GABRIELLE DECOTIIS Virginia Tech Interior Design Portfolio Fourth Year | 2024
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NEXT
Steelcase Workplace Competition
ma’man
IDEC Student Design Competition 2023
Oasis Coworking Coworking Space
Fo r u m L i b r a r y
Academic Branch Library
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NEXT 7 weeks | Individual | Fall 2023 Revit & Enscape Dallas, Texas
NEXT is an architecture office located in Dallas, Texas. This office is one of many for this global firm. It is home to three studios of varying sizes including corporate, healthcare, and education. It includes spaces like workstations, private offices, rooms for private meetings of varying sizes, a work cafe, training classroom, resource centers, and more. The NEXT office in Dallas, Texas is specifically located in the Victory Park. This new, up-in coming district is known as the entertainment center in Dallas, attracting many young professionals. Its main landmark is the American Airlines center which is home to the Dallas Mavericks. Surrounding the arena, there are many restaurants, bars, and theaters for people’s enjoyment. The development of this area was part of a larger city planning effort for all of Dallas.
Coffee Bar View From Beside Break Area
Design Concept Statement: The goal for the NEXT office in Dallas is to create a space that
pays homage to the area in which it resides. It will do so by mimicking the urban planning used to define Victory Park as the entertainment district. The principles of a city will be used to dictate the interior layout. Paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks will be used to organize programs. The space will be divided into two main districts, one more client facing and the other more workoriented. Color will help divide the space.
Diagramming Paths
Edges
Nodes
Districts
Landmark
Building Shell Analysis - Based on Image of the City by Kevin Lynch
Key District
Pathways
Landmark
Nodes
Barriers
Bubble Diagrams
First Level
Mezzanine
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First Level Floor Plan NTS
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1. Reception
5. Work Cafe
9. Phone Booth
2. Client Presentation
6. Huddle Room
10. Workstations
3. Monumental Stair
7. Meeting Room
11. Resource Center
4. Training Classroom
8. Private Office
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Mezzanine Floor Plan NTS
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1. Innovation Lab
5.Wellness Room
9. Phone Booth
2. Resource Center
6. Huddle Room
10. Workstations
3. Monumental Stair
7. Meeting Room
11. Resource Center
4. Mother’s Room
8. Private Office
12. Wildcard Space
Reception
Above is the reception for the NEXT office. There are seating options for guests and the monumental staircase that leads to the mezzanine is directly adjacent to it. The NEXT logo can be seen on the wall behind the custom recpetion desk, which features the same custom metal pieces that exist on the monumental stair and the mezzanine balcony.
Reception Eleveation NTS
Materials
Colors
Below is the work cafe for the NEXT office. It has multiple seating options including high top, low, and fixed booth seating. To help with volume control, acoustic baffles were dropped down. The work cafe was also placed along glazing to give it ample access to natural light.
Work Cafe
Workstations - First Level
Above is the work focused district on the main level. The mezzanine can be seen above with the custom metal handrail, representing Dallas’s skyline. The use of the darker blue can be seen, as well as the dark carpet in the workstation area. There are baffles above the workstations for acoustics.
To the left is one out of three potential office layouts. It has a large desk with seating for guests. The carpet visible is the same as the workstation carpet in a lighter colorway to help give an open feel in the office.
To the right is one of two meeting rooms. A round table was chosen to enhance the virtual meeting experience. The blue wall can have pin-up space on it or whiteboards depending on the use of the room.
Below is the work focused district on the mezzanine. This level is very similar to the first, with workstations, private offices, meeting rooms, and huddle rooms, with the addition of the material library and innovation lab. It also has one of two resource rooms in the space. The use of acoustic baffles was continued on the mezzanine.
Workstations - Mezzanine
Above is the work focused district within the space. It contains the private programs including offices, workstations, resource centers, private work rooms, and more. Visually, the space is darker due to the navy blue used in this district within the building.
Below is the client facing district within the space. It contains the public programs including reception, the work cafe, training classroom, and client presentation space. Visually, the space is lighter due to the light blue that was used in this district within the building.
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ma’man 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, Theo Steenstra, and Caroline Orlowski. The prompt for 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.
