BROOKE
Blanchette
I defy the norm, I dream up what isn’t possible, I develop a new experience, I design.
Hi, I'm
Brooke!
If you are reading this, your curiosity must be as strong as mine. From a young age, curiosity and art started to become the foundation of how I go about designing today. Whether I was scribbling in a coloring book or wandering into strangers' houses on Halloween, I was preparing my design skills by overstepping the set boundaries. I am an artist in a design world with a passion for developing experiences that people of all ages can enjoy. As the youngest of four girls in my family (no, you do not need to feel sorry for my dad), I have always valued the time and making memories with those I love. It is my goal to pass on quality memories through the designs and experiences I create. Still
Interested?
This may come as a surprise, however, there is a lot more to me other than having family values, art skills, and the creativity to design unique spaces. For example, I have a competitive itch produced by playing sports my whole life. My driving skills are superb from avoiding Michigan potholes and snow. I am always down for a good dad joke. Watch me come on top at a Euchre tournament. And let's not forget how I can swirl four small ice cream cones at once with just one hand. Don't let my ice cream skills intimidate you, I'll tell you the secret when I talk to you next!
CONTENTS ONE
PAGE 6 REFLECTION The sustainable installation brings awareness to food insecurities across the University of Kentucky as well as the surrounding community.
TWO
PAGE 20 UNIVERSAL ENGAGEMENT The condos and multipurpose spaces tell a story about the coming together of a community where people are able to interact and engage with each other and their environment.
THREE
PAGE 30 WOVEN TRAJECTORIES The interdisciplinary studio traveled to Beijing, China for 10 days, as well as, Cincinnati, Ohio in order to understand confined living in a dense urban area. The research leads the group to transforming a row of cars in a parking garage to a hotel overreaching an alleyway.
FOUR
PAGE 42 TOWN BRANCH PARK The visitor center is the result of combining human and nature. The representation of water and limestone creates an experience of bringing the outside into an interior space.
FIVE
PAGE 52 DESIGN IS FOR ALL Artistic expression is used to develop a deeper understanding of the homeless community. Found items are used as canvases to promote empathy and compassion.
SIX
PAGE 56 FEEDING EMPOWERMENT Creating a brand helps connect the University of Kentucky food services that serve students who may experience food insecurities.
ONE
REFLECTION FOOD INSECURITY INSTALLATION 3rd Year Studio Rhinoceros, Photoshop
More than 30% of students at the University of Kentucky are food insecure. Food insecurity is a hardship that no person should face alone. Unfortunately, students and even adults do not feel like they need to seek help. In honor of the Universities Fighting World Hunger Summit, the installation is constructed to bring awareness of the emotional struggle one feels when they are food insecure. The installation allows for self-reflection and encourages the realization that even though a person feels trapped and alone, help from the community is not that far away; all you have to do is make the first step in the right direction.
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TRAPPED DEFEATED HUNGRY There are multiple levels of food insecurity that are undetectable by looking at a person. People with food insecurity go through their day feeling trapped and alone while they wrap their minds around where their next meal will come from. The confinement of money and access to food is depicted in the sketches that inspire the shape of the installation. 8
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The 2D and 3D parti encompasses the emotional strain food insecurity has on a person. 2D PARTI The division line, taking the form of a fun-house mirror, represents distortion of the truth a food insecure person creates which further isolates them from acceptance and seeking help. The larger circle represents the greater community that is reaching out to help. 3D PARTI Shadow alludes to the unknown population who has food insecurity, while the light represents realization and those who seek help. Metal is a tough material, however, it is malleable. Metal can change with the right force just like a person seeking the right help can see a change in their life. The current feelings of food insecurity are apparent through the use of the color violet. Dark violet evokes feelings of gloom, sadness, and frustration. Too much violet creates irritability, impatience, and arrogance; while too little violet emits feelings of powerlessness, negativity, and apathy.
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DIAGRAM KEY Size of circles and thickness of lines reflects the amount of use
NORTH
Congregation of People
Foot Traffic
Vehicle Traffic
Site
Based on site analysis, preliminary sketches and models are placed in order to utilize the slight elevation incline, the need for seating, and to create areas of confinement for self reflection in the open space.
