Suppose you decide to remodel your kitchen, how do you know what kind of layouts are “in”?
If you came to the art gallery last Tuesday, you might already know.
Graduates of the college’s Interior Design program gathered in the gallery above the library to display their work.
There were three evident trends during this mini expo: Emphasis on natural light, wood accents and spiral staircases. Most of the wood accents were either in the form of cabinet doors or floor layouts and the spiral staircases were predominantly composed of glass panel steps.
Cindy Doran was displaying her town house design. At first glance, it looked very futuristic, like something out of “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
Her design seemed very utilitarian, using windows where walls should be. By maximizing natural light in the main entry and living room, and making use of tall ceilings and a spiral staircase, the design feels very inviting.
Rika Nakajima broke the mould with her wood accent plan. Instead of laying the floors with wood, the walls were the main focus, giving the layout a very earthy feeling.
“My design is a fusion of meditative & contemporary approaches,” said Nakajima. “[This is to] bring sophisticated interior architecture to residential and commercial spaces.”
Her restaurant/bar plan, featuring the wooden walls, also incorporates lots of circular tables within smaller circular rooms. This gives the impression that this edifice would be a hub or a rendezvous.
The work of Euclid Curioso really stood out. Curioso was inspired by the structures of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and the work of Mexican architect of Luis Barragan when creating his design.
Curioso’s work has a very surrealist feel, his hotel lobby design is reminiscent of a Salvador Dali painting, very few walls are in a straight line, they bend and flow like water. The chairs, tables and couches all have curves of some sort. His design also incorporates very vibrant fabrics, adding to the surrealist vibe.
Michelle Dirske made a bold statement with her bar design, making it apparent that she knows what constitutes a hip hangout.
Her bar design would make use of a massive digital wall that constantly circulates either lyrics from the songs playing over the bar or quotes submitted by the bar’s frequenters. Her display sketch featured lyrics from bands such as Queen of the Stone Age and Nirvana, with lyrics like, “I want something good to die for, to make it beautiful to live,” and, “with the lights out, it’s less dangerous.” This idea of interactive structure is undoubtedly innovative.
Alison Swanson’s design drew quite a good portion of the crowd, and with good cause: Who wouldn’t want to see a house shaped like a radar gun?
At first glance, Swanson’s design looks as though the house is off balance, ready to topple over. The main stairwell and upper living rooms are placed in the direct path of large windows to bring in more natural light. The four stories of the house are graduated by a large, square spiraling staircase, and the steps, made of glass, never let you lose sight of the den and fireplace bellow.
Each designer, equipped with business cards and more, exhibits professionalism and a passion for their art.