cloudinteriors

CLOUD interiors on Government Design

Due to the wide variety of governmental project types, designers must have the capacity for commercial office, education, health care, hospitality, and residential design. Despite this range, there are some common responsibilities of the interior designer for every project:

• Accountability for the Expenditure of Public/Private Funding for the Project.
• Compliance with all Codes and Regulations.
• Account for Functional Needs and meet Performance Objectives
• Uniformity in the Application of established Government Design Standards.
• Durability of finishes, furniture, furnishings.
• Optimizing Operations and Maintenance within the context of the Facility.
• Support of Emerging Technologies
• Planning for Secure Buildings
• Environmental Responsibility and commitment to LEED.

With this in mind, one of the defining spaces of every government facility is the public lobby, where character and function often influence a visitor’s first impression. As stated in the GSA Design Excellence Program, these spaces seek to express “the vision, leadership, and commitment of the government in serving the public and expressing the values of the nation.”

The lobby is the landmark to which all other spaces in the facility relate. The entry experience can be enhanced by incorporating a spatial compression/release: beginning with exterior approach, followed by a compression through the entry doors or vestibule, and finally released into a stately public space. Aesthetic considerations will vary from project to project, but the high level of visibility and public use merits the utmost degree of visual detail and finish. It is encouraged to employ durable, moisture resistant materials. Special considerations should be given to ceilings, lighting design, furniture, signage, and artwork to complete the space.

For detailed information on lobby design, refer to the GSA’s “First Impressions” program. For additional Government Design resources, refer to the National Institute of Building Sciences “Whole Building Design Guide”.

A little Color, Song, & a Dance to brighten your Spring…

Great to see vibrant hues paired with architecture. Everyone needs a little color in their life.

Music video for the song “Skyscrapers” by OK Go.
Director: Trish Sie, Producers: Trish Sie & Paula Salhany
Cinematography and editing: Paula Salhany

Google Maps to Integrate Interior Wayfinding

Version 6.0 of the Google Maps app will now feature interior wayfinding for specific building types.   Some of the first to sign up – Airports and Transit hubs and Retailers such as Macy’s and IKEA.  From an interior design perspective, this provides a great resource to our clients and the general public.  Wayfinding signage is a necessity for any public space, and it can be a great design opportunity.  Google maps just adds another layer of information (especially for those of use who can never find the “you are here” map at the mall)

“The newly added indoor maps don’t quite offer the turn-by-turn navigation you’ve come to know and depend upon (that’s outside-only for now), but the provided layouts should help usher you along to the nearest bathroom, clothing shop or elevator. There’s no fancy equipment at use, either. All of your positioning information is culled from the same set of data (including GPS) used for “My Location,” although here it’s been optimized to detect movement along the z-axis. What does that mean for you, dear end user? Try a nifty feature called “Automatic Floor Detection” that’ll keep track of your progress as you move about from escalator to escalator. Google’s also endeavoring to extend its indoor reach, opening up its mapping inventory with a self-service tool (currently in beta) that’ll allow business owners to upload floor plans directly to Maps.”

Read the full article here.  via: engadget.com

Experience Design is the Future.

It’s easy to recognize the impact of mobile technology on our daily lives.  It seems that making actual phone-calls is pretty low on the list of priorities for owning a smartphone.  In the few years I have owned a smartphone, I have become accustomed to checking email, accessing files in “the cloud”, mapping routes, having real-time access to news, weather, etc.  I edit photographs to share with friends.  I keep to-do lists to make sure that I stay on task.  I can check in to the emergency room and hold my place in line with the Atlanta Medical Center’s app (just discovered this one.  It’s genius…hopefully I’ll never need to use it).   And who can resist that gemstone game and playing scrabble or hangman with friends?

As a designer of the built environment, I like to envision how this technology will impact our interactions with interior spaces, and how we can improve design with those technologies in mind.  I see my profession moving toward that of “Experience Design” adding another layer of information to what we already do as Interior Designers.

I am excited to share this digital short by Greg Tran, a recent graduate of Harvard Design School, who explores and clearly illustrates the potential for augmented reality and its integration with the built environment.

Mediating Mediums – The Digital 3d from Greg Tran on Vimeo.

A little press for our friends at X3

CLOUD|interiors’ renovation project for X3 Sports mentioned in ‘WhatNowAtlanta’.   Read about it here.  Check back for construction photos & renderings!