ZOE GAIK
INTERIOR architecture & DESIGN
Below are examples of designs I have completed. Some of the programs used were Autodesk Revit, SketchUp, and Adobe Photoshop. These are all products of school projects, ranging from 2014-2017. The top of the page showcases my most recent work.
A HOME FOR THE NATURE-LOVER
RESIDENTIAL | 3,000 sq ft | 3 WEEKS
This house was designed for a final project in my Graphics II class. We were given the main skeleton of the house, and we could not knock down walls or change the location of doors or windows. This entire project consisted of about 80 hours of work, all created on Adobe Photoshop. In designing this house, I wanted to produce an earthy, relaxed atmosphere, while still keeping a classy atmosphere. To achieve this, I used hues of green and brown, and brought in wood, plants, and organic textures wherever possible. White marble was used to bring in an elegant flare, and intricate chandeliers give the house a touch of fanciness. To make the rooms feel more stimulating, the flooring is reflected onto the ceiling, making the design of each room feel more cohesive as well.
the red violin design charette 2015
EDUCATION | Approx. 10,000 sq ft | 5 DAYS
This project was based on the movie "The Red Violin." More specifically, ours was based on feisty Spanish music that was played live for us during our orientation to the project. The department of Interior Architecture and Design was split into four sectors, and within those sectors was roughly 20 groups of four students each. Each sector had a different music style to base their design decisions on. So, integrating audio stimulation into visual attributes, the form of my group's board relates strongly to a flamenco dancer. Our entire design was based upon the idea of movement, incorporating curves wherever appropriate, and providing a smooth flow throughout the space. My team and I ended up being awarded THIRD PLACE!
Tallahassee wounded Veterans' Transitional rehabilitation Housing
HOSPITALITY | 6,500 sq ft | 6 WEEKS
One of my favorites, this project was a challenge. I had to combine universal design, accessible design, hospitality design, commercial design, and residential design. This space is for wounded veterans coming out of the hospital, not quite ready to go back out into society, but ready to be more independent than having 24-hr care. I provided a home-like atmosphere with durable furnishings and finishes, practical wayfinding, open and private spaces, and easily-operable everything. In my endeavor to create a space that didn't feel too hospital-like, I incorporated warm finishes, comfortable furnishings, and a connection to nature.
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KERRITS OFFICE
COMMERCIAL | 11,000 sq ft | 10 WEEKS
This commercial project facilitated the design for a Kerrits Performance Equestrian Apparel office building, located in Denver, Colorado. The design was based on the concept of a saddle, utilizing the curvilinear elements, functional forms, and warm colors associated with a saddle. To ease the stresses of working, multiple different types of work spaces were created to give employees the choice of where they feel most comfortable and productive. There is an open office area facing the Denver skyline, having height adjustable desks and chairs. There is a closed office area for a little more privacy, but still open enough for collaboration. There are small, singular work rooms for those who work best in privacy. There is a mezzanine lounge with couches and armchars, for those who prefer to relax while working. And finally, there is a patio with benches and a hammock, for those who like to work outside.
convenience store
RETAIL | 5,000 sq ft | 3 WEEKS
The purpose of this project was to create a convenience store franchise that is memorable and different. With this in mind, I utilized sustainable practices mixed with abstract design to create a more environmentally friendly place that people will keep wanting to come back to. First of all, the ceiling is made of glowing acrylic, which uses no electricity at all, gaining all of its light from being soaked in the sun. When it's nighttime, however, the ceiling is powered off of the solar panels that have been collecting light throughout the day. To bring in natural light, small crevices have been cut into the ceiling, which also makes for very interesting shadow-play across the floor and walls. The alluring atmosphere makes customers want to keep coming back, as does the giant frozen yogurt area with candy canisters that go all the way up into the ceiling, as you can see in slides 7 and 8.
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steiner home
RESIDENTIAL | 5,200 sq ft | 9 WEEKS
This project was different than anything I had ever done before... I designed a home for a real client! Emily and Michael Steiner were looking to renovate their property—a historical mediterranean revival style home—into a more modern, eclectic home, while still keeping some of the integrity of the existing architectural style. They had a lot of input on this, so this is truly their style interpretation. They love the outdoors and open space, and their tastes are a mixture between coastal and mid-century modern. To get a look into the conceptual design and a run-through of the floor plan, I've put together a 5 minute verbal presentation that you can view here.
