Undulating vaults shelter this multipurpose arts space in Ahmedabad, India, which local studio The Grid Architects designed to defy “conventional architectural norms”.
Named Tarang after the Hindi word for waves, the sweeping structure is formed of a series of timbrel vaults made from locally-sourced terracotta tiles without supporting beams or reinforcement.
According to The Grid Architects, with an area of 279 square metres, it is one of the largest vaulted structures of its kind in India.
The Grid Architects has created a multipurpose arts space in Ahmedabad
“[Tarang] emerged from the desire to create a structure distinct from the urban context, where box-like structures dominated the surroundings,” said studio founders Snehal Suthar and Bhadri Suthar.
“The vision was to craft a cornerless edifice, harmonic waves that defied conventional architectural norms,” they told Dezeen.
A series of brick plinths on the perimeter of the oval-shaped site support the vaulted roof and create a series of arched openings of different heights that lead inside.
It is sheltered by undulating vaults. Photo by Vinay Panjwani
At the centre of Tarang, three circular plinths form funnel-shaped openings that provide sunlight and water to small planters positioned at their base.
The construction of Tarang was carried out by So Hath – 100 Hands Foundation For Building Artisans, a local organisation that advocates for and provides training in traditional construction techniques.
It is made from tiles without supporting beams
The tiles are designed so that if Tarang’s arches are ever deconstructed they can be repurposed.
“Minimizing waste and concrete use, and prioritizing local resources and labour, it serves as a model for environmentally conscious architecture that celebrates local culture and positively contributes to the community,” explained the studio’s founders.
Inside, the tiles and polished stone floors are intended as a backdrop to a range of activities, from performances to artistic exhibitions and gatherings.
“The interplay of sunlight and shadow within the space is nothing short of mesmerising, imbuing the simplicity of the tiles and bricks with a quality that is truly remarkable,” said the duo.
Planters feature inside
“Indeed, the structure itself is the finished product, where the rawness of the materials is transformed into something sublime and transcendent,” they continued.
The Grid Architects is an Ahmedabad-based studio founded in 2002. In 2021 it was longlisted for the studio of the year in the Dezeen Awards.
It is intended as a backdrop to a range of activities. Photo by Vinay Panjwani
The studio previously turned to the brutalist buildings of the 1960s to create a home sheltered by a geometric, folded concrete shell.
Other recent projects in Ahmedabad include a factory by Iksoi Studio with an exposed concrete grid and the timber and stone-tiled VS House by Sārānsh.
The photography is by Photographix unless stated otherwise.
London design studio Pirajean Lees referenced Mayfair’s pastoral past and created a series of spaces that nod to the idea of a Georgian manor house when designing restaurant 20 Berkeley.
Pirajean Lees aimed to build a story around the space and its sequence of many small rooms, while tapping into the restaurant’s British produce-led culinary approach.
Pirajean Lees has completed the 20 Berkeley restaurant in Mayfair
“The restaurant is situated in the heart of Mayfair, a place once on the cusp of the city and countryside,” Pirajean Lees told Dezeen.
“The farming history of the area and its connection to the surrounding rural lands is prevalent throughout the project and paramount to the dining experience.”
The restaurant features a series of cosy rooms on the first floor
Pirajean Lees wanted to put nature and craft at the heart of this design project to align it with the ethos of Creative Restaurant Group, the restaurant’s founders.
“This led us to build on the strong connection of an imagined Mayfair Georgian manor house and its rural lands, which would have been used to grow produce,” the studio said.
“A central staircase leads to rooms usually found in a traditional family home, such as the drawing room, music room, pantry, orangery and salon. Each room has its own character whilst belonging to the one property.”
Among them is the music room
On the upper-ground floor are the richly designed reception and main dining rooms.
The lower-ground level houses a 14-seat private room with its own exclusive lounge and dining area, alongside the kitchen, wine cellar and main bar, The Nipperkin.
The design of the interiors references the arts and crafts movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Stained glass features in the drawing room
“At 20 Berkeley, we have developed a layered story of handmade details and tactile finishes that exude elegance,” said Pirajean Lees.
“The project’s expression is rooted in the traditions of craftsmanship and how the process of making decorative objects and furniture should showcase the beauty of both its materials and construction.”