Communal Space
Refugee Journey
January, 2020 2020 Damascus, Damascus, Syria Syria January, 2020 Damascus, Syria January,
6 Hours 66Hours Hours
January, January, 2020 2020 January, 2020
Kilis, Turkey Kilis, Turkey Kilis, Turkey
January, January, 2022 2022 January, 2022
4 Hours 44Hours Hours
2022 Berlin, Germnay Berlin, Germnay January, 2022 Berlin, GermnayJanuary, January, 2022
1 Month 11Month Month
February, 2022 February, 2022 February, 2022
Berlin, Germnay Berlin, Germnay Berlin, Germnay
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 3
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appliances 3. Area rugs 4. Cot for sitting and sleeping
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5. Hinged dining table with seat cushions 6. Storage for cot and
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cushions 7. Bedroom with bunk beds 8. Restroom
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9. Bedroom with double bed
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Floor Plan NTS
Space Efficient Storage Sketches by Theo Steenstra
Hinge table with dish storage
Lofted bed with storage underneath
Communal Space
Above is the communal space. This space features a fold-able dining table that is used for 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 a bed. The lattice ceiling element was chosen as it mimicked geometric patterns typically found in Islamic art and architecture.
Materials
Basalt Tile
Colors
Oak Wood
Concrete
Area Rug
Communal Area Layouts
Dining Layout
Sleeping Layout
Social Layout
Neutral Layout
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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 Key:
Hot Desks
Common Space
Tech Offices
Oasis
Key: 4
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3 1. Entrepreneur 2. Phone Booth
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3. Lounge Space
1. Administrator
8. Tech
4. Coat Room
2. Entrepreneur
Conference Room
5. Restroom
3. Phone Booth
9. Kitchen/Dining
6. Elevator
4. Restroom
10. Small
7. Main Entrance
5. Medium
Conference Room
8. Lobby
Conference Room
11. Elevator
6. Hot Desks
12. Ramp to Raised
7. Tech Offices
Floor
First Level Floor Plan NTS
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Second Level Floor Plan NTS
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Lobby 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 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 a view of the plant wall that extends upwards behind reception. The flooring material change can also be seen around the lounge area.
Color Palette
Materials
White Marble
Wood Flooring
Wallpaper
White Brick
Blue Carpet
Plant Wall
Below is 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. The change in flooring is also evident and is used to distinguish the oasis from the rest of the space
Oasis
To the right is an axon view of the second floor. On the right is 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.
Oasis VR
Below is the tech company’s office space in this coworking building. Blue is used on the walls to mimic Hero’s branding. The 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.
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Fo r u m L i b r a r y 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
Landmarks
Native American Influence
Color Choices: Each color is taken from the medicine wheel. It 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.
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.
Bubble Diagram- First Level
Zoning
Bubble Diagram- Second Level
Parti
Above are the process work diagrams that were done to determine the layout of the space, drawing inspiration from the idea of a forum. The bubble diagrams helped determine generic locations for each space while the parti and zoning diagram placed each program in a specific location.
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First Level Floor Plan NTS 1. Cafe 2. Book Reserve/Return 3. Customer Service 4. Book Sort & Storage
5. Staff Area
8. Classroom
11. Communications Lab
6. Conference Room
9. Collection & Seating
12. 6 Person Study
7. Makerspace
10. 2 Person Study
13. Quiet Reading Room
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Mezzanine Floor Plan NTS
1. 2 Person Study
3. Media & Production Studio
2. 6 Person Study
4. Visual Environment Lab
5. Study Carrels
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Cafe
Above is the cafe which welcome students, faculty, and community members to the library. There are lowered ceilings to give an intimate feeling to the space. Additionally, when one walks into the space, they are greeted by a window to the circulation and support services desk for easy access
Displays of Native American Work Local tribes’ pottery and basket weaving will be on display throughout the library
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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
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Below is a perspective of the main entry to the library from a main avenue. There are dropped ceilings above the circulation desk and seating areas.
Seating Area
Library Entry
Seating Area
Above is 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 the makerspace. This space would be used for community outreach. Local tribe members could teach classes on pottery making, basket weaving, bracelet making, and more. There is also covered outdoor space for a kiln.
This opening allows access to the classroom from the makerspace. This allows for movement between the classroom and makerspace for instructional videos, tutorials, or lecture.
Classroom - Lecture The Node Chair by Steelcase was selected to provide comfortable seating that provides storage as well as the ability to move when class configurations change.
Classroom - Group Work
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 - Discussion
THANK YOU! gdecotiis@vt.edu 908-512-8102