Interior Architecture

This past fall UNCG graduate students from the Interior Architecture Department took on the project of redesigning their studio space located on the fourth floor of the Gatewood Studio Arts Building. This project was an assignment for the IAR 501 course directed by Professor Travis Hicks. The project was something that had been discussed before by members of the faculty and previous students and finally changes were made and implemented. The five first year graduate students, Isabel Leon, Divya Chivukula, Carolina Marty, Jessica Ocasio and Emily-Kate Hannapel, worked along with some of the current graduate students to see what was expected of the space and what needs were to be addressed. After a few brainstorming sessions, the students were ready to take on the project.

The design of the space is centered around the idea of community and how graduate students come together to work and help each other, even with the independence that the program offers. With this in mind, the hexagon or honeycomb pattern – which can be seen around the studio –  was the main idea of the design since it represents how bees work together to achieve a goal. The same can be said about the IARc Community. The space is organized into five different areas which are: a studio space, a presentation area, a lounge, a cafe area, and a work area.

The students involved described this as possibly being the first step in the total redesign of the graduate area, leaving the possibility open for future students to take on the rest of the space.