Antique mirrors were used to surround the building’s columns
The resulting aesthetic is detailed, with a palette of rich, warm tones including ambers, ochres and dark reds, used across upholstery and textural wallcoverings. Floor tiles have been hand-crafted in Wales and feature clay embedded with fossils.
Bespoke joinery work was utilised throughout the space, including for the wall panelling, dowelled ceilings and an English oak staircase.
The project also features bespoke elements that were added to bring a sense of opulence to the various spaces.
These include a pantry, in painted timber, that provides a strong focal point of the upper floor. Here, chefs prepare dishes on the pantry island, “inviting guests to witness the chefs’ craft, as one would do in one’s home, whilst hosting guests for dinner,” said Pirajean Lees.
In the orangery, a bespoke pickling cupboard, made from sapele wood and marble, serves as “a pleasing curiosity”, used by the chefs to store jars of vegetables for their recipes.
An English oak staircase leads down to 20 Berkeley’s lower ground level
The bespoke dining tables and chairs were made of oak, while the chairs have been traditionally upholstered for maximum comfort.
“The bespoke and craft elements bring depth to the project, anchoring it in its strong narrative and creating timeless interiors,” said Pirajean Lees.
A private dining room is located on the lower ground floor
Bespoke stained glass, handcrafted in a North London studio, is another of the restaurant’s features.
Used in the reception and drawing room, the stained glass has been strategically positioned, backing onto the busy central bar to give a sense of movement and energy.
In front of the windows, it warms the light coming into the rooms to create an immersive atmosphere.
Mixed clay tiles are laid across the floor
“The stained glass introduces shadows and reflections, which change throughout the day and are different in each room,” said Pirajean Lees.
“As per each of our projects, the tailored finishes, joinery and surfaces here, have been carefully created to ensure optimum use of the space by the restaurateur and their guests.”
Other hospitality projects from the studio include an ornate sushi restaurant in Dubai with interiors informed by 1920s Japan and a members club in London, housed inside the iconic music venue Koko.
UK studio Citizens Design Bureau has given a colourful retrofit to Jacksons Lane, an arts and circus centre in an old church in London, with the aim of decluttering and simplifying its interior.
The studio aimed to improve the functionality of the grade II-listed building, which used to be a church but has been a community hub and “leading centre in contemporary circus arts” since the 1980s, Citizens Design Bureau said.
The Jacksons Lane building has a colourful interior
“The previous layout was a real jumble of spaces that didn’t work from a functional perspective,” the studio’s director Katy Marks told Dezeen.
“Our approach was to declutter the old church building, so that the original structure was more visible, giving a sense of the symmetrical cruciform of the original plan and using the drama of those spaces to full effect, improving acoustic separation, functionality as well as making the building fully accessible,” she added.
Spaces were rearranged to create a more functional interior
The venue in Highgate, London, had a dated interior with more than 20 different levels.
While reconfiguring its spaces to make them more functional, Citizens Design Bureau added a cafe and hireable studios in the former church’s double-height transept.
Red and teal colours brighten up the space
New details that make Jacksons Lane more functional include acoustic windows, as well as ramps and lifts that create easier access to the different spaces.
It also restored some parts of the church that had been hidden under more recent interventions. This included reinstating the main entrance of the building to the original church porch, which had been boarded up.
“You would often see people still climbing the steps up to the original, boarded-up door, trying to push it open,” Marks said.
“In a grade II-listed building, we had limited scope to make big changes to the exterior, so we felt that opening up the original and intuitively obvious entrance was the most impactful move we could make, to make the building much more legible and welcoming to everyone,” she added.
Citizens Design Bureau retrofitted the arts centre in Highgate
Inside the centre, Citizens Design Bureau introduced a warm colour palette of deep reds and oranges with teal accents, which complements the existing brick, stone and dark-wood details.
“The building has undergone many changes over decades of use, so the internal fabric in particular has a layered history,” Marks said.
“We have used colour to express those layers – white for the church structure, a teal blue for elements that were added in the 70s, and then volcanic oranges, reds and purples for completely new insertions with pops of other colours in the lighting, reflecting the playfulness of its current function as a creative space, specialising in circus arts.”
Whitewashed walls contrast dark-wood floors
The studio clad some of Jacksons Lane’s ceilings with a pale-green concertina form that improves acoustics.
Lamps with bright orange cables add another colourful touch to the space.
