Gabrielle DeCotiis Portfolio 2022-2023

Virginia Tech Interior Design Portfolio

Third Year | 2023

Gabrielle DeCotiis

Oasis Coworking

First Project Completed With Revit 5 weeks | Individual | Fall 2022 Revit & Enscape

Roanoke, VA

Oasis Coworking is a coworking space located in the historical district of Roanoke, Virginia. It is home to many users, including a tech company, individual entrepreneurs, and hot deskers. To accommodate these programs, there are 4 tech offices that fit 2 people as well as a large conference room, 8 entrepreneur offices that can fit 1 to 2 guests, 20 hot desks with adjustable heights, a kitchen and dining, lounge spaces, and 1 medium conference room and 2 small for the community.

Before moving forward with a concept, it was important to find a tech company to ensure the goals and mission of the company fit with the design of the overall space, without turning the entire coworking space into a company branded office. That being said, the company chosen was Hero, a skincare company with a strong online presence.

Tech Office Hallway

Company Purpose & Design Concept: Hero is a user focused company, using many phrases like “Reveal the Hero Within” and “The Hero of This Story is You”. It also seems to promote self care and taking time to meet your own needs. Keeping these values in mind, the space will be focused around an oasis, with organic lines and shapes. Biophilic design will be used to provide a sense of calm to the workers while they occupy the space.

Site Analysis

Sun and Sound Analysis Points of Access

Diagramming Space

The two diagrams below represent how the main interior is spaced out. The left depicts entry points into the “Oasis” along with its shape and surrounding partitions. The right depicts zoning.

Key:

Hot Desks

Common Space

Tech Offices Oasis

The Lobby above serves as the entry to Oasis Coworking. The double height ceiling positioned by the entry provides the user with visual access into the floor and oasis above. As the user moves through the lobby, the ceiling height drops to allow for a more comfortable and intimate lounge area.

The axon of the Lobby to the left provides more visual access into the space. As one enters, a plant wall extends upwards behind reception.. The flooring material change can also be seen around the lounge area. This is done to every seating area in Oasis Coworking. Blue was chosen to mimic water typically found in an oasis.

Lobby

Furniture and Fixtures

Manufacturer: Coalesse

Product:

LessThanFive Chair

Manufacturer: Coalesse

Product: Marien152 Stool

Generic LED strip lighting

Manufacturer: Steelcase

Product: Crew

Office Chair

Manufacturer: Steelcase

Product: Turnstone

Bivi Height

Adjustable Desk

Manufacturer: Coalesse

Product: Bob Seating

Below is a perspective view of the main entry to the oasis. In addition to the hanging plants, there will be plants that are placed in cutouts of the raised floor and potted underneath to hide the pots. The change in flooring is also evident and is used to distinguish the oasis from the rest of the space

Oasis

Entrepreneur Offices

Above is a view of the front area upstairs. This area mainly consists of private entrepreneur offices. Changes in flooring in seating areas can be seen which is consistent with the rest of the space. The curtain walls were used to allow light from the windows in the offices into the public space.

Color Palette

Materials

White Marble Plant Wall Wood Flooring Wallpaper White Brick Blue Carpet

To the right is an axon view of the hot desks. On the walls are acoustic strips with strip LED lights placed in between them. The hot desks are also placed perpendicular to the windows to avoid glare on workers laptops. Acoustic panels also separate all the desks for privacy.

The perspective pictured below shows the back of the hot desks as well as into the oasis. Apertures like the one shown here were placed throughout the walls that bound the oasis to provide visual access for everyone occupying the coworking space into and out of the oasis.

Back of Hot Desks

To the right is an axon view of the second floor. To the right are the majority of the private entrepreneur offices. All the desks are oriented so that they are perpendicular to the window to prevent glare from the sun.

Below is the tech company’s office space in this coworking building. Blue is used on the walls to mimic Hero’s branding. Te different color is also used to differentiate this space from the rest.

The hot-desking area along with some community conference areas can be seen above. All desks and tables were positioned perpendicular to the windows to avoid sun glare.

Forum Library

7 weeks | Individual | Spring 2023 Revit, Enscape, & Photoshop Phoenix, Arizona

Forum is an academic branch library of an existing university that would be sponsored by the Inter Tribal Council in Arizona. This council is made up of 21 of the 22 tribes that exist today in Arizona. It would work with the university to ensure that the information and instruction provided at the library would be accurate and up to date.

This branch library would be dedicated to the teaching of Native American history, culture, traditions, and customs, acknowledging the land that it sits on. The books available here would all relate to these subjects, and the classroom and makerspace would be dedicated to them as well.

