2023 Portfolio
BA(Hons)
Liverpool
Interior Architecture School of Art and DesignCurriculum Vitae
BA Year 3 Semester 2: The Natwest Building
BA Year 3 Semester 1: Bank of England Building
BA Year 2 Semester 2: New Zealand House
BA Year 2 Semester 2: BIM Study
BA Year 2 Semester 1: The Fuit Exchange
About Me
Name: Katie Lowerson
Date of Birth: 04/10/1995
Education: Whitby High School 2007-2013 (GCSE’s)
Mid Cheshire College - 2013-2014 (Fashion Design )
University of Chester - 2020-2021 (Creative Studies Foundation Year)
Liverpool John Moors University - 2021 - present (BA Hons Interior Architecture)
Skills: Abode Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe InDesign
AutoCAD
SketchUp
Enscape
About Me: I am currently studying Interior Architecture at Liverpool John Moores University as a mature student after working in HR and adminstration for five years. I have always had a passion for Interior Design and Architecture and I feel that taking time between studies and gaining life experience has enabled me to explore and find my true passion. I consider myself to be extremely hard working and can work well both individually and within a team. When problems arise, I am able to use my skills to tackle this logically and consider myself a reflective learner. Beyond the scope of my academic studies, I enjoy expressing my creativity through painting, drawing and sewing. I am an avid reader and enjoy a variety of genres including, classics, literary fiction and non-fiction. In my spare time I enjoy travelling, socialising with friends and family, and walking my dog Stevie Nicks.
The Americana is a luxury hotel located in the heart of the commercial district of Liverpool City Centre. Located in an old bank building, the design highlights the cities links to the USA and pays homage to the buildings banking history Liverpool has a rich history with America through trade and migration which connects with the cities large banking history. The building, with its original banking hall and underground tunnel system, emphasises the significant role in transatlantic trade and their financial input to the shipping industry. The tunnel system that lies below the site, was utilised to discreetly transfer money and gold from Castle Street banks to the Docks.
Based on the research collated, the concept for this new hotel on Castle Street is to create an environment that whilst recognising the buildings banking history, often linked with wealth and elitism, creates a setting that opposes this idea with a concept that welcomes all and embraces individuality.
The design focuses on the buildings banking links to the US, alongside the cities trade and cultural links to the country. Expanding on this, the hotel will lay emphasis on the division of both structures on site and will conceptualise the definitive differences between the metropolitan of the American North, and the homestead and rural setting of the American South. Guests will be offered the choice of which side to stay, promoting the hotels aim to support and celebrate ones individualism. The distinct differences between the fast paced city living of the North and the slower paced country living of the South will be emphasised in the design. The design for North will encompass the modern lifestyle with diverse amenities and artwork. On the contrary, the South representation of country living offers a slower pace, tranquillity, and a closer connection to nature. The travellers choice of accommodation will be guided by their personal preferences and lifestyle priorities.
For this project, I designed a cowboy boot manufacturers and design office in the Bank of England building, Liverpool. The space consisted of web development and design offices, material library, whisky bar and a large workshop space. The design focused on taking inspiration from ‘cowboy culture’ with material choices and design concept replicating American ranches and stables.
2nd Year Semester
For this project, I designed a Catwalk and retail space for American fashion designer Rick Owens. The space consisted of a catwalk, bar, retail space and personal shopping rooms. My design has taken inspiration from Owens’s 2015 Menswear Spring/Summer collection. I focused on the materials used and colour palette of the collection and this was highlighted in the juxtapostion of light and dark and pure and impure found through the material choices of raw concrete and glass.
