Blossom Mentor Center

from Design 4 Interior Design Studio Prof. Julia Larson

Mentor Centers are designed to benefit seniors and children mutually. Children can improve seniors' moods by combating their feelings of loneliness and teaching them about current trends, whereas seniors can pass their knowledge and wisdom to children. The concept of this senior/child mentor center developed from the idea that seniors and children help each other grow, progress, and blossom. The notion of blossoming is represented in this design in plan and section by transitioning colors, textures, and materials based on the blossoming of a flower from bud to bloom.

"Now designing more functional interior spaces that consider both the feeling of the space and its relationship with the exterior"

How has your minor in Interior Design influenced your architectural designs?
Working in an interior design studio has changed how I approach architecture by designing more functional interior spaces that consider both the feeling of the interior and its relationship with the exterior. Before gaining any knowledge in interior design, I made decisions that considered the exterior's aesthetic without fully understanding the effect it would have on the interior. I have learned how ceiling height changes and changes in floor material can delineate spaces without the use of walls. This new knowledge has translated into my architecture in creating more cohesive and developed projects with exciting and unique interior spaces. Instead of an interior rendering containing generic furniture and all-white walls, I have begun designing custom furniture, including material changes and placing colors and wall designs on the interior walls.

Lauren DeSimone
B. Architecture '22
Interior Design Minor
Listening to Hey Ya! by OutKast

I would like to get my architecture license and work at an architecture firm that focuses on residential designs. I want to take the knowledge that I have gained both in my architecture and interior design classes to design homes that are both beautiful and functional, inside and out.

Princeton Dorm

from Design 7 Architecture Studio with Prof. Craig Griffen

Two aspects that were evident while observing Butler College that influenced the shape of the dormitory were how the preexisting buildings came together and the use of courtyards. This dormitory contains a total of eighty individuals dorms with the incorporation of multiple public spaces. Each dorm consists of a single bedroom with a private bathroom. The hallways connecting them contain seating for these students to interact while maintaining the proper social distance in the event of a pandemic. These public spaces are meant to serve as areas for the students to gather and include an indoor/outdoor café area, a game room, and a classroom. The cross-campus path can be seen from the second-floor lounge, intersecting the building on the ground floor. Here, there are spaces for students to hang out and gather. Lastly, the third-floor community space consists of more lounge seating with an outdoor dining area that looks out onto the green roof.

What is your design process?
My design process begins with many sketches and internet searches. I enjoy the concept development section of designing and can spend hours weaving my way down a rabbit hole of information about whatever the topic of the design project is. After completing many sketches, I feel the need to develop the idea in 3D, whether that be a physical or digital model. I tend to begin space planning (laying out my floor plan) quite early in the design process because it is at this moment that the abstract concept becomes grounded in reality.