The former church is now used as an arts and circus hub
Jacksons Lane is used by a lot of people in the local area and Marks said the feedback so far has been “wonderful”.
“We hope that what we have done really expresses the ethos and character of Jacksons Lane with clarity and a bit of joy, raises a smile and is the kind of place that people really want to hang out in,” she said.
Citizens Design Bureau has previously added a “delicately perforated” Corten extension to Manchester Jewish Museum, for which the studio was longlisted for a Dezeen Award in 2021.
Dezeen School Shows: an app that makes use of disused car parks and a community cafe feature in Dezeen’s latest school show by students at the University of the Arts London.
Also included is a museum that examines the role of female workers in the industrial revolution and a scheme that aims to integrate the physical and digital worlds to connect people to their surroundings.
“Camberwell College of Arts is a renowned art and design college. We give students the space to explore their creativity. Staff will support and challenge you to rethink current practices. Our facilities embrace both traditional craftsmanship and digital technology.
“Our design and fine art courses will make you think about your social responsibility, as well as develop your critical and making skills.
“View our recent graduate’s work online at the Graduate Showcase website.
“Join our online and on-site open days to learn more about Camberwell College of Arts and our courses. Click here for more information.
“For the following projects, Camberwell’s BA Interior and Spatial Design students collaborated with students at IED Kunsthal, a design university located in Bilbao, Spain.
“Students focused on the regeneration of Zorrotzaurre, a post-industrial area of Bilbao built on an artificial island.
“The project’s aim was to design proposals for a former biscuit factory site, which required remote online working with students at IED Kunsthal as they researched and explored the area together.
“Each student created a map of the urban landscape through a variety of media including textiles, projection and interaction.
“Some Camberwell students also visited the site in Bilbao, where they exhibited their urban fabric mappings of the current condition of Zorrotzaurre and design proposals for the future of the island.
“They also took part in a show at the university, as well as delivered presentations and workshops as part of the DRS2022.”
Community and the Vernacular: Physical and Virtual by Lea Fakhouri
“Community and the Vernacular is an expansion of my thesis around the idea that people in today’s society are considered inert consumers that only use the spaces that they inhabit, and are not actually part of the process of designing them.
“My project explores the merging of the physical and digital world to help revitalise the connection between people and space.
“The physical world houses six separate pavilions suspended across the site of the Artiach Cookie Factory in Bilbao, Spain.
“The virtual world houses the united pavilions suspended together to represent the capabilities of the community to inform and transform its topography.”
Student:Lea Fakhouri Course: BA Interior and Spatial Design
Mobile Community Repair Cafes by Mia Bizard
“Using my research on themes exploring accessibility, connection and communities, this project continues my investigation into the architecture of connection – connecting people, city, and environment.
“Proposing a series of workshops and gallery spaces that essentially become repair cafes, all connected with foldable canopies, this project promotes the reduction of waste and sustainable, social community-focused lifestyles.
“The idea is to bridge and connect these places – located around the island of Zorrotzaurre in Bilbao, Spain – as well as the local community through this fragmented series of spaces.
“It aims to empower residents to take an active part in shaping their communities, as well as building on the legacy of the site by adding a participatory and engaging design that will help promote and attract people to the area.”
Student:Mia Bizard Course: BA Interior and Spatial Design
Zorrotzaurre’s Art District by Maya Hammoud
“The project offers a unique experience to its visitors by taking them through a ‘designed walk’ across three spaces: a gallery, an auditorium and a multi-purpose social space.
“The project is aimed at the local community and those with a common interest in Bilbao’s growing art scene.
“The spatial layout explores the act of observing, using thresholds and viewports to make visitors see, experience and question their surroundings.
“The aim of using viewports as a tool for observing fragments of other spaces, allowing sudden interactions to happen between visitors.
“It also forms a deeper understanding of visitor experiences and how it is influenced by the creation of space.”
Student: Maya Hammoud Course: BA Interior and Spatial Design
Time Traveller by Qiao Wang
“I created a temporary exhibition to promote local cultural heritage in Zorrotzaurre, Bilbao, Spain.
“This solar-powered installation is based on the simplified shape of Zorrotzaurre, which is intended to provide visitors with a quick tour of the island.
