2023 WORKS
QUYNH NGUYEN
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN
School of Constructed Environments, BFA Interior Design
DESCRIPTION
COURSE
Dining Set has been designed for the sunroom of a residential home, a place for gathering & appreciating the outdoors. Blurring the lines between the indoors & outdoors, the space opens up to the backyard & natural light pours in from the roof.
The furniture is slightly reminiscent of its inspiration: casual seating found in the streets of Vietnam placed in front of food vendors. Although the deviation from the original materiality of plastic to the use of natural wood creates an elevated experience, the portability of the stool helps to promote a flexible & lax environment.
Completed for Furniture Design in the spring of 2022 under the instruction of Wid Chapman.
Natural materiality & form plays a large role in informing the design of the dining set. Tropical leaves from plants such as the banana tree & the bird of paradise were looked at to see how their form could be adapted into the form of these furniture pieces. The curling of leaves, which can be seen in birds of paradise, became the sole inspiration.
— Original plastic chairs are thin & mass produced, fabrication method most likely injection molding — To achieve form with wood, carving is most realistic but requires more time & labor
Curled Bird of Paradise Leaf Creating warped surface in Rhino. Adding thickness to surface to create leg.
THE TABLE MATERIALITY
A strong wooden table with carved wood legs & a live edge wood table top to emphasize the material’s natural beauty.
1. Black Walnut, The Wood Database
— Blanks & Live Edge Table Top
Tongue & Groove Connection with Adhesive
MATERIALITY
Front Perspective Elevation
1. Black Walnut, The Wood Database —Wood Elements
2. Durango Bone Antislip Paver, Porcelanosa Flooring
3. Textured Weave Wool & Jute Rug, Natural, West Elm —Area Rug
4. Abacá, Natural White Coated, Bananatex —Upholstered Cushions
5. Painted Bamboo, Orange Juice (Benjamin Moore), Custom —Light Fixtures
6. Làng Quê (The Village) by Gia Tri Nguyen —Lacquer Painting
1 Wood Elements
2 Flooring
3 Area Rug
5 Light Fixtures
4 Upholstered Cushions
DESCRIPTION
COURSE
Seeking to understand the relationship between interior space and human emotion, a university psychology department proposes a study in which participants inhabit an immersive pod for 72 hours while documenting their experience. The study aims to observe how design decisions informed by color theory may help to encourage an intended state of being.
Euphoria & Fear outlines a design proposal for two immersion pods that boldly explores the impact of color & ornamentation on human perception of space in order to evoke these respective affects. A figure ground reversal pattern was to be designed for application within one of the pods.
Completed for Color, Ornament & Environment in the spring of 2023 under the instruction of Johanne Woodcock.
Shipping Container Front Elevation
Shipping Container Original Floorplan
EUPHORIA
Aiming to create a playful & energetic environment, the design of the euphoric pod draws inspiration from the bold choices that can be seen in space age, retro futuristic interiors & the 70s, specifically in their use of the supergraphic.
FEAR
Through observing photography & horror films to identify effective color combinations, materials/surfaces & ornamental details, the design of the fear-inducing pod incorporates these elements to create an eerie, unsettling environment.
DEFINITION A feeling or state of intense excitement & happiness.
COLOR RESEARCH
COLOR PALETTE
To design an immersion pod for the arousal of euphoric affects, the development of this color palette utilizes orange as its dominant hue. Orange exudes a level of confidence, a sense of urgency, and demands to be noticed. Cultural links to orange in Western countries and East Asian countries suggest it to be an energetic & prosperous color. Used within branding, the color can be perceived by individuals as friendly & cheerful, encouraging a sense of excitement. In the context of this immersion pod, these heightened positive affects help to create a confident and intense environment. To further engender a sense of euphoria, this dissonant palette is comprised of split complementary hues, specifically values of pink, yellow & blue.
St. Clair, Kassia. “Orange” in The Secret Lives of Color. 97. https://archive.org/ details/the-secret-lives-of-color/page/n95/mode/2up.
