I’m Sydney Kate Horstman, a third-year Interior Architecture student at the University of Tennessee, where I have cultivated a strong foundation in space planning and architectural design. My academic journey has involved abstracting contexts and concepts to create thoughtful, innovative designs that respond to the unique needs of each space.
Throughout my studies, I’ve gained proficiency in a range of design software, including Rhino, Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Illustrator, and Photoshop, which have been instrumental in bringing my ideas to life. I approach design with the belief that spaces should be distinctive and adaptable, avoiding generic, cookie-cutter solutions. Instead, I strive to craft environments that not only meet the functional needs of the users but also foster creativity and connection.
Through my academic work and internship experiences, I’ve had the privilege of designing a variety of commercial, residential, and public spaces. These experiences have fueled my interest in both commercial and residential design, and I’m eager to continue exploring these areas as I advance in my career.
Beyond design, I find inspiration in traveling, meeting new people, and spending time with loved ones. These experiences enrich my creativity and drive me to keep learning and evolving as a designer.
As I step into the professional world, I’m excited to collaborate with fellow designers and industry professionals to create meaningful, impactful spaces that make a difference in the lives of those who experience them.
01 02 03 The Astonishing Butterfly Garden Yoshimura Hub Steel of Seven 04 The Formalities of Space
The Astonishing Butter y Garden
Feeling surprised, wonder, and amazement are the combined emotions when you are experiencing astonishment. This building should not only bring out those emotions when looking at it, but also when walking through it. The structure of astonishment was created to be a beautiful, enclosed butterfly garden for visitors to enjoy all year round.
When viewing the butterfly garden from the outside there are blissful trees and plants that attract butterflies, so you are automatically immersed into astonishment when walking on the site. The building is placed on stilts to look as though it is floating. Then you trail up ramps, feeling like you're flying side to side, onto the patio portion of the structure, where there is a gorgeous view. As you walk into the butterfly garden you will be hit with amazement and wonder by the beauty of the creatures flying all around and the blissful flowers surrounding. There are three ponds of water for the butterflies to enjoy. There is a second floor of the butterfly garden, so you can have a full immersive experience. In the garden there are windows all along the perimeter and a glass roof to receive sunshine glaring through.
02
Yoshimura Hub
This project was heavily inspired by the yoshimura folding pattern. I learned this technique last year and wanted to incorporate the intricate pattern in my individual space. When this pattern is folded onto a piece of paper it easily distorts itself into a curved shape, and I envisioned my space to be a curved desk a chair could easily access. This interest in the curvature the pattern created led me into pursuing it for my project. The rounded shell of the space also creates great acoustics for those using the space. The structure is intended to bring a sense of calmness to the user as well as deliver a hub to easily view and work on a computer. I decided the best material to use to replicate the folding pattern was through cardboard since it's a pliable material and has very similar properties to paper. The joinery and stability of this structure was by far the most challenging part of this project because there needed to be the perfect amount of flexibility to fold but not too much where the structure would not be able to stand on its own.
Materials
Cardboard
Foamboard
Tape
Glue
Paper
Other Factors
Color
The colors used are very neutral tones to create a calming space. The before the white was added it felt very dark in the hub, so I created a pattern with white paper to bring light into the space without using a different light source than the sun or lighting in the space the hub is in.
Sound
Due to the shape and materials of the hub it creates good acoustics for the user. The cellulose products can be utilized to absorb sound. The circular shape of the hub actually reflects the sound, but the materials help to absorb it, creating an interesting sound booth.
Light
There are no light fixtures in the actual hub. All the light is recieved from lighting around the hub creating a great space to look at a computer screen. The space is light enough to see inside but dark enough to have the perfect view of a computer screen with no glare.
The Steel of Seven
The Steel of Seven’s site is located in Sequoyah Hills Park in Knoxville, TN. This piece of land was once inhabited by the Cherokee Tribes. With my project I seek to celebrate the Tribes by designing memorial pavilions, paying tribute to the importance of seven and fire within the tribe. They believed if their fire died so did their tribe, so they kept an eteranl fire even when traveling to Oklahoma during the Trail of Tears. Also, everything in their tribe was counted in sevens, specifically the amount of clans and their seven sided council house that held a fire in the middle.
The Large Group Pavilion
The Large Group Pavilion was designed to create an intimate space for a group of 7-14 people. Like the Small Group Pavilions an eternal flame is in the center, replicating the fires of the 7-sided council house. It is made up of 14 modules making a large area for guests to enjoy.
Isometric
The Bathroom
The Bathroom is comprised of three bathrooms and a storage room, surrounded by modules that create a beautiful separator. The lower modules also have faucets placed on them for hand washing.
Isometric
The Formalities of Space
This space is designed to celebrate the harmonious love of welcoming guests in both Japan and East Tennessee by pulling inspiration from the concepts of Shin, Gyo, and So and creating guidance for guests through the skewing of perspectives. Elements throughout the space will gently guide guests towards new discoveries and moments of appreciation for the crafts of East Tennessee and Japan. These guiding principles aim to cultivate a deep sense of humility and serenity, reflecting the serene and welcoming nature of both cultures.
Precedent Sheets
Inspiring Travel
Inspiring Craftsmanship and Artwork
Inspiring Materials and Lighting
Shin, Gyo, So is a concept and aesthetic in Japanese culture that originated with the formalities of calligraphy, but then became very important to the art of gardening. The stepping stones were based on shin, gyo, or so and classified by the formality of the space the path was leading you towards. Shin is the most formal and is classified by very precise stones. Gyo is semi formal and classified by stones that may be cut to fit, but still very natural. So is the most informal and classified by the natural and rigid forms of stones.