“To arouse the interest of visitors, they will feel as if they are exploring the maze while walking inside the installation, just like they are discovering and seeking knowledge in an unfamiliar city.
“This project promotes the industrial heritage culture of the region to visitors from all over the world while boosting the local tourism economy and providing educational cultural dissemination.
“In the installation, I used the pulley structure of the factory and woven fabric, which was inspired by my map. All materials used are sustainable.”
Student: Qiao Wang Course: BA Interior and Spatial Design
Fabric-Women-Museum by Shiyuan Liu
“Fabric-Women-Museum aims to spatialise the inequalities suffered by women in the workplace during the industrial revolution.
“The project is based on research into the history of Artiach during the industrial revolution when approximately 80 per cent of the workers were women.
“Although Artiach offered work opportunities for women, their working conditions and treatment were poor.
“The design translates the inequality of women in the workplace into four thematic rooms: control, inconvenience, isolation and vulnerability.
“The interactive exhibition helps visitors understand the conditions suffered by women workers in workspaces during the industrial revolution.”
Student: Shiyuan Liu Course: BA Interior and Spatial Design
(Junk)scape – Rethinking and Recycling Non-Places by Kiwi Chan
“This project represents creative ways to transform car parks from non-place, anonymous spaces to ones with urban character.
“The (Junk)scape app is a system and service that proposes efficient uses for ‘wasted’ spaces and energy around ‘non-places’ i.e. car parks.
“This app rethinks and recycles underutilised parking lots by using a renting and scheduling system.
“My primary design proposal for my rented ‘non- place’ explores ‘placeless’ people, in hopes to provide support for the local homeless community and raise awareness around this ‘invisible class’ through film.
“This proposal also aims to incorporate responsible involvement with Bizitegi, a non-profit organisation that contributed to the construction of services for individuals from the worlds of exclusion and mental illness in Bilbao.”
Student:Kiwi Chan Course: BA Interior and Spatial Design
Partnership content
This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and the University of the Arts London. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
An LGBT+ community centre that caters to Seattle’s queer population and a peace centre in Homs, Syria, are included in Dezeen’s latest school show by students at the School of Visual Arts.
Also included is a fermentation centre that explores the world of microflora and its relationship to our wellbeing and a design for a new bookstore in China that marries biophilic principles with traditional Chinese architecture.
“The interior design senior thesis year at the School of Visual Arts Interior Design: Built Environments department is the culmination of a year-long self-directed exploration. Each student has driven and developed an adaptive-reuse project from site selection through concept development, interior design, programming and furnishings.
“Every project is unique and tackles real-world issues such as a residence for the Harbor School on Governors Island and a centre for philosophers in Homs Syria.”
Oryzae Village by Chloe Hyun Jung Park
“Fermentation is an under-appreciated metabolic process that humans have embraced for thousands of years. It is responsible for a wide range of items we consume including beer, yoghurt, kimchi and penicillin. In this project, Oryzae Village is a fermentation centre that explores the world of microflora and its relationship to our health and wellbeing.
“It consists of farms, shops, residences and various engaging workshop areas. Fermentation experts and artisans lead the centre to create an environment for teaching, learning, sharing while creating products items using fermentation.
“Oryzae Village aims to revitalise the local communities by encouraging foraging, growing, investigating, and learning about microbial processes – helping people achieve healthier lives and wellbeing.”
Student: Chloe Hyun Jung Park Course: Senior thesis Email: chloehyun021@gmail.com
Harbor Residence by Iris Junhong Lin
“Being a high school student in New York’s award-winning Harbor School often means having to endure extremely long commutes from various corners of the five boroughs. Located on Governors Island, the school is accessible only by ferry. Harbor Residence is a student dormitory for these dedicated pre-college students committed to maritime studies, research and careers.
“In this project, Harbor Residence aims to be much more than just a place to live – it will be a continuation of the school’s maritime culture. Students will to able to live, socialise, learn, work at the residence – becoming a centre for the Harbor School Community.”
Student: Iris Junhong Lin Course: Senior thesis Email: jlin28@sva.edu
Cove by Stella Hanbyul Suk
“The pandemic has forced us to rethink travel. Urban dwellers with limited access to natural environments have been unable to travel long distances to connect with nature. Local travel may be the new normal in our post-pandemic tourism landscape.