1. Orange Juice (2017-10) —Walls, Ceiling & Subway Tile
2. Citrus Blast (2018-30) —Bedding
3. Sweet Orange (2017-40) Walls, Ceiling & Subway Tile
4. Bright Yellow (2022-30) —Walls, Ceiling & Subway Tile
5. Strawberry Sorbet (2087-50) —Walls, Subway Tile & Flooring
6. Orange Nectar (2013-20) —Lighting Fixtures & Sink
7. Tropicana Cabana (2048-50) Refrigerator
8. Pink Damask (OC-72) Walls, Ceilings & Subway Tile
Longitudinal
DEFINITION
An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
COLOR RESEARCH
COLOR PALETTE
For the design of an immersion pod dedicated to the arousal of fear, a harmonious complementary color palette has been developed, employing contrasting hues of red & green, along with the use of dark tones. Although green may often be associated with positive connotations, such as nature, prosperity & luck, its context & shade may alter how it’s perceived. Utilizing yellow-greens or chartreuse, a color that conveys sickliness & disgust, strengthens the color proposal in creating a disturbing environment. The contrast between the dark living space & bright washroom establish a clear division of space, while bringing about a wariness of what may be looming in the darkness, or illuminating across the room.
MasterClass. “Green Color Meaning: Symbolism of the Color Green.” https://www. masterclass.com/articles/green-color-meaning.
1. Carriage Red (CW-250) Walls & Ceiling
2. Eccentric Lime (2027-30) Walls & Ceiling
3. Castleton Mist (HC-1) Tile Flooring
4. Snow White (OC-66) Subway Tile
5. Mocha Madness (2100-10) Wood Furniture
Willow (CC-542) Floor, Walls & Ceiling
Original Sketch
Figure Ground Reversal Pattern
Refined Line Drawing
DESCRIPTION
Arch Studio is a design exercise focused on developing a foundational understanding of building systems as it relates to the form & function of architectural structures. With an emphasis on MEP (mechanical, electrical, & plumbing) systems, this knowledge is applied to the design of an architecture studio, highlighting a seamless integration of infrastructure.
COURSE
Design work completed for Studio Lab: Building Systems in the spring of 2022 under the instruction of Scott Aker.
CIRCULATION
ARCHITECT’S OFFICE
CONFERENCE ROOM
DRAFTING STUDIO
FILES/SAMPLES
RECEPTION
MECHANICAL SHAFT
SUPPLY CLOSET
STAIR A
TOILET
JANITOR’S CLOSET
ELECTRICAL ROOM
DESCRIPTION
COURSES
Located at the Salt Shed in lower Manhattan, the Library of Affects is a project set with the objective of creating a space for reflection & shared experiences. The project features a collection of various forms of literature focusing on ideas of love & nostalgia, & provides opportunity for library-goers to anonymously share their own experiences, thoughts & secrets with the building.
Through built-in interactive walls & letter submissions that are showcased on the upper floor, individuals build upon the stories that the library holds & are encouraged to discover the stories of others who have done the same.
Design work completed for Design Studio 4 & Studio Lab: Building Systems in the spring of 2022 under the instruction of Gersende Chevalier & Scott Aker.
Promoting a seamless blend of flow & discovery within the Library of Affects, the project utilizes pleats to facilitate human interaction while enhancing airflow & air quality. In response to New York City’s air pollution, the space offers a breath of ‘fresh air,’ encouraging individuals to pause & unwind upon entry. The design ensures a tranquil yet subtly lively environment, with a sweeping circulation of air throughout the building. By integrating a concealed mechanical system in the pleated walls & ceilings, air cyclically flows from one side to the other, creating an invisible force that can be sensed by those attuned to their movement within the space.
Creating negative air pressure within bathrooms to prevent contaminated air from exiting into the main space while using exhaust systems to pump contaminated air out.
Stretched fabric lighting serves not only as a design element but help to guide airflow towards the large return slot diffuser.
Large supply slot diffusers provide cooling/heating that sweeps from right to left as the return slot diffusers collect and circulate the air.
Cooling/heating pool out from individual rooms into main space and travel upward towards the ceiling/large return diffuser.
Slot diffuser embedded within pleated wall, only slightly peeking out to provide air.
View of Reception.
View of Pleated Wall.
View of Grand Stair.
View of Open Seating & Hanging Letters.
Designed as a means for child survivors of domestic violence to create the necessary space they need to have a sense of privacy, safety and comfort, The Shell is a collapsible pod that encourages children to exert, explore and regain autonomy through personal agency within an educational setting.
Completed for Pop Up Design in the spring of 2023 under the instruction of Viktoria Barbo.
The Shell is an extension of Nguyen’s senior capstone project completed in the spring of 2023 for Design Studio 6: Capstone under the instruction of Adrienne Brown (see page ).
TARGET POPULATION
CONCEPT
NOTES
Child survivors of domestic violence between the ages of 5 to 9 years of age in NYC (Bronx).