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super villain Design Charette 2017
FANTASY / INSTITUTIONAL | 10,000 sq ft | 5 DAYS
This is most likely the most creative freedom I'll ever be allowed in the design world. The department of Interior Architecture & Design at FSU holds a department-wide design charette every year, matching students into teams of four. My team consisted of one senior (me), one junior, and two sophomores. The core aim of the project was to create a penitentiary for four Marvel lady supervillains: Callisto, Black Widow, Lady Mastermind, and Joystick. The rest was up to the designers. We decided to place our prison within an underwater dome, creating a microcosm for the inmates, to lessen the threat of them escaping. This rehabilitational environment was meant to turn them over to the good side, to become Avengers. Thus, all areas are positive, comfortable areas, rather than cold, punishing spaces. The renderings below (after the photo of the board) go as follows, to the right: Exterior perspective, Dining Room perspective, and Art Therapy perspective. These renderings are the ones that I have done myself.
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The Traveler's hub hotel in istanbul, turkey
HOSPITALITY | 9,600 m2 | 12 WEEKS
Introducing the Traveler's Hub Hotel, or Hub Hotel for short. This name was chosen because I wanted to establish the hotel as a hub for travelers to communicate and congregate. This is due to some research I did, that states that hotel guests like to feel like they belong to something, which keeps them coming back to that specific hotel.
The location of the hotel is Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul has a very colorful history rooted in religion and art. It has been established as a regional artistic center, and has people from many areas flocking to the city. It's also the fifth most crowded city in the world.
Some of the main focuses of this project are to provide a sustainable design solution, as well as a comfortable vacationing atmosphere. But additionally, for the hotel to be a place for travelers to congregate, and for the design to evoke a sense of energy and vitality. Which moves us onto the the concept, which is energy.
When I think of energy, I think of a lighting bolt, which will drive some the design interpretations by including angular line and form. Also, energy makes think of nature, and of life. This will be shown in the design as curvilinear form, which contrasts with the angular form, creating asymmetrical rhythm.
Onto level one, just to orient you, there are three places we'll be talking about, the first being the reception on the southwest corner with the lavender flooring, and then onto the stair, and then the travelers hub with the blue flooring.
As you can see on the rcp, there is a large ceiling feature in the reception, playing back onto the concept, utilizing angular form.
For the reception area, I wanted to make the space as memorable as possible, but still make the design somewhat subtle as to not overwhelm the guests. So for that reason, the form is busy, contrasting with the color scheme, which is mostly white. You can see the hotel logo on the back of the reception wall.
Onto the stair perspective, this what you'd see if you followed the lavender path from the reception to the stair. You can see the travelers hub easily in the distance.
Now for the Traveler's Hub cay ve yiyecek, which means "tea and food" in Turkish. This space doubles as an additional retail space, as well as the heart of the Hub Hotel, for guests to congregate and plan trips together. Research suggests that food brings people together, so this is the reasoning behind why the gathering space is in a tea and food shoppe.
Now onto level 2, there are three spaces we'll see, the first being the host stand within the restaurant on the left, the restaurant perspective, and then the bar and lounge on the right.
In the bar and lounge, there is a big black triangle you can see on the RCP. It's a large detail that goes from floor to ceiling, that contains multiple alcoves to place liquor and other necessities. You can see this more clearly in the bar elevation. Also, as you may have noticed, almost all of the lighting in the hotel is curvilinear to contrast with the angular furniture.
For the restaurant, I wanted to make the lighting somewhat dim for a more intimate and cozy feel. The booth area is raised 25cm so that it makes the space feel more bracketed. And there's an example of the menu design as well.
Onto level 3, into the king suite. The two areas we'll be focusing on are the living room and the bedroom.
In the rcp you can see the custom wood feature that goes from the bedroom to the kitchen, spanning pretty much the entire suite.
Here is the living room. That black wood flooring creates a path from the entrance to the balcony, drawing attention to the views around the hotel. This is juxtaposed by the ceiling flowing the opposite way. With the bedroom, I wanted to create as calming of an atmosphere as I could. The cool tones paired with the warm wood tones make a contrast with a beachy energy about it. I wanted to keep the furnishes white to emphasize cleanliness and pureness.
P.S. I designed all of the furniture in the hotel myself!
