. Work Cafe E. Kitchenette F. Team Meeting Rooms G. Workstations H. Production + Resource Center

B F

'1

E C

F

G

D

Transverse Section

32

FLOOR PLANS + SECTIONS

Level 07 Floor Plan A

B

C

C

D

E

G2 G1

F

A. Printing + Storage B. Private Offices C. Huddle Rooms D. Wellness Rooms E. Lactation Room F. Client Meeting Room G. Wildcard Spaces 1. Employee Art Display 2. Drawing Studio 3. Art Room Library 4. Painting Studio 5. Music Room

G3

G4

G5

C D

B

B

C

B

B

Longitudinal Section

33

CORPORATE OFFICE

RECEPTION + CLIENT DISPLAY RENDERS

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CORPORATE OFFICE

WORKSTATION RENDERS

35

CORPORATE OFFICE

CAFE + STAIR RENDERS

36

CORPORATE OFFICE

UPSTAIRS VIEW + DRAWING STUDIO RENDERS

37

SKETCHING

Duomo in Florence, Italy

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03. SKETCHING I was given the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy at Accademia Italiana. I took a sketching course that exposed me to the famous and everyday architecture of Italy. It was a surreal and beautiful experience to live in this country for some time and to be able to recreate such noble architecture in my own artistic style. I included additional sketches from my overall time abroad.

39

STUDY ABROAD

Duomo in Florence, Italy

Colosseum in Rome, Italy

Neighborhood in Florence, Italy

Ponte Vecchio Bridge in Florence, Italy

40

SKETCHING

Analytique of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France

41

APARTMENT

42

04. ARTIST APARTMENT The given site was a parking lot in New York City that was reimagined into apartment studios. My apartment serves as a living space and art studio for the artist Jean Michel Basquiat. Basquiat’s primitive style was a blend of graffiti, Neo-Expressionism, and African art. His raw and youthful energy is mirrored in the way I designed this space: full of bold, primary colors with untraditional combinations of patterns and textures. The atmosphere of this apartment aims to invite excitement and creativity.

43

APARTMENT

SITE CONTEXT + MATERIALS

Site NYC Highline

The angular design elements in my project draw inspiration from the triangular forms created by the trusses.

Site: Parking lot, 161 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011 44

APARTMENT

MATERIAL/MOOD BOARDS + PROCESS WORK

Polished Chrome Polished Steel Concrete Corten Steel Yellow Paint Checkered Tile Ceramic Tile Brick

MATERIALS BOARD

Studying Basquiat’s painting process to assess the ideal space needed for his studio within the apartment.

45

APARTMENT

Level 01 Floor Plan

FRONT OF HOUSE RENDER

Longitudinal Section 46

STAIRS + BEDROOM RENDERS

Level 02 Floor Plan

Transverse Section 47

EMMA DIUBALDI