SARA THOMAS PORTFOLIO
2016 - 2018
saraxlthomas@gmail.com | 310.562.3575
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WORK | PLACE
JANTE CHAIR
REDESIGNING THE LIBRARY
TWO TIER DESK
DISCOVER + OCCUPY
WORK|PLACE Designing a two-story workspace in Industry City in Brooklyn for Urban Justice Center, which accommodates two or three of the projects and conveys a welcoming, safe environment of its clients.
SITE ANALYSIS
CLIENT ANALYSIS
INDUSTRY CITY NE corner of 2 Avenue and 35th Street Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY
URBAN JUSTICE CENTER
WHAT STRUCTURE
Non-profit legal services and advocacy organization 12 projects, over $15 M budget, over 159 staff members
12 PROJECTS
1890s Irving T. Bush started to build a intermodal manufacturing, warehousing and distribution center in Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Asylum Seeker Advocacy Corrections Accountability Community Development Domestic Violence Human Rights International Refugee Assistance Mental Health Peter Cicchino Youth Safety Net Sex Workers Street Vendor Veteran Advocacy
LIGHTING - MORNING
1960s Urban manufacturing started to decline which caused IC to suffer and decay for 40 years
WHO Providing homes and governmental assistance to bring about systemic change to the New York area
WHEN Founded in 1984
WHERE 2013 A new ownership, Belvedere Capital and Jamestown redeveloped IC creating over 2,000 jobs including design, development, research, engineering, manufacturing, and production.
Look for clients in jails, hospitals, prisons, and shelters
HOW
LIGHTING - AFTERNOON
Through direct legal service, systemic advocacy, community education and political organizing, which allows to resolve clients issues
PROCESS MODELS Models were exploring reflective, and permeable conditions through visibility, light and color
B
A
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A
N
C
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D
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Urban Justice Center has twelve individual projects, yet they all work towards justice. Spatially, different programs are arranged so there is no hierarchy of authority, which creates a collaborative environment. Color represents individuality while playing with porosity between public and private. When light is introduced, the space allows color to visually overlap and mix. This promotes spatial interaction between the workers and clients to work on becoming a stronger organization.
SECTION A
N
T
E
R
A
C
T
I
O
N
SECTION B
OFFICE INTERVIEW RM.
SM. DISCUSSION
INTERVIEW RM.
ENTRANCE / LOBBY
SECTION A
MAIL CENTER
EXEC. OFFICE
MOTHER’S RMS. CONFERENCE 1
BIKE SHOWERS
POLITICAL THEATER
OFFICE STORAGE
INTERVIEW RM.
KITCHEN
FAMILY CONF.
SM. DISCUSSION
AREA D
INTERVIEW RM.
FIRST FLOOR PLAN N
SECTION B
AREA B AREA A OFFICE OFFICE
SECTION A
CONFERENCE 2
CLASSROOM
OFFICE CONFERENCE 2
EXEC. OFFICE LOUNGE
EXEC. OFFICE
OFFICE
CLASSROOM
DISCUSSION
SM. DISCUSSION AREA E
AREA C
EXEC. OFFICE
EXEC. OFFICE
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
SECOND FLOOR AXON
FIRST FLOOR AXON
MATERIALS
GLASS PARTITION
GLASS PARTITION
GLASS PARTITION
CONCRETE FLOORING GLASS PARTITION
FELT CARPET
WALNUT CABINETRY
EDELMAN LEATHER UPHOLSTERY INSTYLE WOOL FELT UPHOLSTERY POLISHED ALUMINUM FINISH WHITE LAMINATE
SECTION B
WEST ELEVATION
NORTH ELEVATION
SOUTH ELEVATION
FINAL MODEL Physical model demonstrates the colors visually overlapping when light is present
JANTE CHAIR Designing and building a chair that embodies Danish culture and design.
JANTE The Jante Chair embodies the bike culture in Copenhagen. Biking is seen as a quick, easy, and most environmentally friendly use of transportation amongst all social classes; this has contributed to creating an equal society since the 1920s. The chair’s form is derived from different parts of a bike. In the profile view, there are two shapes that are the same language yet are orientated differently. This represents the distinction between classes and also shows equality as the two forms come together.
REDESIGNING THE LIBRARY Redesigning the Bedford Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library based on the development of a furniture prototype with intentions to help solve a perceived problem in the library.
” 5’-0”
29” 29”
18”
24” 18”
3”
22” 24”
3” 3”
22”
3”
CHARRETTE The actions of the human body were studied in relationship to the use of a library. A furniture prototype was designed that followed the intentions to allow for more work space with privacy.