“Cove is a wellness and activity centre that provides a tranquil and restful place in a natural setting within a relatively short distance from the major urban centres of South Korea. It is designed for people to unplug and reset their daily lives, improving both mental and physical wellness through high sensory involvement in a setting that connects back to nature.”
“Alive Books is a new bookstore design in China. More than just a place to buy books, it is a gathering place where people can learn, communicate and exchange ideas.
“Marrying biophilic principles with traditional Chinese architecture, Alive Books aims to become the future of book retailers that will co-exist and survive the online bookselling landscape.”
Student: Difan Yang Course: Senior thesis Email: yang_difan@163.com
The Aurora by Ramey Yixuan Chen
“The Aurora is a hotel designed to maximize experiences of the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. Auroras result from disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by solar winds – resulting in otherworldly displays of atmospheric lights of varying colour and complexities.
“Located in Oblast, Russia, the Aurora Hotel is situated in the Arctic Circle with a relatively mild climate (due to the warm ocean currents crossing this seaside town).
“Because of its extreme northern location, visitors will be able to experience the ‘Polar Nights’ – when the night sky extends for periods longer than 24 hours – giving them unparalleled access to seeing the Aurora Borealis. The design of the hotel will focus on maximising the beauty of this atmospheric phenomenon while connecting visitors to nature.”
“Queer is the new LGBTQ+ centre in greater Seattle. Located adjacent to the University of Washington, Queer will cater to the vulnerable LGBTQ+ population and reflect core values of diversity, inclusivity and freedom of identity.
“Constantly under pressure and attack, the LGBTQ+ community needs a place to gather, grow, organise, support, heal, defend and celebrate queer experiences and identities. Now, more than ever, with trans people being ostracised, and the legality of gay marriage being questioned, Queer will be a welcoming and open centre for the entire Seattle community.”
Student: Yearin ‘Rin’ Park Course: Senior thesis Email: rinparkinterior@gmail.com
Bayt Al Kul Philosophy Centre by Fuad Khazam
“Bayt al-Kul (house of the all) is a philosophy and peace centre in Homs, Syria that aims to play a major role in healing a divided society by challenging beliefs through discussions and conceptual analysis. After a ten-year war that divided the Syrian people, Bayt al-Kul will give the people of Homs a chance to listen and share one another’s views through philosophical debate.
“For centuries, Homs was a cradle for philosophical education and the birthplace of many historical philosophers who contributed to the world today. By re-discovering the ‘world of ideas’ Bayt al-Kul aims to help rebuild the unity and cultural commonality among the Syrian people.”
“Al-station is a live and work community dedicated to art school students marrying art studios with living space. Students from the New York City (NYC) area art institutions will be able to use Al-station as a place to live, study, work, create, show, play and gather.
“The space will serve as a hub for creative university students – nurturing the next artists and designers who are so important to the continued growth and vitality of NYC.”
Student: Eason Yixuan Du Course: Senior thesis Email: easondu09@gmail.com
Social Commune by Yangkai Lin
“Over the past 30 years, the China Government has instituted a programme of poverty alleviation that relocated millions of scattered families living in rural areas, moving them closer to cities to provide social services such as healthcare and education. This caused thousands of villages across China to become empty, creating a landscape of forgotten places. Many of these abandoned villages – dating back thousands of years – should be preserved, reimagined and reused.
“Social Commune is an experimental design project that focuses on adaptive reuse of these forgotten places: transforming originally residential buildings into a series of public buildings that celebrate the unique characteristics of the local village and community.
“Through a mixture of preservation and modern design, Social Commune will breathe new life into these underutilised structures and will become a model for rehabilitating rural areas throughout China.”
Student: Yangkai Lin Course: Senior thesis Email: ykstv21@gmail.com
Noah by Ekko Tianjuan Zheng
“Covid-19 has changed the world. Wuhan China – with a population of over 10 million – is thought to be the epicentre of the virus. With its own virus spread quickly under control, Wuhan is in a position to become a centre for viral studies – to help prevent such an epidemic in the future.
“Noah is an institute of virology in Wuhan. Located in an abandoned factory, an extensive renovation will transform it into a high-tech, unique, state-of-the-art research facility. Incorporating biophilic elements and principles, Noah will be an environment where science and nature come together, creating a laboratory and science centre for the 21st century.”
