Interior Architecture Portfolio by Olivia Grote

ACADEMIC PORTFOLIO

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

OLIVIA GROTE

ABOUT

As an interior architect, my design process is deeply rooted in my experience as an artist. Design is not just about function—it is an artwork, and interior design, above all, is livable art. I approach each project with a desire to push the boundaries of conventional design, creating innovative and inspiring spaces that provoke thought and evoke emotion. Driven by a passion for the impact that space has on psychology, I am dedicated to creating environments that foster well-being, creativity, and connection. My work is a reflection of my commitment to transcending the familiar, challenging expectations, and offering new perspectives on how we experience not just our environment, but all of life.

JOURNEY THROUGH INK

LOCATION................................................................................................Williamsport, Indiana

USER..............................................................................................................Creative Writers

TYPE..............................................................................................Residential/Writer’s Retreat

SIZE..........................................................................................................Approx. 500 sq. ft.

COMPLETED................................................................................................ December 2024

The goal of this project was to design an experience for creative writers to escape in order finish their projects in peace. The prairie lands of Indiana provide a secluded feeling and immersion in nature, which became an important driver in this design. Because this was completed as an assignment in our second to last studio at Columbia, Detail Studio, there was a special emphasis on detailing and hand-drafting. In addition to that, we each chose a material to spend the semester fully investigating and learning about its properties, abilities, limitations, etc. In my case, I chose mycelium, an immerging sustainable material that is being introduced into the interior environment. This research is what ultimately inspired the concept of this design.

CONCEPT

The concept for this design was based off my research of mycelium, the vegatative part of the mushroom. I was inspired by the lifecyle of a mushroom, and it’s tendancy to create symbiotic relationships with other plants, such as trees. The organization of the space and movement created by the architecture is based off the process of reproduction in mushrooms- “scatter and stack.” The functional elements of the space and the writer form symbiotic relationship with each other,where the writer is given the resposibility to “keep the space alive.”

MATERIAL INVESTIGATION

MYCELIUM: The vegatative part of a mushroom.

Mycelium is found at the root of the mushroom. It is what sprouts from the spores dropped by mushrooms and typically grows beneath the surface. Today, it can be used as a building material. This process is done by combining these spores with a substrate- usually agricultural waste like woodchips, straw, or even compost- and packing it into a mold. As it grows onto the substrate, it acts as a natural glue and holds the form together, thus creating a sustainable, carbon zero, durable, fire-resistant, material that can be used for insulation, accoustics, furniture, wall finishes, and much more.

MOLDS

GROWTH

APPLICATION: MOCK UP

Portion of myceliumextends to edge in design

Storage

Mycelium is used in a few different ways in this project, such as insulation, accoustics, or design features. This mock up shows a cross section of one of the workstations. Mycelium is installed around the perimeter of the desk, serving as a place for pin-up, as demonstrated above

GREENHOUSE: “THE HEART”

The Greenhouse manifests the concept of symbiosis and emphasizes the importance of balance throughout creative processes. In addition to watering and caring for the plants, writers must pot at least one plant in the greenhouse, and add it to the shelves. This gets the writer to move from their desk and use their hands, which often helps with creative blocks and strikes inspiration. It also shows the history of past writers that have filled the space with their plants, and serves as a metaphor for keeping this space “alive.”

Planter shelves

Planting station

Work Station Kitchenette Meditation

Work Station

Work Station 2

Kitchenette

Wood-burning stove

Meditation bench

Window seat

REFUGEE CENTER

The objective of this project was to use architecture to tell the stories of refugees, while simultaneously providing a sanctuary for them. This community center is an adaptive reuse project completed in Narrative Studio, where we practiced story telling through design. In order to achieve this, we, as a class, spent weeks focusing on research to understand where thiese people are coming from and therefore, what they need. Some of these research topics included the immigration history in Chicago, trauma informed design, and the progression of movement through space.

This community center will be used by people from all over the world, coming together to create lasting impacts on each other. A map can demonstrate a similar concept, as it shows the paths and connections between a community.

The architecture will mimic the structure, layering and complexity of a map. The space will serve as a foundation for a new community, giving each person a chance to build new culture together. Every space provides oppurtunity for incoming refugees to add a personal touch or participate in communal activities.

HEALING SPACES

The purpose of the healing spaces are to provide the user with a place to decompress, reflect, or connect. Each space serves a different purpose and emphasizes a different step in the healing process.

1 THE EXHIBITION

The idea behind the exhibition is connection through story telling Incoming refugees are to use this space to pin up photos, textiles, art, and any other memorabilia they would like to share. The raised walls expose the lower half of the body, adding a layer of vulnerability to the people inside and informing others how many are currently occupying the space.

2 MEETING POINT

The meeting point is simply that: a meeting a point. This is an intermediate space that allows people to naturally run into each other to chat, or to simply serve as a rest stop. It is open and circular to encourage interaction without forcing it.

3 MEDITATION

The meditation room provides a space for people to practice meditation, or even just escape. It is made for one to two people to occupy at a time, as the purpose of this space is peace and privacy.

COMMUNITY GATHERING: MULTI-USE SPACE

FLOOR PLAN: BASEMENT

GAME ROOM

KID ZONE

GREENHOUSE

GARDEN

The objective of this project was to understand the corporate environment and create an innovative solution that aligns with the needs of not only the employees, but the clients of an architecture firm. The project was partnered with the NEXT Steelcase competition, giving each student a strict set of requirements to follow, such as the inclusion of a grand staircase, the addition of a mezzanine level, and exclusively Steelcase furniture.

This collage (left) represents my early research in concept development. I focused on the art and design district of Dallas, where the site is located, and found most my inspiration here. The images depicted are of various statues found around Dallas, as well as its landscape and native plants.

CONCEPT

This corporate office design will be inspired by “A Dallas Night” by George Grosz(pictured on right).The architecture and shaping of the space will reflect the abstract and lively nature of the painting by using geometry and layering of elements. The relationship between the architectural pieces will resemble a puzzle, each piece fitting into each other. Walking into the space will feel as if you are walking into a painting with accents of bright color, colliding shapes, and irregular movement.

WEST SECTION

NORTH SECTION

EAST SECTION

FLOOR PLAN: LEVEL 1

PRINTING & STORAGE

AUDITORIUM STAIRS

This grand staircase integrates a space for storage and printing, as well as a huddle room and two phone rooms. This allows access to printing from both reception and work stations, and creates a more effecient system, saving room for other programmatic spaces.

KITCHEN

HUDDLE ROOMS

MODEL SHOP

WORK CAFE

TRAINING CLASSROOM

GALLERY

PHONE ROOMS

HUDDLE ROOM

LOUNGE SPACE IN WORK CAFE

MEZZANINE (WEST) WORKSPACE

PENT-UP Pavilion

This pavillion studies how an emotion, anger, can be translated into a spacial experience. To me, anger is a not just one emotion, but a build up and expression of many. The collage pictured to the right demonstrates how it can move from an initial reaction, to rage, frustration, regretful actions, and ultimately, sadness. Anger is an isolating feeling, but we have a decision to make on how we wish to approach it. “Pent-Up” follows this progression of emotions, beginning with a decision the user must face: to go up the structure, or down, below it. It provides an experience that is curated to be slightly uncomftorable. This is not a place where many will want to sit for long to think, but a journey designed around decision, process, and reflection.