Back of Collection & Seating

Design Concept Statement: As this branch academic library is located in Phoenix, Arizona, the forms and functions inside will be heavily influenced by the surrounding Native American population. This library will be a place to create and exchange cultural knowledge, taking inspiration from an traditional forum. There will be two main avenues connecting to smaller paths leading to the different programs, mimicking important landmarks. Colors and patterns will be chosen to represent local native communities while forms will take inspiration from the surrounding land.

Forum Analysis

2 Main Avenues

Smaller Paths

Native American Influence

Color Choices: Each color is taken from the medicine wheel. The medicine wheel is a very important symbol to Native Americans, and while the meaning behind the colors can differ between communities, it stays an important symbol to many.

Landmarks

Patterns: This pattern is an example of a step pattern. This is one of many geometric patterns found in local Native American basket weaving and pottery.

Space Planning

Floor 1 3

2 4 5 6 7 8 9

Key:

1. Cafe

2. Book Reserve/Return

3. Customer Service

10 10

10 11 11 12 13 14 11 11 13 13 17 15 16

4. Book Sort & Storage

5. Telecom

6. Staff Area

7. Conference Room

8. Makerspace

9. Classroom

10. Collection & Seating

11. 2 Person Study

12. Communications Lab

13. 6 Person Study

14. Quiet Reading Room

15. Media & Production Studio

16. Visual Environment Lab

The perspective above shows the main entrance to the building. There is a cafe to welcome students, faculty, and other community members into the library. There are lowered ceiligns to provide a more intimate feeling to the spaces of the main avenue. Additionally, when one walks into the space, they are greeted by a window to the cuirculation and support services desk for easy access to book drop off and pick up. There are also self serve kiosks for quick transactions.

Displays of Native American Work

Local tribes’ pottery and basket weaving will be on display throughout the library

01. Puzzle Piece in Bold Ivory | Wolf Gordon

02. Oak Wood

03. Through-Body Porcelain Mosaic | Karen

Pearce Global Direct

04. Alex in Twig | DesignTex

05. Alex in Sumac | DesignTex

06. Little Devil in Fire | Knoll

07. Bocce in Lemon | Designtex

08. Shale | Fireclay Tile

09. Cleo in Butterfly | Knoll

10. Eclettica Flat Purple | Daltile

11. Concrete Floor

12. Little Devil in Canary | Knoll

Below is a perspective of the main entry to the library taken from one of the two main avenues. Again there are dropped ceilings above the circulation desk and seating areas with a raised ceiling over the main avenue. The step pattern can also be seen in the custom booth seating on the left.

Seating Area

The perspective above is showing one of the smaller collection and seating areas in the library. There are custom book shelves that mimic the step pattern with more display of Native American work on the right.

To the left is an axon of the makerspace. This space would mainly be used for community outreach. Local tribe members could teach classes here on pottery making, basket weaving, bracelet making, and more. It is also connected to the classroom to allow for different forms of instruction. There is also covered outdoor space for a kiln.

The Node Chair by Steelcase was selected to provide comfortable seating that provides storage as well as the ability to easily move when class configurations change.

This opening allows access to the classroom from the makerspace. This allows for people taking workshops in the makerspace to move into the classroom for instructional videos, tutorials, or lectures on the context behind what they are creating.

The Verb Table by steelcase was chosen to ensure that the classroom could be configured in multiple ways to support different types of instruction.

Classroom - Lecture

Classroom - Group Work

Classroom - Discussion

These garage doors are in the quiet reading room and can be opened up for some fresh air. When open, this space could be used for bigger gatherings

Here is where the two main avenues intersect within the library. The smaller paths that break off of them lead to the “landmarks” within the space, all identified by a change in flooring.

These are the entrances to the back of house area. There is a workroom, lounge, private restroom, general storage, and sorting services in the back. This area can also be accessed from behind the desk.

IDEC Student Design Competition 2023

1 week | Group | Fall 2022

Revit & Enscape

Berlin, Germany

ma’mam was a group project that was done for the IDEC Student Design Competition. The group members include me, Jenny Ballard, Grace Steenstra, and Caroline Orlowski. The goal of this project was to research refugees and create an accurate refugee story and journey map for a small group of refugees. I mainly worked on the graphics, space planning, and development of the space efficient storage

The goal of this space is to provide a haven to the refugees that will occupy it temporarily. The space planning was designed to reflect traditional Syrian housing in Damascus in order to provide the family with a sense of familiarity. The space has a centralized communal area that draws inspiration from courtyards found in Syrian houses. Feelings of safety and security were also prioritized by placing the sleeping areas away from external access points. All design decisions were made with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in mind.