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SCHEMATIC MODELS
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CLAY SCALE MODELS
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VIOLET LED LIGHTS INSIDE CREATE UNEASY AND ANXIOUS EMOTIONS
ALL THREE INSTALLATIONS ARE MADE FROM MIRRORED STAINLESS STEEL. THE MATERIAL IS EXTREMELY DURABLE, 100% RECYCLABLE, AND LOW MAINTENANCE
1’-6”
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5’-6”
SEATING FOR THE BUS
4’-1”
18’-6”
LOWER ENTRY MAKES A PERSON REACT
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THE PORTAL THAT VIEWS THE GRAND INSTALLATION. SYMBOLIZING THAT EVEN THOUGH A PERSON FEELS ALONE AND TRAPPED DUE TO FOOD INSECURITIES, THEY NOW KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE IN THE BATTLE
5’-0”
1’-6”
2’-6”
8’-0”
ROOM FOR ONE PERSON TO SELF REFLECT
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TWO
UNIVERSAL ENGAGEMENT MIXED-USE BUILDING 2nd Year Studio
Revit, Hand Rendering, Photoshop
The project’s focus is on universal design as well as understanding public and private movement. Through the understanding of landscape architecture, the mixed-use building is strategically located across from Town Branch Park. The sense of community and engagement within the park transfers to the building’s interior spaces, through the use of drop-down ceilings, in addition to the motif of organic forms. Both the private and public spaces allow for interaction despite a person’s age or physical disability.
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EXTERIOR EVALUATION With the collaboration of landscape architecture students, the location of the multipurpose building takes place of the existing three buildings across from Rupp Arena and kitty-corner to the Town Branch Park. The building is pushed back from the street in order to create a nook with the park as a transition when entering and exiting. The location is sustainable as it has close proximity to mass transit and stores. The building site and shape allows people to experience Lexington from a variety of perspectives. People become aware of their surrounding environment as they view Town Branch Park, Rupp Arena, and cultural neighborhoods. The building encourages community connection as well as the engagement with nature.
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MULTIPURPOSE
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The five public floors and the green roof provide varying entertainment elements not currently found in Lexington that encourage social interaction among friends and strangers year-round.
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RESIDENTIAL
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The four floors of condos allow a variety of people despite their age and physical ability to interact efficiently in the space. The importance of social engagement is emphasized through the large public living spaces.
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FOURTH FLOOR
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Focusing on the four-bedroom condo, the space is designed for the greater sense of community. The bedrooms are small in order for people to spend most of their time in the public sectors of the place. The space provides an engaging atmosphere due to the organic walls and ceilings. In addition, perspective views allow natural light to flood the condo while creating connectivity to the outside community.
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THREE
WOVEN TRAJECTORIES GLOBAL STUDIO 2nd Year Studio Revit, Rhinoceros, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lumion, CNC
The global second year interior design studio combines with third and fourth year architecture. In groups, studies are produced to analyze China, specifically Beijing, in order to understand the culture and built environment. These studies will inform our understanding of Beijing before traveling there for 10 days. The same studies will also be preformed on Cincinnati, Ohio. Research is based off the groups assigned taxonomy. These will further influence the final product of designing a structure and its interior space. NETWORKS: Emily Andreasson Brooke Blanchette Courtney Keilman Alexa King Savannah Stallcup
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BEIJING
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Contrast
Pattern
Juxtaposition
Time
Layering
Scale
Contrast
Density
Hierarchy
CINCINNATI
Contrast
Pattern
Juxtaposition
Time
Layering
Scale
Contrast
Density
Hierarchy
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WOVEN TRAJECTORIES
DEMYSTIFY | ENGAGE | INSPIRE
A DOWNTOWN DESTINATION FOR BRIDGING THE SPACE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND NETWORKS This project proposes an alternative, contemporary boutique-style hotel design approach that can embed itself into the existing urban fabric. The project, entitled Woven Trajectories, demonstrates how to achieve this goal by occupying a portion of Cincinnati’s infrastructure. The intent of selecting this site addresses both metaphysical and physical bridging conditions that both span perceptions and as well as alleyways in inner urban areas. The project site, at Weaver Alley and the back of the Garfield Parking Garage, seeks to transform these types of “terrain vague” spaces by demystifying them from a “place of danger and neglect” into a “destination for service and enjoyment.”
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DIAGRAM KEY Size of dots (above) reflects size of urban element or venue
NORTH
Garfield Parking Garage
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Immediate neighborhood of intervention within the urban context of Cincinnati
Intervention within the urban context of Cincinnati
Retail, hotel, and restaurant locations
Resources for homeless and low income populations
Murals, size of dot reflects scale of mural
Proximity of green spaces to site intervention
Metropolitan areas typically comprise a fabric of intersecting networks for communication, commerce, culture, history, movement, industry, and human interaction. In Cincinnati, the networks of the urban context stratify along the lines of economic standing, cultural history, and industrial disconnection. Urban rifts and voids that exist in the urban fabric today are a consequence of such rigid segregation and manifest themselves in actual “forgotten” and “disconnected” locations, such as alleyways.