Inspired by shells, fabric structures & curvilinear architecture, The Shell, an extension of The Shell Collective, explores how these forms can be explored & incorporated into the design of both these projects to create a sense of enclosure & safety while being whimsical, soft & delicate. To the right is a conceptual collage of these elements which come together to help inform the development of the design.
— Shell anatomy to be used as inspiration for form-finding/pod design
— Whorl, suture & spiral ribs create texture & ‘soft’/’harsh’ forms
— Hermit crabs embody agency through the use of their shell
— Shell as a portable home/safe space
— Fabric as a means of creating protection, while remaining comforting
— Creating a sense of enclosure through wrapping
— Explores the idea of a ‘wearable’ pop up space
DESCRIPTION
To design a lightweight, movable pod for a child to construct on their own & use, multiple factors must be taken into account for ease & accessibility. The dimensions of the pod take into consideration research providing data on children’s heights & use hula hoops as a point of reference in order to design a pod that can be used across the target age group. Future development would reflect variation in pod sizes tailored to different ages/bodies/number of inhabitants & explore the ability to join pods together.
NOTES
— Average standing height of children according to CDC percentiles
— Age 5: 39” to 48”; Age 9: 48” to 59”
— Hula hoop sizes (diameter) can be used as a rough comparison of what a child may be able to easily move & maneuver.
— Age 4 to 6: 34” to 36”; Age 7 to 9: 36” to 39”
— Sitting height of children can typically range from 24” to 30”
— Ease of assembly/disassembly for a child to handle
— Lightweight material
— Limit the number of steps of assembly
— Material considers levels of density & opacity through layering of fabric to create a sense of privacy for the child while also considering safety & visibility for guardians.
PROCESS
WIRE STUDY
Initial wire studies were used to understand how the pod could open & collapse, & helped to determine where mechanisms would be put in place to allow for hinge/rotation. Consideration for tension & anchor points were also explored. The design was then modeled in rhino, first replicating the physical spherical wireform, then manipulated to achieve an irregular form that took inspiration from the surface of shells. Layering of translucent fabric was depicted to show how a sense of privacy could be achieved.
PRELIMINARY DIGITAL MODELING
POD DESIGN
DESCRIPTION COURSES
The Shell Collective, a proposed nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing youth suvivors of domestic violence with the environmental support necessary for their devlopment & to advocating for change through informing the public of the issues of domestic violence in New York City.
TSC’s project located at The Highland in Longwood, South Bronx, is an educational space & daycare that utilizes design as a means for children to create & interact with their environments in a way that empowers them. The space includes ample open seating & tables, a collection of books & reading material, a computer station, & lightweight collapsible pods that children may use to establish personal space & safety. Ongoing programs & services aimed at providing children with support for their personal & academic development are offered to foster a better relationship with themselves, their education & growth.
Design work completed for Design Studio 6: Capstone in the spring of 2023 under the instruction of Adrienne Brown.
Research completed for Studio Lab: Research & Writing in the spring of 2023 under the instruction of Elizabeth Kuhn.
AWARD
BFA Interior Design Social & Environmental Award
Site of TSC’s 15,000 square foot project is located on the 8th floor of The Highland.
SITE INFO — Location: The Highland in Longwood, Bronx
— Name of building changed & address unspecified for the privacy of residents & involved organizations.
— Architects: Magnusson Architecture & Planning (MAP Architects)
— Type: Affordable Housing Development
— Services & housing for low income & survivors of domestic violence.
— Total Square Footage: 69,447 sq ft
BRONX COMMUNITY DISTRICT 1 & 2 HUNTS POINT, LONGWOOD & MELROSE PUMA
Census Data 2021 Provided by CensusReporter.org
RACE AND ETHNICITY
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Hispanic 65%
Hispanic Black
White Other
No Degree 34%
No Degree High School
Some School College Degree
POVERTY Poverty 37%
Poverty Above Poverty Line
50% of children under 18 are in poverty
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
Under $50K 70%
Under $50K $50k-$100K $100K-$200K Over $200K
Definitions of home hold subjective meanings formed through varied experiences, relationships and beliefs. Initial precedent research focused on analyzing instances where ideas of home, comfort, safety, transition and refuge could be embodied or represented. In the following diagrams, we aim to depict how comfort can be established, whether it be how deterrence and barriers create safety for children in a public library; how a transient individual, such as a homeless person, may utilize the resources available to them to create a sleeping arrangement; or a distribution of one’s belongings in an unfamiliar space, such as a hotel room.
Deterrence Through Spatial Constraint
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library Children’s Center
Section A