Main Entry

Refugee Journey

Distance Traveled: about 3800 km

The Samaans are a family from Syria. There is a father, mother, grandmother, daughter (age 7) and son (age 4). The family sold their home in Damascus in January, 2020 and used the money to pay a smuggler to take them to Kilis, Turkey. The father had to stay behind due to lack of room, but was to be brought later. The family settled in the Kilis Refugee Camp and planned to stay until the German government could grant them asylum. Before the father could reach them, European borders closed due to Covid-19 and smuggling became too difficult.

The family waited 2 years in Kilis until they were finally contacted by the German government in January 2022. A plan was made to bring the family over and reunify them with the father. After flying to Germany, the family was placed in housing in the initial reception center where they must stay for at least 6 months. The father was able to join them a month later in February. They are currently still living in the initial reception center and are being provided with food and clothes.

Key:

1. Entrance with storage

2. Small Kitchen with appliances

3. Area rugs

4. Cot for sitting and sleeping

5. Hinged dining table with seat cushions

6. Storage for cot and cushions

7. Bedroom with bunk beds

8. Restroom

9. Bedroom with double bed

Space Efficient Storage

Hinge table with dish storage

Lofted bed with storage underneath

Floor

Communal Space

Above is a perspective of the communal space. This space features a fold-able dining table that is used for dish storage. It is low to the ground and surrounded by cushions as this is one way that people dine at home in Syria. There is also a traditional futon that doubles as extra seating during the day and a bed at night. The lattice ceiling element is there to provide natural light. The pattern was chosen as it mimicked geometric patterns typically found in Islamic art and architecture.

Materials

Colors

Basalt Tile

Oak Wood Concrete Area Rug

Communal Area Layouts

Dining Layout

Sleeping Layout

Social Layout

Neutral Layout

Plenty!

3 weeks | Group | Spring 2022 SketchUp, Enscape, & Photoshop Floyd, Virginia

The project was a group project in collaboration with an existing food bank, Plenty!, located in Floyd, Virginia. Plenty! is an integral part of the community that provides not only food to those who need it, but brings the whole community together by hosting community lunches as well as providing services for kids in need. The group members include me, Grace Steenstra, and India Womack.

The client is looking to renovate their downstairs kitchen and upstairs workspace, and my group was tasked with designing a new and improved upstairs area. Some basic needs were two private offices, one flex office space, a kitchenette, open meeting area, storage, and lounge area. While the group evenly split the work, my main focuses were space planning, modeling the floor plan, cross sections, and populating the model with furniture, materials, and products.

View From Beside Break Area

Story Behind the Concept: There is a town that has a continuous song, an over arching melody that permeates every part of this town. If you stop to listen, you can hear the harmonies in the soft chatter of the townsfolk, the melody in the flowing water nearby, the beat in the closing doors and footsteps on the street. The song keeps the town in sync with one another and allows the community to stay in tune with nature. This overarching melody keeps the citizens on beat, guiding everything through day and night.

Overarching Melody - Brought to Life

Plenty Values

over harmonies the footanother, beat, Needs vs Comfort vs Public vs Flexibility

Education

Concept Terms

Overarching Melody

EDUCATION

PLENTY VALUES

ACCESSIBILITY

Artisans

Natural Materials

COMMUNITY

Community

Flexibility

FLEXIBILITY

Harmony

Concept Terms

Rhythm

Interwoven

Connected

Calm + Grounding within

1. Closed storage

2. Existing bathroom

3. Kitchenette

4. Open modular storage

5. Desks in flex space

6. Acoustic accordion glass doors

7. Whiteboard

8. Open meeting area/workspace

9. Open customizable storage

10. Frosted glass door for light and privacy

11. Couch for less formal meeting area if needed

12. Accessible exit

13. Existing live edge coffee table in lounge area

14. Open storage unit

15. Stairs down to first floor

16. Built-in shelving for storage

Sections

There is a full wall next to the stairs to help with sound control coming up the stairs. The upper half of the wall is glass to still allow natural light into the space.

There is a live edge wood accent wall behind the kitchenette to provide visual appeal and texture to the space. It can be used for logo placement.

There is a dandelion motif on the wall. This was chosen because dandelions are a representation of plenty.

Back Cross Section

Left Cross Section

Right Cross Section

Front Cross Section

View From Top of the Stairs

View From Beside the Break Area

View From Inside the Multi-Purpose Space