A clothing store that imitates an art gallery and an animal hostel designed to increase adoption rates are among the interiors projects presented by undergraduate students at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design in our latest school show.
Other designs include an indoor park, a meditation space that uses the play between shadow and light to encourage meditative moments, and a micro-hotel designed to connect visitors with Colorado’s mountainous environment.
“The undergraduate Interior Architecture (BFA) programme at the George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts and Design in Washington, DC, offers students a unique opportunity to study, learn and create within a creative environment at a major research university.
“Our programme is the only Council for Interior Design Accreditation-accredited programme within DC and one of 10 interior programmes located at universities that rank in the top 70 of US News and World Report’s list of national research universities.
“Through our studio-based curriculum – the core of our programme – students learn to design three-dimensional environments through the use of dynamic concepts, cutting-edge materials, and innovative methods and techniques.”
Altitude Micro Hotel by Sophia DeNezza
“Altitude Micro Hotel is a luxury ski-in, ski-out boutique micro-hotel. It is designed to create a luxurious yet practical vacation experience while connecting the interior spaces with the resort’s mountainous environment.
“Altitude will provide a comfortable stay away from the typical touristy resorts and will give guests a chance to unwind through the many accessible amenities on-site. The design revolves around the concept of altitude, which reflects the Colorado landscape and the feeling of movement while skiing.
“By utilizing the site’s existing architecture and creating a contemporary, conceptual and practical design, Altitude Micro Hotel is designed to provide guests with a luxurious and unforgettable experience.”
“With fast-fashion retail stores having a hold on many people’s shopping habits, in recent years the world has seen soaring amounts of textile waste generated. Clash aims to break these bad habits and offers a limited selection of curated clothing pieces that behave in the store like art does in a gallery.
“The process of creating garments is an art form. Clash aims to showcase each piece, emphasising the clothing’s construction and quality, aiming to spark conversations about consumer overconsumption through the store’s design.”
Student: Victoria Gogick Advisor: Karen Gioconda Course: Studio 5 – undergraduate Email: vgogick@gwu.edu
Ikhaya Women’s Shelter by Alexa Greig
“The Ikhaya Women’s Shelter provides a place of refuge and a support system for women and their children escaping domestic violence. The shelter aims to create an inclusive community by using an indoor/outdoor canopy that intersects with all of the 13 buildings on-site.
“The outdoor canopy provides a sense of connection between the buildings and partial shade from the hot South African sun, while the indoor canopies influence the layout and flow of the interiors.”
“Luna Meditation Hall is dedicated to creating an environment where people can come for an energetic reset. The hall is made up of a meditation hall, private meditation enclaves and classrooms. It is designed to encourage people to turn inward, either alone, in connection with others or with guidance.
“The project takes reference from phases of the moon. The space focuses on layering and the play between light and shadow to reflect the journey inward during meditative moments.”
Student: Jana Khalil Advisor: Kristin Carleton Course: Studio 5 – undergraduate Email: khaliljana99@gmail.com
Movie Theatre and Film History Museum by Caitlin MacGregor
“The Movie Theatre and Film History Museum is designed for people to see parts of film history in the museum while also viewing new movies that could be a part of that same history someday.
“The site for the project is the Car Barn in Georgetown, D.C. The aperture of a movie camera inspired the main concept. The theatres are tucked away from sunlight, like film in the exposure compartment of a camera. But they are lit up by the screens inside the theatre, similar to film when exposed to light coming through the aperture of a camera.”
“Farm Stay promotes slow food through an immersive retreat in Middleburg, Virginia. Guests learn sustainable farming practices and follow the path of produce from planting to cooking to eating. The life cycle starts in the main house, where cosy guest rooms cradle visitors as they begin their journey.
“Just as a plant grows into a seedling, the garage promotes growth and provides an opportunity for visitors to soak up new ideas. Finally, when the plant is fully grown and harvested, the guests dine at the restaurant and enjoy the feast. The life cycle continues when guests sow the seeds of knowledge with others.”
Student: Salli Mandel Advisor: Karen Gioconda Course: Studio 5 – undergraduate Email: sallismandel@gmail.com
Books and Beyond by Sibyl Frances Natad
“Books and Beyond is designed for learning, socialization and a sense of community. The design is a dual concept of a bookstore, café and bar. The programme includes a writing centre for aspiring authors, a space for gatherings, and a communal work area.
