Design Matrix

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Case study (Sustainable Office)

This is a case study about a company called AIA Honolulu Chapter in Hawaii. The company moved to a new office and desired its interiors to have the following characteristics: modern, functional and sustainable. Their main goal was that the new design matches the LEED requirements (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design). The case study is



Sustainable design practices were employed throughout the project, which included:

• sustainable furniture
• Reusing some existing materials, furniture, and fixtures from the former office
• energy efficient light fixtures with sensors.

Sustainable "green" materials were specified as much as possible:
• Drywall made out of 100% recyclable ash
• Carpeting made out of recycled products that can again be recycled;
• Carpet adhesive and paints that contains low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
• Cork flooring, which is a sustainable and renewable material
• Wood shelves and counters that were manufactured from certified or renewable forested products;
• Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) shelves that contain no formaldehyde.



The project was cerified by LEED as a susytainable commercial interior space.

Reference
http://www.ferrarochoi.com/casestudies/index.html

Sustainable Design (Peach pips floors)

Peach pips floors is a new and creative flooring idea. The sharp edges of the pips are cut off to make it comfortable to walk on them with bare feet.











Reference
http://stonefruitfloors.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Sustainable Design (Scrap House)

The Scraphouse is a house built entirely from scrap and salvaged materials. It’s very interesting how creative ideas come with the use of materials which at some point were considered useless. I loved the way 'scraps' were given a new life. This proves to people that designs could be creative and sustainable at the same time. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that the different areas in the house didn't blend together. In other words, there wasn't a sense of harmony intems of design as each space had it's different characterstics.

Some of the ideas which i liked were:

The keyboard wall

This image shows a wall covered with keyboards and the keyboards were coated by fire retardant paint.


Traffic light chandelier



Fire hose wall



Molding/trim wall

Used frame walls, windows, and doorways, were put together as a collage on one of the walls at the Scrap House.

"Perhaps what was most intriguing about ScrapHouse was the creative use of previously discarded materials--most of which were destined for the landfill, often unused with the original price tags still affixed" (scraphouse.org).


References
http://www.scraphouse.org

Music and Stress

Stress relief can be beautiful music to our ears

"We hear constantly about stress and the negative effects it can have on both our emotional and physical health. Studies have shown that stress contributes to heart disease, anxiety, triggers major depressive episodes, and generally erodes the overall quality of our lives. Because stress is such a problem, medical science is constantly looking for simple ways people can reduce stress and feel better.

A recent study performed by the Department of Psychology at the University of South Alabama investigated the effects of music on stress. They compared self-selected relaxing music and classical music with sitting in silence or listening to heavy metal music. They found that listening to self-selected relaxing music or classical music immediately after encountering a stressor significantly reduced the effects of stress, and relaxing music styles had a much more positive effect on stress than sitting in silence or listening to heavy metal music.

This research isn’t necessarily groundbreaking, but it does support the general idea that a little regular, deliberate stress relief goes a long way. Many people have the habit of letting stress build over time with no release until the stress is so great they break down. If something as simple as listening to relaxing music on more stressful days can have a significant effect on overall stress levels, keeping stress levels healthy may be easier than most people think. The key appears to be regularly taking a little time out, rather than letting stress build to unmanageable levels.

Music isn’t the only simple form of regular stress relief. Past studies have also shown that a few minutes of regular stretching can also have a positive, stress-reducing effect. Yoga is another way to reduce stress quickly and easily, and researchers have long touted the benefits of just 20 minutes of exercise daily as a way to alleviate stress. This most recent study is just one more piece of evidence in a growing body of knowledge that supports small steps to increase overall wellness and lifestyle changes.

If classical music isn’t necessarily your style, any form of self-selected relaxing music is a good option. Anything with a slow tempo can be defined as relaxing music. Slow jazz, down-tempo dance music or ambient music are all more relaxing forms of music" (anxiety-and-depression-solutions.com).

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"Among the first stress-fighting changes that take place when we hear a tune is an increase in deep breathing. The body's production of serotonin also accelerates.

- Music was found to reduce the pain during dental procedures.

- Playing music in the background while we are working, seemingly unaware of the music itself, has been found to reduce the stress.

- Music was found to reduce heart rates and to promote higher body temperature - an indication of the onset of relaxation. Combining music with relaxation therapy was more effective than doing relaxation therapy alone." (holisticonline.com).