SITE ANALYSIS
S Franklin
on Ave.
Jeffers
t.
Claver Pl
BEDFORD LIBRARY 496 Franklin Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11238
.
Hancock
St.
Fulto
n St.
WORKSPACE ADULTS ADA CHILDREN
COMPUTER DESKS
PUBLIC PRIVATE
BOOKSHELVES INFO DESK KIDS’ PLAY AREA PRIVATE AREA
CIRCULATION
PROGRAM
PUBLIC/PRIVATE
DESCENDING PRIVACY As one walks into the library, one experiences a gradual descend from inviting to solitude. Given that there are many different ways of learning, this space provides users to feel comfortable in choosing their source of a private area, in which they best learn. While the opaque allows ignorance, and illumination allows information, transparency allows clarity of intelligence.
TOP TRAIL
GLASS
COLUMN
GLASS PARTITION DETAIL
FURNITURE SYSTEM A multi-functional bookshelf was designed to allow people to be able to work on one side: sitting or standing, and/or grab books on the other. Different parts of the bookshelf are extruded out at different widths providing for either the workspaces or to create the feeling of a private area. The variation from solid to void allows different levels of information to be shown, which follows the glass partition system when first entering the library.
Studies playing with transparency
SECTION C
SECTION B
SECTION A
MEZZANINE FLOOR PLAN
N
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
MATERIALS & FURNITURE Sustainable materials were selected to be used throughout the space allowing the two story central circulation area that is surrounded by glass to have a greater efficiency for heating and cooling.
FILZFELT: WOOL FELT, ASCHE Ceiling, Charrette Chair (interior)
GGI: BACK -PAINTED GLASS, POST TEMPERABLE WHITE Partitions
WALNUT WOOD Bookshelves, Charrette Chair (exterior)
EDELMAN: LEATHER UPHOLSTERY, ROYAL HIDE Lounge Chairs
TRANSPARENT GLASS Partitions
MOMENTUM: SILICA LEATHER, SKYWARD Chairs
GGI: SATIN ETCH LINE Partitions
BLACKENED STEEL Framing
WHITE OAK Flooring
SECTION A
SECTION B
SECTION C
RCP
CIRCULATION
BOOKSHELVES SEATING WORKSPACE LOUNGE PRIVATE TUTORING/ MEETING INFO/CIRCULATION DESK STAFF
PROGRAM
TWO TIER DESK Designing and building a portable desk for multi use and privacy
3/8” = 1’0”
15”
11” 22”
30”
18”
TWO TIER DESK This flat-pack, multifunctional desk not only comes in three lengths, but allows one to use while sitting or standing.
DISCOVER + OCCUPY Pratt Studios first floor was analyzed and redesigned based off of hybridizing one of the senses with a fruit system, which was analyzed externally and internally on its form and structure. A set of rules were followed to create a specific field condition experience.
ORGANIZE D CHAOS A system of organized chaos shows how the pomegranate seeds are randomly ordered within its organized compartments. Each seed has its own size and density. As a result, the seeds create varied amounts of compression amongst each other. Correspondingly, the compartments differ, which inform the shape of the pomegranate.
POINT
LINE
PLANE
SITE ANALYSIS PRATT STUDIOS LOBBY 369 Dekalb Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11205
TOILET [M] 94 SF MFA GALLERY FINE ARTS 549 SF TOILET [W] 80 SF CAFE SEATING FOOD SERV. 107 SF CORR 2 CIRC. 1,822 SF
PROPRIOCEPTION
OPTHALMOCEPTION
OLFACOCEPTION
THERMOCEPTION
MAIN ENTRANCE
AUDIOCEPTION
OVERLAPPING CHAOS As people walk through a space, the movement of their opthalmoception defines a panned area of visual occupancy. A mapping of their glances as they scan different directions from their varying heights results in multiple cones of vision of various sizes. When certain defined areas intersect and overlap a visual chaos becomes evident. Determined moments of less and more chaos was derived from observing the use of public and private spaces.
FINAL MODEL Translucent partitions were used to redirect circulation. As people move throughout the space using opthalmoception, different levels of opacity and texture are visually evident to represent the angles and chaos of cone of vision and use of public and private spaces. Some areas have drop ceiling and others are angled to create different light experiences throughout.
SECTION A
SECTION B
SECTION A
SECTION B
PLAN
CIRCULATION
PUBLIC & PRIVATE
LIGHTING
OCCUPANCY