“During the digital age, when information is easily accessible through the tap of a finger and people have a rapid lifestyle, it is fitting to create a space that is meant for an individual to slow down and enjoy perusing books leisurely. Books and Beyond is the best place to immerse oneself in literature and connect with others with a similar interest.”
“RE.turn aims to utilize design to initiate cultural change around death. It looks to develop an experience that allows mourners to grieve in the ways best for them, erasing the standard of a quick ceremony and moving toward a multi-day process of renewal.
“By providing the facilities for an extended stay, RE.turn creates an environment in which friends and family can gather, grieve, and extol life. It looks to answer: What power does architecture have to initiate mass culture change? Does design have the ability to diminish the long-standing stigma around death and mourning in the United States?”
“Inspired by DC’s impressive array of parks and lively street culture, 14th & U Street is a public indoor park. With bike parking, short-term lockers, restrooms, and various fixed and unfixed seats, the indoor park caters to the heavy pedestrian and cyclist traffic.
“On the first floor, the resource area situates users and directs them to the functional programme. Connected through an atrium space, the second floor doubles as a reservable community space and social seating floor. Finally, the third floor is the most removed from the energy of the streetscape, featuring tranquil plant life and patio seating.”
Student: Morgan Richmeier Advisor: Karen Gioconda Course: Studio 5 – undergraduate Email: mvrichme@me.com
The Animal Hostel by Alaina Willard
“The Animal Hostel is a shelter focused on helping improve adoption rates by providing a safe, wellness-focused environment designed to enhance connections between the community, individuals, shelter staff and animals.
“Through the concept of unity, Animal Hostel incorporates interior and exterior design elements that encourage natural interaction between pet and potential owner and establish a connection to the neighbourhood, generating a positive outlet for residents, business owners and consumers.
“A central glass core unites the building’s verticality, providing natural light that is critical to the wellbeing of the animals and evoking a feeling of openness, freedom and transparency.”
This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design at the George Washington University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
In this school show, masters students at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design present interiors projects including a comforting dental office and a retail experience that encourages people to repurpose old clothes.
“The Interior Architecture Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at the George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts & Design in Washington, DC, is the only Council for Interior Design Accreditation-accredited programme in the United States’ capital.
“It is designed for students who pursued a bachelor’s degree in a field other than interior design, interior architecture or architecture and are looking to follow a studio-based curriculum that will teach various aspects of interior design, theories and technicalities. We believe in fostering a community that encourages creativity and pushes the boundaries of design with an emphasis on conceptual thinking and the design process.”
ADHD Childcare and Community Centre by Edewede Akpesiri-Odia
“Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, often have difficulties with hyperactivity and self-control. This project aims to create order and organized activities for children with ADHD while also offering fun and wellness benefits.
“The existing building is located in a dense residential area of Arlington, Virginia. Within the building shell, a grid enables order and structure. Each programme block will have activities shifting the grid, creating movement and fluidity while maintaining its volume. Activities will encourage and strengthen neural networks in the brain and enable kids with ADHD to practise self-control.”
Student:Edewede Akpesiri-Odia Advisor: Christina Filipescu Course: Studio 5 – graduate Email: ede.odia@gmail.com
Remembrance Crematorium by Yi-Chen Chang
“Distinctive cultural responses to death inform how we process loss. Mourning rituals reflect the nature of the relationship with the deceased. As the solid stick fades to smoke, we connect to the sacred. We are reminded of the fragility of life and the importance of seizing the day.
“In this project, ruins of the McKinney homestead in Austin become a focal point for a crematorium complex. The symbolic omnipresence of death encourages us to cherish life and live deeply. References to death, burial, permanence/impermanence and the eternal are captured throughout the sequence of spaces providing quietude for reflection.”
Student:Yi-Chen Chang Advisor: Christina Filipescu Course: Studio 5 – graduate Email: changyichen@gwu.edu
U.commons: A physical place for virtual learning by Aileen Kim
“With higher education leaning deeper into digital technologies, academic satellite sites can serve commuting and online students by providing practical resources and social support, leading to student success and equity.
“The interplay of physical and virtual realities is explored through the overlap, where the context of one reality may be expressed more dominantly over the other. At times, the overlap is a threshold, encouraging users to become aware of moving in and out of spaces designed for digi-centric or physi-centric programming. These portals guide inhabitants through areas for individual focused work to spaces for collaboration and social connection.”