Reference
http://www.anxiety-and-depression-solutions.com/articles/news/stress_relief_music_1107.php
http://www.holisticonline.com/stress/stress_music-therapy.htm

Survey answers

1) Are you a student or faculty member?
• Student (which year/college?)_______________________________________
• Faculty

2) Do you feel stressed?
The majority answered that they feel stressed. Some of them wrote:
“too much work…too little time”
“Work pressure, personal stress, relationships…etc”
“Work load”
“Lots of work and no fun”
“Noise”

3) Where do you spend most of your free time in the university?
Most of the answers were either empty classes/studios or coffee bean.

3. What do you think about the new gym on campus? Does it help you release your stress?
The majority didn’t try it and those who did said that it didn’t help them release their stress.

4. Which of the following help you reduce your stress levels?
(The number between brackets indicates the number of people)
• Yoga (3)
• Pilates (2)
• Shoulder /head massages (5)
• Deep breathing (4)
• Reading (9)
• Games (8)
• Movies (7)
• Music (11)
• Talking with a friend (10)

5. What type of games do you like? (Rank according to preference)
1. Air hockey
2. Ping pong
3. Video games
4. Darts
5. billiard (least chosen)

6. What’s your favorite color?
The majority preferred warm colors such as red, orange, and yellow.

7. Which option do you prefer?
Students choose the "retro style" while faculty members choose option 2 which was "interiors inspired by nature"

8. Do you prefer open or closed spaces?
An open space was mostly preferred. Some of the answers were:
“ It makes me feel relaxed”
“It’s inspiring to look around”
“I like to see out in the distance”
“ I feel ‘freedom’…no restrictions”
“closed areas are stressful like the university”
“semi-poned-we need some air sometimes”
“I function best when I am in an open space”
“it’s more refreshing than a closed space”

2 people only preferred a closed space.
“closed. More privacy and comfortable”
“closed; because it gives privacy.”


9. Do you like to be around people?
The majorities like to be around people. There were only few who choose "sometimes".

10. Do you think that having a stress relief recreational facility would help reduce your stress levels and increase your productivity?
All of the answers were “yes”

11. Do you feel comfortable in the cafeteria?
All of the answers were “no”. Some people said:
“It’s crowded”
“It’s noisy”
“Noisy-very open space”
"it's very closed although it has alot of windows...it's not a place I will sit in."
"not welcoming and unorganized"
"no private spaces"
"smelly"
"too noisy, bright, and cold"
"very big and crowded"

12. Do you suggest other ideas to be included within the facility besides the game area, relaxation area, reading area, and working area?
“coffee shops”
“spa”
“rest/sleep area, music area (head phones), casual library, comfy reading chairs”
"TV area"
"a small section to sell snacks"
"more greenary would definetly be an asset/a fountain or a water feature"

13. Is the atmosphere in the library distracting you from working on your projects?
The majority said that it’s distracting.

14. Do you support the idea of the stress relief recreational facility?
Everyone supported the idea. Some of them said:
“We all need a get-away from university stress”
“It helps a lot”
“It’s great if it was exclusive”
“A lot of students need to relax from now and then”
“More healthy people-more productivity and positive energy”
“It’s important to release your stress so you can work better”
“Decreased stress=happy people=good/productive work-long life”
“Helps the students recreate their moods”


15. Question for faculty only: Do you think that the way the faculty’s offices are designed have a negative affect on your productivity and creativity?
The majority stated that their offices were poorly designed.


16. Question for faculty only: Is it okay for you to share the recreational facility with the students or do you prefer to have private areas for faculty members only?
Faculty members want to have their own space.

Lighting

Sustainable Lighting from PHILIPS
(information from http://www.nam.lighting.philips.com/can/sustainability/)



T5 & T8 Linear Fluorescent Lamps featuring ALTO Lamp Technology
• Low mercury and TCLP compliant
• Energy efficient
• Long life
• High lumen maintenance with enhanced CRI





Marathon Compact Fluorescent Lamps featuring ALTO Lamp technology
(Long Life, energy Efficient, and Cost Effective)
• Lasts up to 15 times longer than ordinary incandescents
• Lead free solder, low mercury and TCLP compliant
• Amalgam Technology ensures consistent light output over a wide range of temperatures





