Summer 2023 Portfolio

Grace Steenstra

Virginia Tech

Interior Design

Spring 2023

Portfolio

The Creative Collection:

A Library for the Collective

This project challenged me to redefine what a library is in the modern day. I designed a library that serves as a bank of resources, a collection of tools and skills for the public to use freely and easily.

This library is located in Phoenix, Arizona, specifically within the Metro Area, on a Public University campus. The space given is ~12630 sq ft, with a first floor and mezzanine.

Design Concept

Libraries are a collections and archive of knowledge and other resources, a modern library needs to provide more than just literary based resources. The modern day library must encourage exploration and creativity, as well as provide access to resources as was originally intended.

The maker space will be the focal point of the space, taking up the mezzanine and the space underneath it. This space will take up the back of the building, with transparent barriers to put the space on display. The main space directly outside the maker space being open and flexible for any type of collaboration or general use. The more traditional library spaces will be enclosed in the west side of the building to provide users with a calm and quiet area to work and read. The rest of the building will house the maker space and any spillover or extensions of it, allowing for

open exploration and creative use

This space will have interactive displays, technology and art spotlights, programs that teach users new skills, and provide users with opportunities to be creative and gain new experiences.

Concept/Space Planning

Parti Diagram

Bubble Diagram

Zoning Diagram

1) Entrance

2) Cafe

3) Self Checkout/Reservation

4) Service Desk

5) Sort and Storage

6) General Collections and Seating

7) Makerspace

8) Educational Garden

10) Drinking Fountains

11) 6 Person Study Room

12) Classroom

13) Staff Workspace

14) Staff Restroom

16) Staff Lounge

24) Exit

Mezzanine Plan

Scale: N.T.S.

General Collections

Makerspace

Overlaid Overlaid Overlaid

Co-working Project

This project required me to design a co working space that had within it an 8 person tech start-up company, 8 solo entrepreneurs, 20 hot-desks for remote workers, community spaces, and an administrative space.

The shell of this project is an existing building in the historical district of Roanoke at 315 Albermarle Ave SE, Roanoke, VA. The space given is ~7,000 sq ft, with two levels.

I chose my tech start-up company and used their company values of community and overlap to inspire the concept for this design.

Design Concept

Overlaid is a co working space that sits on the edge of Roanoke’s Historical district. Occupying part this 7,000 sq. ft. space is Delcor, a technology consulting and management company. This company prides itself on expanding networks and creating functional software for various associations and non profits.

Overlaid follows a similar intent, creating a workplace that encourages community between the various organizations that occupy the space. This overlapping of community areas allows for the users to explore the space freely while still providing privacy for those that require it.

Concept/Space Planning

Concept: Overlaid

Initial Concept: Network

Initial Sketch of Circular Office

Form/Circulation development

Bubble Diagram

Form Development

Second Floor Plan Scale: N.T.S.

First Floor Plan Scale: N.T.S.

Detail Elevations

Elevation of Tech Start up Branding (light Fixture)

Elevation of circular Office Shelving

Elevation of Second Floor Dining Area and Printing Station

Elevation of Second floor light fixtures

Axon of Co-working Area

First floor - Lobby

Axon of Small Conference Room

Second Floor - Dining Area and Kitchen

Second Floor - Back Corridor

Axon of Small Conference Room and one office

Second Floor - Middle Corridor with Shelving

Axon of Circular Office

Axon of Second Floor

Ma’man IDEC Competition

In Winter 2022, our program participated in the IDEC Competition. The prompt was to create a temporary sheltered environment for refugee(s) to feel safe and psychologically sound using no more than 50 square meters. We were also tasked with creating a journey map and background for the group of people we chose to design a space for. This project took seven days to do.

My group members primarily focused on creating the graphic elements and written portions of our deliverable, while I created the Revit model and custom furniture for the space. Jenny Ballard was in charge of leading the design concept while Gabrielle DeCotiis created the diagrams and visual journey map. Caroline Orlowski and I focused on researching materials and creating the Revit model.

Upon arrival at Kilis, the family settled in the Kilis Refugee Camp, claimed refugee status, and awaited the arrival of Hasan. They only planned to stay in Kilis for as long as it took for the German government to grant them asylum, however, before Hasan could reach them, all the European borders closed due to Covid-19, and the pandemic made it much harder for smuggling, stranding him in Syria. The family had to wait it out and spent 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 Hasan. After a short flight to Berlin that same month, the family was placed in housing in the initial reception center where they must stay for at least 6 months.

Hasan 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. As the 6 months are coming to an end, they are looking for a permanent place to move within Germany.

ma’man

The goal of this space is to provide a haven to the refugees that will occupy the space for a year or less.

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 social area that draws inspiration from courtyards found in Syrian houses, identified by materiality. Feelings of safety and security were also prioritized by placing the sleeping areas away from external access points.

TheSamaansareafamilyfromSyria.There is a father (Hasan age 40), mother (Amena age 36), grandmother (Abia age 65), daughter (Habiba age 7) and son (Adil age 4). Initially, the couple and grandmother lived in Damascus, not wanting to leave their home behind, but later decided to flee two years after Adil was born, as the conflict stretched on and the climate worsened. Knowing the journey would be long, they did not bring much. Their most important valuables included pencils for Habiba to draw, a stuffed animal for Adil, a holy book and an ancestral book that have been in the family for generations for Abia, and wedding rings and their Ktab for Hasan and Amena. The family sold their home in January, 2020 and used the money to pay a smuggler to take them to Kilis, Turkey by truck. Unfortunately, Hasan had to stay behind due to lack of room, but was to be brought later.

Concept Statement:

this space is to provide a 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.

Upon arrival at Kilis, the family settled in the Kilis Refugee Camp, claimed refugee status, and awaited the arrival of Hasan. They only planned to stay in Kilis for as long as it took for the German government to grant them asylum, however, before Hasan could reach them, all the European borders closed due to Covid-19, and the pandemic made it much harder for smuggling, stranding him in Syria. The family had to wait it out and spent 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 Hasan. After a short flight to Berlin that same month, the family was placed in housing

Hasan 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. As the 6 months are coming to an end, they are looking for a permanent place to move within Germany.

Multi-Use Configuration Axons

Floor Plan Key:

Floor Plan Key:

1. Entrance with storage

1. Entrance with storage

2. Small Kitchen with appliances

3. Area rugs

2. Small Kitchen with appliances

4. Cot for sitting and sleeping

3. Area rugs

5. Hinged dining table with seat cushions

6.Storage for cot and cushions

4. Cot for sitting and sleeping

7. Bedroom with bunk beds

8. Restroom

9. Bedroom with double bed

5. Hinged dining table with seat cushions

6. Storage

7. Bedroom

8. Restroom

9. Bedroom bed

Space Efficient Storage

Dining Layout

Sleeping Layout

Axons of central space

Sketch of Bed and Storage Revit model of table

Commission Work

One of my passions is creating art and I’ve fulfilled a number of commissions as a small side hobby. Creating art allows me to have a better understanding of color theory, lighting, and rendering methods. The following commissions were done 2020-2023.

Commission for a tattoo design (2021)

Commission of a original character (2022)

Commission of a original character (2023)

Commission (2022)

Commission (2022)

Commission for a logo for a student film (2022)

Commission of a original character (2023)