Student:Aileen Kim Advisor: Christina Filipescu Course: Studio 5 – graduate
Suzuki School of Music, NYC by Taylor Oosting
“Classical music education for K-12 students comes with proven developmental benefits, but unfortunately, arts education is often among the first programmes cut from a public school’s budget. This project envisions an after-school Suzuki Education Center for strings. It aims to bring accessible music education to urban communities and lower entry barriers to classical music education and enjoyment.
“Located in one of the most diverse communities in the nation, a New York City borough, this project serves as a blueprint for future accessible music institutions. Conceptually, the project is based on the practice of Kintsugi, a Japanese method of repairing broken pottery by mending the broken areas or reattaching cracked pieces with gold lacquer, embracing the damage as an opportunity to find beauty in the imperfections.”
Student: Taylor Oosting Advisor: Christina Filipescu Course: Studio 5 – graduate Email: tayloroost@gwu.edu
Peirce Mill: A Celebration of Food and Community by Brynn Jacoby Orban
“The Peirce Mill is a food-focused wellness centre featuring a garden-to-table restaurant, cooking classes, and a health and wellness coaching clinic. These facilities strive to celebrate food as a resource that nourishes the body and brings the community together.
“Inspired by the transformative process of grain’s movement through a mill, the site plan and architecture of the mill will highlight spaces of learning. With the use of the existing grids of the historic mill and barn, situated askew from each other in their idyllic forested, creekside setting, a shifted grid will be employed to highlight these transformative spaces of growth.”
Student: Brynn Jacoby Orban Advisor: Christina Filipescu Course: Studio 5 – graduate Email: jacobybrynn@gmail.com
The Steady Beat Recording Studio by Hannah Shafer
“In music production and recording, women are often hindered by pay gaps, with limited mentorship and promotions opportunities while also confined to certain genres. The Steady Beat is a recording studio and artist social club in Washington DC designed with these limitations in mind – a space supportive of female excellence and collaboration.
“Inspired by sound waves, the space features undulating brass rods – a nod to musical instruments of the same material. As users cross the threshold where the historic building was once split into two, the waves become increasingly dynamic and the spaces more collaborative and creative.”
Student: Hannah Shafer Advisor: Christina Filipescu Course: Studio 5 – graduate Email: hannahcshafer@outlook.com
Dental Office by Vanessa Spencer
“It is estimated that 61 per cent of people have dentophobia, or fear of dentists, worldwide. This fear usually generates from past negative experiences or oral health concerns. To promote wellbeing, this project mimics nature’s process of protecting.
“A dental office is designed to bring comfort and a feeling of protection to the user by creating forms that are wrapped barriers of protection. These protected areas wrap around the spaces where the user might feel the most vulnerable. Biophilic tools are used throughout the design to connect the user with nature during their visit.”
Student: Vanessa Spencer Advisor: Christina Filipescu Course: Studio 5 – graduate Email: nessa31.vf3@gmail.com
Upcycling Retail Experience Store by Mengjiao Wang
“The fashion industry is the second-largest polluter in the world. Textile production requires significant natural resources, and the decomposition process produces greenhouse gas and leaches toxic chemicals into groundwater and soil.
“This project aims to increase people’s attention to this urgent environmental problem and to encourage people to participate in the process of upcycling clothing. Here, the old garments can be reinvented and start their new life. Drawing ideas from using ‘entropy increase’ to express the flow of time, the store will show the clothing’s journey and provide opportunities for customers to visit and join in.”
Student: Mengjiao Wang Advisor: Christina Filipescu Course: Studio 5 – graduate Email: mengjiaowang@gwu.edu
Education Co-op by Aidan Young
“In the current education system, undue emphasis is placed on academic content and standardized testing, leaving teachers with a substantial burden that consumes their mental bandwidth.
“To address the issue and to work toward a solution, this education centre will focus on one main reason students report dropping out of high school: a lack of positive peer and mentor relationships. The Education Co-op will provide students educational support in a space that cultivates and celebrates warmth and connection.”
Student: Aidan Young Advisor: Christina Filipescu Course: Studio 5 – graduate Email: young.aidan2015@gmail.com
Partnership content
This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
