BREWER PORCH CHILDREN'S CENTER

BREWER PORCH CHILDRENS CENTER DESIGN RESEARCH

RENDERED SPACES

BuildingBlocks

CONCEPT STATEMENT

Mypurposeforthisprojectistoincorporatetheelementsofdesign throughlegoblocksorbuildingblocks.Theblocksrepresentthe growththatthechildrenwillendurewithattendingthisschool. Theelementsthatwillbeincorporatedwillbehierarchyandscale inthearchitectureandfurnituretorepresentthelevelsofchange thatthechildrenwillgothrough.Iwanttomakethisspacefriendly andinvitingbyusingmutedcolorsoftherainbowtostilladda touchofthecolorthatlegoshavebutmakeittowhereitisstill sensoryfriendlytothekids

CONCEPT DEMONSTRATION

MyconceptfortheBrewerPorchChildrensCenterisLegoblocks.Iwanted tomakethisspacecolorfulandbrightlikehowLegoblocksaresoI incorporatedavarietyofmutedcolorsthroughoutthewholeschool.Ialso addedcoveceilingsinsomeofthespaceswithcircularchandeliershanging downinthecentertoreallyembodywhataLegolookslike Moreplaces youmayseemyconceptiswiththeactuallayoutofmyfloorplan Iwanted thecorridorstohaveageometriclookthatfavorstheshapeoftheblock Onelastexamplethatyouwillseetheconceptinisintheflooring I mimickedtheceilingcovesinsomeofmyroomstomatch theflooringbringinthegeometricfeelofLegos.

FloorPlan:NTS

PROCESS WORK

DESIGN RESEARCH

COLOR: I CHOSE TO USE THIS BLUE COLOR BECAUSE FROM RESEARCHING I FOUND THAT THIHS COLOR BLUE WAS THE MOST CALMING TO KIDS WITH AUTISM. THIS IS THE MOST COMFORTING COLOR FOR THEM. BLUE IS ALSO THE COLOR THAT REPRESENTS THE ASSOCIATION THAT ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM. IT IS A CAMPAIGN CALLED "LIGHT UP BLUE" AND PEOPLE OFTEM WEAR THE COLOR TO PROMOTE AUTISM AWARENESS

FURNITURE: THE CHAIRS THAT WERE PLACED AT SOME OF THE DESKS WERE DESIGNED TO HAVE AN EXERCISE BALL AS THE SEAT SO THE KIDS ARE ABLE TO BOUNCE. SOME CHILDREN HAVE A HARD TIME STAYING STILL SO THIS ALLOWS THEM TO MOVE WITHOUT BEING DISTRACTING.

LIGHTING: THE LIGHTING IS A 2X2 LED DIMMABLE PANEL. LED HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE THE BEST LIGHTING TO USE. I ALSO DESIGNED THIS ROOM TO HAVE BLACKOUT SHADES SO THE CLASS IS ABLE TO BE WITHOUT NATURAL LIGHTING SO YOU CAN DIM THE LEDS AND TURN ON WARM-TONED LUMINAIRES. THE SHADES ARE ALSO BENEFITIAL FOR CHILDREN BY THE WINDOW SO THEY ARE NOT EASILY DISTRACTED BY WHAT IS OUTSIDE.

MATERIALS /

FINISHES: IN THE SEATING AREA THERE ARE LOTS OF TEXTURES SO THEY ARE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR MIND BUSY AND NOT BEING DISRUBTIVE TO OTHERS. SOFT CUSHIONS AND PILLOWS WERE ADDED TO THE BENCH FOR THE CHILDREN.

PROXEMICS:IN

MOST GENERIC ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS THE DESKS ARE PUT IN A GROUP TO DO GROUP WORK. IN THE CASE OF TEACHING A CLASS OF CHILDREN WITH SENSORY ISSUES I LEARNED THAT IT IS BEST TO SEPARATE THEM. THIS IS BENEFICIAL FOR INDIVIDUAL LEARNING BECAUSE IT TEACHES THEM PERSONAL SPACE. IT ALSO IT A WAY TO KEEP THEM LESS DISTRACTED FROM EACH OTHER.

COLOR: I CONTINUED THE SAME BLUE COLOR INTO THIS ROOM TO GIVE THEM A SOFT COLOR TO BE SURROUNDED BY. THIS WILL CALM THEIR SENSES AND KEEP THEM FOCUSED.

FURNITURE: I ADDED LIGHT BLUE BEANBAGS FOR A COMFORTABLE SPOT FOR THEM TO SIT IN. THE CHILDREN FEEL SECURE AS OPPOSED TO A REGULAR CHAIR WHERE MOST OF THEIR BODY WASN'T SUPPORTED SINCE MANY AUTISTIC CHILDREN HAVE DIFFICULTIES WITH KNOWING WHERE THEIR BODY IS IN SPACE. I ALSO ADDED A TV AS A VISUAL AID THAT PROVIDES THE KIDS WITH A SETTING WHERE THEY CAN CONTROL THEIR INTERACTIONS AND HAVE TIME TO PROCESS.

LIGHTING: FOR LIGHTING I DESIGNED A SUSPENDED ACOUSTIC CEILING CLOUD. NOT ONLY ARE THEIR LEDS INSTALLED BUT IT ALSO IS SOUND ABSORBING TO KEEP THE SOUND LEVELS DOWN.

MATERIALS / FINISHES: IN THE LEGO BENCH THE WALLPAPER IS TEXTURED TO ACT AS A COPING STRAGETY TO HELP THEM RELAX.

ACOUSTICS: ON THE WALLS I ADDED ACOUSTIC PANELS TO ABORB ANY NOISES. I WANTED TO KEEP A LOT OF FABRICS IN THIS SPACE TO SOAK UP THE MOST AMOUNT OF NOISE SINCE THIS SPACE IS MEANT TO BE CALMING FOR THE KIDS. .