brittanycraigdesign

[brittanycraigdesign]

D.C.

This past weekend I took a road trip to Washington D.C. to visit the National Building Museum, in the hopes of discovering something inspiring. What I found inside was quite incredible - the columns, the detail, the colonnade and the many windows - offered much excitement to get me thinking about the possibilities of my senior project.

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Check out my online design portfolio. Corporate offices, healthcare, hospitality and more!

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INSPIRED

A little weekend trip to northern-western PA ended up being full of inspiration; nature-walks, Kinzua Bridge State Park and the little historic town of Braddock. On a very cold morning, I had the privilege to walk along the Kinzua Sky Walk that offered a unique glimpse into the bridge’s history, revealing the ingenuity, dedication and determination of its designers and builders at the time. It was an architectural masterpiece once considered the “Eighth Wonder of the World” as the highest and longest viaduct in the world. The Statue of Liberty could stand under it! But in 2003 the bridge partially collapsed due to a terrible disaster - a tornado hit directly into the steel structure, destroying eight towers. What was once a devastating tragedy, is now a beautiful representation of the past where people from all over the country can come to visit and learn more about its rich history in transportation and show the forces of nature at work. 

How beautiful is the symmetry here!

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PARTI

This week’s topic: Parti’s. A parti is a “rough drawing, doodle, or diagram used early in the schematic design process to represent a design concept.” It essentially bridges the gap between words and form. So, as I was working through my space to connect the dots, I capitalized on a repeating form that derived from the stairways within my building. The stairs were a main focal point of the space that really stood out.

The next step for me to understand the space both from an elevation view and floor plan view, was to make a study model. I used the same repeating form to create patterns and shapes that (created/formed) unique spaces. (See below) Each form is its own individual entity that can be moved and changed to form different spaces. At this stage, the position of the forms are not at all set in stone. This was just a great way for me to understand the space and get a feel for how the forms may work together in order to create spaces usable for my building type.

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HOSPITAL ROOM

Recently, I've been working on redoing renderings for a past project-done sophomore year. Below you will find final renderings of that project, which is a single hospital room for the immobile. The concept derived from FRACTALS; the geometry of nature.

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UPDATE!

Senior thesis update!! I have a concept. Preservation has the power to generate value and change. As an individual experiences the space, they will be faced with the uncertainty of the future. As they transform into a conscious being-recognizing the worth of conservative curation, their surroundings will transform also, through the progression of time and space. The process of metamorphosis will appear through the modification of simple geometric forms. The alterations allow the message of destruction and revitalization become apparent through changing conditions. Rewind...The objective of the project is to educate others on the value of preservation. So, through an exhibit/ playful, immersive experience I hope to do just that, and showcase the many benefits and reasons why we should all consider preserving our future, through a fun and exciting experience! We hold the future in our very hands, so let’s do something about it. And LET FREEDOM CREATE. Allow the freedom of play to create art, value, awareness and ultimately mindful human beings. For art and play has the potential to combat the misconceptions of preservation.

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VACANT TREASURES

Recently, I had the opportunity to tour a couple abandoned buildings. And they were amazing, to say the least! Abandoned and vacant buildings are always cool to admire from a distance. But they're always better to actually go inside and explore. Unfortunately, there isn’t a long, funny, complicated break-in story… but instead, we were in contact with an affiliate of the buildings who had a key to let us in. Regardless, it sure was an experience. There were holes in the floor, broken windows, mounds of dirt and dust, and destroyed toilets. And don’t forget all the graffiti– everywhere!

The reason for the visit stems from our senior capstone project. The class required that we find a site location to place our hypothetical design projects. Luckily, the two of us (a friend and I) had chosen buildings that were directly beside one another. So, we visited and explored them together. The buildings are located in East Liberty; the Saint Peter and Paul Catholic Church and school building.

The first building we entered was the old Catholic Church. It had been caught on fire, rebuilt again, then abandoned and open to adventure-seekers for years. The ceilings must’ve been 50-feet high with beautiful stained-glass windows on either side. It was just as striking from the inside as it was from the outside. 

Then, a short walk outside led us to the school building that set adjacent to the church. It is tucked behind the monstrosity of the building in front of it. The old school building sat vacant since the early 90’s. This space I will use and transform to encapsulate my senior capstone. It will become an immersive play space for both children and adults to learn about the value of preservation. Inside we found lots and lots of stairs and a beautiful open gym on the fourth floor!?

Can’t wait to see how each space transforms!

[brittanycraigdesign]

Interior design student from Pittsburgh, PA!

[brittanycraigdesign]

SOUL SEARCHING

Who am I? What are my passions and interests? Where do I go from here? My senior year has been full of questions like these. I’ve been on a constant soul search to figure out who I am and what I want to do post-college. It’s been a constant struggle and I probably still don’t have all the answers but over the course of six months I now have a better understanding of myself and who I am as a designer.

The true struggle began when I had to painstakingly develop a single paragraph to explain who I am as a person. The exercise was created to promote an upcoming event, Meet the Seniors. The intention of the event is to allow professionals within the industry to “get to know” us outside of school, jobs, internships, etc. Not only were we encouraged to explain ourselves via text to advertise on social media, but we are also required to designate a 4’x8’ piece of cardboard to allow the words come to life. After several hours I came up with something…see below for a snippet of my bio. (To read full article, visit http://www.designatlaroche.com/portfolio/brittany/)

“Brittany Craig was born on June 3rd, 1996, with noticeably large feet; and they haven’t stopped growing since. Today, she stands at over 6 feet tall…Brittany is a flea market and yard sale enthusiast, always on the hunt for the most rusty, dirtiest piece of “junk” out there. Her endless collection of butter-churns, chairs, and shoe-horns, are a constant inspiration that fuels her creativity…”

Even after much struggle I realized I might actually know what drives my passion…flea markets! Who doesn’t love a good treasure hunt, and even better, a great find? Recently I have understood I have a great appreciation for the “things” that came before me. Which is why I am revolving my Senior Thesis around that exact idea; create and maintain the value of preserving the past. (That will be a discussion for a latter post) The event is less than a week away! I may have made a few mistakes along the way, but as designers we’re problem solvers, right? So, it all worked out.

Luckily, I think I am discovering myself in the process after all. I am eccentric and eclectic. I am passionate. I am artistic and creative. I am colorful. I am TALL. And of course, the most important…I am UNIQUE.

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This Fun-Filled Childcare Center Is Like A Big Toy Box

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Designer and creative director Parolio, has recently completed Wanda Café Optimista, a new bright and colourful cafe located in the Salamanca district of Madrid, Spain.

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soho house istanbul

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These Murals Feature In A Colorful Cafe In Madrid

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A Sustainable Safari Lodge Arrives In Botswana

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Buster + Punch Led Bulbs.

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Nuon Office by HEYLIGERS Design+Projects // Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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Black and Wood Stairs // Invermay House by Moloney Architects