COMMON NETWORKING SPACE DN
COMMON NETWORKING SPACE
ELEVATOR SHAFT
ELEVATOR SHAFT
DN
LEVEL 6
Level six is a rooftop green space which provides opportunities to engage with the environment, to engage with other people, and to network.
ELEVATOR SHAFT
DN
UP
ELEVATOR SHAFT
WATER HEATER AND PLUMBING CHASE
LEVEL 2-LEVEL 5
Levels two through five are populated by bedroom suites and common spaces which provide opportunities.
ELEVATOR SHAFT
DN
UP
BATHROOM
HOUSKEEPING LAUNDRY ROOM
DN
COAT CLOSET BATHROOM
ELEVATOR SHAFT
WATER HEATER AND PLUMBING CHASE
ELEVATOR
LEVEL 1
Level one hosts the hotel reception and management facilities in addition to the balcony lounge which connects to lower level bar.
UP
UP
MEN'S ROOM
LADIES' ROOM
ELEVATOR UP
KITCHEN
FOOD AND SUPPLY STORAGE
WATER HEATER AND PLUMBING CHASE
LOWER LEVEL
The Lower Level hosts the Urban Trajectories Restaurant Bar and Lounge which provides direct engagement with Weaver Alley and acts as an urban destination for people and an intersection point for the diverse networks of Cincinnati. BROOKE BLANCHETTE
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BEFORE
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2
3
AFTER
1
2
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The restaurant bar acts as a critical component in reviving Weaver Alley into an urban destination. The venue brings people into the alleyway to interact and thus subverts the typical reaction to avoid alleyways. By employing marginalized populations, such as recovering addicts and homeless individuals, Woven Trajectories makes the alleyway an exciting place imbued with renewed interest that will provide additional opportunities for long-term economic sustainability. Furthermore, the incorporation of forgotten groups into the workings of Woven Trajectories and the transformation of Weaver Alley allows a re-weaving of the sharply segregated economic networks in Cincinnati.
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FOUR
TOWN BRANCH PARK VISITOR CENTER 1st Year Studio
CAD, Laser Cutter
The creation of the visitor center emerged based off the influences of Karim Rashid and the surrounding environment. The organic shapes, inspired by Karim Rashid’s designs, represents the movement of the river and the layering of limestone. The two natural elements are portrayed through the layering of lines and shapes. The visitor center is the result of combining human and nature. The organic shapes and the glass walls creates an experience of bringing the outside into an interior space.
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CONCEPT ART
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an
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dw
ith
Ca
mS
ca
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WALL SCREEN CONSTRUCTION The cut outs within the organic shapes are layered to create the sense of moving lines as a representation of a river. The forms are stacked to create depth like limestone and to also embody unique karst shape illusions. The form of the wall screen influences the design of the Town Branch Visitor Center.
ELEVATION DRAWING SCALE: 6” = 1’ - 0”
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CUSTOM COMPONENT IMPLEMENTATION
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EXTERIOR TERRACE
WATERFALL WALL SCREEN BROOKE BLANCHETTE
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VISITOR CENTER MODEL The building’s design encompasses the surrounding natural landscape. Being a visitors center, the structure does not tower over the landscape, instead, it celebrates nature by mimicking its shape and movement. The Town Branch Park visitors center is an educational destination that encourages the interaction between humans and nature.
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FIVE
DESIGN IS FOR ALL RE-ESTABLISHING DIGNITY 2nd Year Studio Paint on Cardboard
The homeless community is stigmatized every day. They would rather sleep on the street than go to shelters where the workers treat them as a nobody. While they may seem like they have lost a lot, their dignity is their possession that should be cherished. Design is for all. The sustainable prototypes will allow Lexington citizens to see the homeless community depicted beautifully as they pass by on the streets. The goal is for everyone to become familiar with the homeless population so they realize that they are people too and should be treated with respect.
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LORIE Inspiration was found after speaking to Lorie outside the Lexington public library. She talked about her life and how she ended up in her current situation. Her story makes her who she is and because she is homeless, people do not give her the time of day to truly see her. In order to preserve dignity and to release the stigma around the homeless community, portraits are created on trash found in the streets to signify that just because something is left on the streets does not mean it should be forgotten; it has the ability to transform into something beautiful.
INSPIRATION SKETCHES
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SIX
FEEDING EMPOWERMENT PROVIDE | EMPOWER | EDUCATE 3rd Year Studio
Revit, Adobe Creative Suite
The Campus Kitchen and the Big Blue Pantry are programs that aim to help students. They provide access to food and educate on nutritional values. Both programs want students to feel empowered while dissolving the stigma of receiving help due to food insecurity. While working close with the clients, the challenge is connecting the two programs that are located on opposite sides of the University of Kentucky’s campus. The small spaces have huge responsibilities and are in need of renovations to control flow and maximize use.
