Mackenzie Merritt - Interior Design Portfolio 2014

Mackenzie Merritt

Interior Design Portfolio 2014

Table of Context.

Transitional Housing......................................................................1 ReStore Vignette...............................................................................3 The Boomerang House..................................................................5 Midas Institute...................................................................................7 Wall Installation................................................................................9 The Morning House......................................................................11 Lazuli...................................................................................................13

MACKENZIE MER

MACKENZIE MERR

Mackenzie Merritt

4455 North 1st Street Apartment 175 Lincoln, Nebraska 68521 (308) 293-6549 mackenzie.merritt@huskers.unl.edu

Transitional Housing.

Goal: To provide safe and positive multi-housing units for young women aging out of foster care in a historic four story warehouse in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Two Person Living Unit Plan

Brand: EmPower. This brand was designed to give a sense of empowerment to the young women residing in this building. The power sign used in the logo became the inspiration for the design concept inspired by technology.

Two Person Living Unit Two Person Living Unit Section

Design Inspiration

em

Brand and Materials

P

1

O W ER

Materials Board

Lobby Section

Lobby Waiting Room

Lobby Waiting Room Plan

ReStore Vignette.

Goal: To design a 10’ x 10’ living room vignette using only items found in ReStore.

ReStore, owned by Habitat for Humanity, are nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliances to the public at a fraction of the retail price.

The proceeds are used to build homes for Habitat for Humanity.

Design: With a fellow student, we created a living room using only repurposed items. For couches we proposed staining wooden gliders and upholstering cushions with used fabric.

Because wood was a material in abundance, we decided to use it as feature walls with built in shelves.

The large mirror and chest were not altered but we designed a new light fixture made with multiple Mason Jars.

3

North Elevation

Wood Wall Detail

Materials

East Elevation

Plan

7c: Boomeranger House Goal: To densify suburbia by retrofitting an existing home while my classmates in filled homes on both sides of the home I designed.

User: A couple in their 50’s whose daughter recently graduated college but could not find a job. The daughter boomeranged and moved back home and has started an online cupcake business.

or

Plan: When Daughter Moves Out

Plan: When Daughter Lives In

Design: I began by deciding property boundaries with the in fill designers. We decided that each neighbor would share a room to further densify suburbia.

Then, I designed a home that can adapt to the boomeranger by planning the daughter’s bedroom with the intention that the wall could be removed to maximize the living area.

The shared room functions as the daughter’s office but can be transformed into a guest bedroom for the couple or the neighbor when she moves out.

5

Southern Heights Food Forest

7a

7b

7c

7d

Bike Stop

Process Sketches of Negotiating Properties

Materials

Site Plan

Model

Model

Midas Institute.

Goal: Design an office with specific spatial requirements for the Midas Institute, a funding agency located in the Inland Steel building in Chicago, while incorporating the owner’s art collection.

Design: This mid-century modern office features an open plan that allows for the sunlight to filter into all the spaces. Drapery can be pulled to diffuse the sunlight if needed. Most all of the art is located in areas where both the public and the employees can view them. Mostly white walls bring focus to the art while blue and red accents found through out the space add a layer of color. Dark wood planks are used on specific walls and ceilings to give dimension and warmth to the office.

Art Collection

Floor Plan

Materials

7

Wall Design.

Goal: To design a sculptural “wall” specifically for a site located near the Sheldon Art Museum on the University of Nebraska at Lincoln’s campus. The design needed to include structure, skin, a change in direction and elevation, aperture, a place to pass through, and seating.

UNL Site Plan

Perspective

Design: Upon looking at the given site, I found that there was a lack of wheelchair accessibility to the museum.

My design solved the issue of accessibility by creating a unique passageway through a series of ramps. The glass paneled railing became the “wall” by twisting to a horizontal plane which became a seating area.

Model

Process

9

Plan

South Elevation

Sub-Structure Skin Structure Ramp

The Morning House.

Section 2

Goal: Design a house in suburbia for baby boomers on a 20’ by 40’ site between two existing houses.

User: A retired couple who enjoys their morning routine which includes discussing the day ahead while drinking coffee and watching the sunrise together.

Design: I designed a home that gives priority to the couple’s morning routine.

I did this by creating a procession in which the morning light leads the couple from their master bedroom to a glass enclosed breakfast area on the east side of the home. This provides a perfect viewing place of the sunrise.

Skylights allow for natural light to filter in during the rest of the day. The home is an ideal place for the couple to enjoy their retirement together.

11

Section 1

Plan

Street View

Section 1

Process Light and Shadow Study: Morning

Breakfast Nook

Section 2

Lazuli.

Goal: To design a high-end cosmetic store for women ages 39-59.

Brand: Lazuli. Lapis lazuli, a deep blue opaque gemstone with gold flecks, is a gemstone that ancient Egyptians valued over gold.

In powder form it creates an ultra-marine pigment that Cleopatra used for eye shadow. The deep color around the eyes protected the eyes from the sun glaring off of the desert sands. The shape of their bold eyeliner inspired Lazuli’s logo design.

Makeup Display Perspective

Makeover Station Perspective

Makeup Nails Fragrance Skin Care Hair Blow Bar Make Over Cash Wrap Top 10

Design: The history behind the lapis lazuli insired the design.

Diagonal lines pulled from the logo create movement and excitement through out the store and direct customers to specific areas. The color palette is drawn from the gemstone.

The deep blue provides contrast to the bright white space with gold accents that give the space a luxurious feeling.

13

What’s New Gifts Accessories Tools Rest Rooms Employee Lounge Stock Room Maintenance

Positive Neutral Ideal Negative

Adjacency Diagram

Brand and Brand Concept

Elevation 1

Elevation 2

2

1

Floor Plan

MACKENZIE MER

MACKENZIE MERR

Mackenzie Merritt

4455 North 1st Street Apartment 175 Lincoln, Nebraska 68521 (308) 293-6549 mackenzie.merritt@huskers.unl.edu