Final Project

     The final project was about redesigning an old Pullman train depot to a space that is divided into three parts—the gallery, the studio and the residence. It was an adaptive reuse project and the new space was designed for an artist whose spouse has visual impairments. As a result, the residence area was specifically designed for people who have visual impairments. My project title is “transient eternity”, which is also my concept for the whole project. The final project was not an independent project, instead, it was a cumulative project that related back to works that I have done for the whole semester. All the projects are connected and they involved processes of exploring, building, finding, solving and so on. Also, the processes contained a lot of components and the components I found really impressive were the inspiration object, parti development, concept model, gallery design and space plan.

     

     First of the all, the experiences of finding the inspiration was interesting and occasional. The images I took from my first visit to the depot were not really meaningful so I went the depot again to seek more inspiration. Luckily, the climate got colder and there were icicles on the eaves and trains. At the end, I took an image about icicles across the skin of the train (image 1) and I felt there were lots of potential shapes for me to explore. What I learned from this process was keep exploring. The result would come to surprise you if you put more efforts.

    Image 1

Secondly, the process of creating my parti was a struggling part for me. I took the elements and principle from the inspiration image and draw them out. I tried to use different angles or view to make something meaningful, but the results were not satisfying.  So I kept trying and I finally got one that communicates the most (image 2) as it formed contrasts of the colors and also the movement (icicle: stable vs train: moving).My concept--transient eternity was pulled out at that time.  During that process, I think my abstract thinking has improved during this process. In addition, I learned how to simplify something first and putting meanings after.

 Image 2

Next was the concept model. It was the component that I enjoyed the most. I incorporated new colors into my design—yellow and blue since yellow could psychologically represent the “transient” part and blue could psychologically represent the “eternity” part. I followed this idea and I built my concept model. (image 3). Randomly tore yellow pieces and smooth long blue strips were used for my model. The plastic stripe was there to represent the idea of icicles. I love the process of building the concept model, I felt I got more used to abstract thinking and I knew how to achieve my concept by using different aspects or angles.

 Image 3

The process of designing my gallery space was the most challenging but also the most enjoyable part. I needed to incorporate my concept into my gallery space and I did not want to just stay on the aspect of colors. As result, I need to come up with a new aspect of my concept, which was the most challenging part. I felt I was stuck at that time but luckily, I got the idea of water. Water keeps changing among its three states ---solid, liquid and the gas. It keeps changing but the changing exists forever, I felt the idea related back to my concept---transient eternity. . After I figured out the idea, it was really enjoyable to incorporate it into my gallery space. I used the cloud shaped reception desk and lights, the water floor and the transparent glass to represent the three states of water (image 4). What I learned from this process was how to appropriately come up with new ideas without getting too much.

 Image 4

Finally, it was another challenge for me to properly plan the space. Since it was an adaptive reuse project, so I should kept as many existing walls as I can. In addition, the wall around the ticket windows and the stair can’t be moved.  All those requirements formed a trick challenge for me and I also needed to pay attentions to the aesthetics. Happily, I figured the plan out by keeping the requirements in mind and examining it again and again (image 5). The result was satisfying.  This was part I felt I leaned the most. I had some understandings and experience of how to design a space reasonably, properly and also creatively.  

 Image 5

     Generally speaking, throughout this semester, I felt my skills and knowledge have improved and I began to have a clearer idea about what an interior designer should have in order to be capable and competent. In the further, I will keep trying and building in order to be professional.