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BRANDING
CLIENTS BIG BLUE PANTRY MISSION “Big Blue Pantry strives to provide support and awareness for food insecure students on the University of Kentucky’s campus as well as educate the broader student population about hunger. No judgment. Just food.”
CAMPUS KITCHEN MISSION “It is our goal to not only provide individuals with access to food, but also the empowerment and education needed to make informed and confident decisions surrounding their food choices.”
PROPOSED MISSION Both the Campus Kitchen and the Big Blue Pantry are programs that aim to help students and their health. By linking them through a logo and color scheme, students will become aware that both programs are designed for them based around food insecurity. The goal is to eliminate the negative stigma associate with food insecurity while actively reducing student hunger.
Provide empower 58
Educate
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BIG BLUE TABLE + Big Blue Pantry TYPOGRAPHY The typography represents the scores farmers make in the ground, as well as, the marks people make with their silverware while they eat. This is important because the typography is representing programs that deal with food and sustainability.
title
0123456789 abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz CONTINUO
HEADER
0123456789 AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMmNnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz Basic Sans-Regular
BODY
P 7-8 C #F3C31E C5 M22 Y98 K0
2433 C #DA7B4F C11 M61 Y75 K1
15-0343 TCX Greeenery #88B14A C53 M13 Y93 K0
2476 UP #988B8A C42 M42 Y40 K3
9080 C #ESE2DC C9 M8 Y11 K0
UK BLUE #243D94 C100 M91 Y2 K1
0123456789 AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMmNnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz
Basic Sans-Thin
COLOR SELECTION The colors derive from grown food. The UK Blue accent represents the programs’ connection with each other and their services for the university students. 60
LOGO DEVELOPMENT The logo composes the idea that the individual and community can come together for a meal that has been sustained or donated in order to fight hunger.
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TABLE
BIG BLUE
PANTRY
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big blue table
GATHER ISSUES Upon understanding the flow of foot traffic, it is clear that several areas in the existing space are not ideal for both user or staff. For the worker, the necessity to access the storage room that houses the fridge and freezer at a regular bases is problematic due to the separation from the kitchen. The distance is far and it is also blocked by the line of students during serving. The current circulation in the space provide a negative experience to the user. The entrance is tight and the sign in is too close that people become piled up and then limits room for people who are exiting. The piling at the entrance also creates excess noise that fills the hallways.
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DT2
12
206K
19
Amount student rests
1
Amount worker rests
207A
Student traffic Worker traffic
107
1
207C 44
1
206B 99 1,123
1
206A 118
206 Move fridge and freezer to kitchen Move up sign in Provide a variety of seating for the assortment of users but encourage community seating
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167
SOLUTIONS
1 UP
ST-A 233
DN PC1
EXISTING PLAN
5
NOT TO SCALE
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WAYFINDING In order to successfully connect the food programs on campus, people need to know how to access them. The campus wide proposition is to use the umbrella logo as a directional marker. The fork will point the way and the name of the program will be included in the circle. While a person enters the space, the path of colors will guide the way to the destination.
SERVING 64
19’-7”
UNDER COUNTER REF.
REF.
2’-0”
4’-0”
FRZR.
4’-0”
4’-0”
43’-0”
4’-0”
NOT TO SCALE
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big blue PANTRY ISSUES Big Blue Pantry is a small space with a big purpose. The existing design in the office did not utilize maximum storage space. Though they sufficiently kept privacy privacy, having the desk and the sign out right in front of the door was discouraging. In the pantry space, the shelving was also not used to maximum capacity since the shelves were deep and discouraging the open shelving prevented storage on the top two shelves.
SOLUTIONS
DT2
12
206K
19
Amount student rests
147
Amount worker rests
207A
Student traffic Worker traffic
107
139
Provide individual kiosk to sign out Move desk and check out Provide mural/info wall as you first walk in More refrigeration and freezers Closed top shelves for excess storage More storage for employees Introduce background noise Better organization strategies
207C 44 148
206B 99
EXISTING PLAN NOT TO SCALE
1,123
154
206A
174
118 16’-0”
206
4’-0”
262
167
170
UP 3’-0”
ST-A
FRZR.
233
15’-5”
66
PC1
5
DT114
205
204
218
40 PC15 4
REF.
DN
10’-6” NOT TO SCALE
4’-0”
162
PANTRY
PC2 5
8
OFFICE BROOKE BLANCHETTE
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BROOKE
Blanchette babl229@uky.edu issuu.com/brookeblanchette brookeblanchette.wixsite.com/portfolio