PL-H Compact Fluorescent Lamps featuring ALTO Lamp Technology
(Application Versatility and high Output Lighting)
• Low mercury and TCLP compliant
• High lumen output (4000, 6000, 9000 lumens)
• 20,000 hours average rated life at 12 hours per start
• 86% lumen maintenance at 5000 hours



MasterColor Pulse Start Ceramic Metal Halide Lamps
(Outstanding color Performance)
• Improved lumen maintenance increases time between re-lamping
• Superior color stability over life
• Excellent color rendering of 85+ CRI
• Operates on Metal Halide Pulse Start Ballasts




MasterColor HPS-Retro White Ceramic Metal Halide Lamps
(Optimized for Operation on HPS Ballasts)
• Replace yellow light with crisp, bright white light with a simple twist of the wrist
• Optimized for operation on HPS ballasts
• No shut off required, thus ideal for 24-hours-a day, 7-days-a-week operations (relamp fixtures at or before the end of rated life)



MasterColor Ceramic Metal Halide PAR Lamps
(Excellent color Rendering)
• 81 to 85 CRI for 3K, 92 to 93 for 4K
• Superior color stability
• Lamp to lamp color consistency over life of lamp


Lighting in Interiors

As designers we should take into consideration the activities being held in each space when designing a lighting plan. A space should have the following based on its needs:
- Ambient lighting (general lights)
- Accent lighting (to highlight on architectural features)
- Task lights (provides focused lighting for a particular task such as reading)
- Decorative lights

Bar table
"Bars can be lighted from above with recessed or track fixtures, or with miniature, low-voltage pendants that hover intimately over the bar." (americanlightingassoc.com)

Game tables
"require bright, even overhead lighting. Shaded pendants equipped with either incandescent bulbs or energy-efficient compact fluorescent tubes are one solution (see illustration). Or, install two recessed downlights over each half of the table."(americanlightingassoc.com)


References
http://www.americanlightingassoc.com/info_lighting10.php
http://www.nam.lighting.philips.com/can/sustainability/

Floor plan and pictures

Floor plan

The view from the inside of the space overlooks the university's courtyard.




The room divisions that are shown on the actual floor plan aren’t built yet. So only the structural columns are there; which gives me the opportunity to play around with the space.

Sustainable Design (part 2)

Knoll (Environmtal fabrics)

I found a company called Knoll that provides a variety of upholstery fabrics, drapery fabrics, panel fabrics, and wall coverings that are environmental friendly. “40% of the fabric line has either recycled content or rapidly renewable materials and 95% is Green guard certified.” (knoll.com)

Environmental upholstery fabrics








Environmental drapery fabrics



Environmental panel fabrics





Environmental wall coverings



Angela Adams

Angela Adams provided recently a collection of sustainable fabrics. The fabrics are made from 100% post-industrial recycled polyester. Angela Adam’s fabrics are known for its colors and patterns. I loved her collection alot and I felt that it goes well with my theme.










Natural Paints



Natural, Non-toxic, Low VOC such as:

- Solvent-free wall paint

- Milk paints

- Clay paints


References
http://www.knoll.com/products/textile_category.jsp?cat_id=189
http://www.angelaadams.com/architex.php
http://www.architex-ljh.com/

Sustainable Design (part 1)

Nowadays a lot of people are becoming more conscious about the environment are tending to lean towards sustainable design. As designers we are lucky to have the opportunity of protecting our environment through the choices we make when designing interior spaces. Making the right choice when selecting, floorings, lighting, wall coverings, furniture, etc. makes a huge difference to our world.

Bamboo

Flooring

Bamboo flooring is from quick growing bamboo trees. Some of the characteristics of bamboo floorings is that it’s durable and water resistant. I found a company called Sustainable Flooring that offers a variety of choices for bamboo floorings such as: strandwoven bamboo flooring, horizontal grain bamboo flooring, vertical grain bamboo flooring, and cubed bamboo flooring.

“Strandwoven bamboo is made by compressing "strands" of the bamboo fibers under intense pressure, while using a heat-sensitive low-VOC adhesive. Strandwoven bamboo is extremely exotic and rich looking - through the "woven" process, the consistency found in the "traditional" bamboo styles is completely removed.” (sustainableflooring.com)



Images of the different types of bamboo flooring available at Sustainable Flooring:










Bamboo Veneer





Bamboo Veneer Plywood







Bamboo Milwork Prdoucts






References:
http://www.sustainableflooring.com/?index=flooring