Architecture Commons^™

Coarse-Work: An Investigation Into The Impact Of Materiality In The Interior Educational Setting, Isabel G. Robb

Honors Theses

Education design in modern suburban America curates learning environments that are cold and impersonal, being used more as a place to keep youth during the day than as a place where they can truly learn about and understand the world around them. This learning environment does not suit all students, especially those with learning disabilities, and it leaves little room for flexibility in classroom usage.

Focusing on creating a learning environment where all students feel welcome and are able to effectively learn, this projective design research project aims to provide a comprehensive intervention through the built environment and interior design, …

Storytelling In Interior Design: A Hospitality Case Study Based On Avatar: The Last Airbender, Katelyn Isaacson Bauer

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Storytelling can function as a crucial element in interior design, offering a powerful means to captivate and engage individuals within a space. The allure of storytelling lies in its ability to evoke emotions, convey messages, and create memorable experiences. Humans are naturally drawn to narratives that transport them to different worlds, evoke nostalgia, or inspire. This fascination with storytelling has led to a notable increase in themed spaces across various industries, from amusement parks and hotels to restaurants and retail spaces. The integration of storytelling into interior design not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of a space but also serves …

Design Proposal For R&S Agency, Jenny Bae Huggon, Gigi Lombardo-Dybalski

Featured Student Work

R&S Agency is a contemporary corporate office design that places a high emphasis on enhancing the employee workplace environment and fostering collaboration within the community. This innovative approach to interior design incorporates principles of sustainability, digital equity, diversity, and inclusivity to create a human-centered framework for office spaces. Drawing on the latest research in workplace satisfaction, this evidence-based office space aims to cultivate a sense of community and prioritize meaningful experiences through purposeful and thoughtful design elements

Asylum Architecture: The Brick-By-Brick Development Of Patient Treatment, Kris D. Sass

The Purdue Historian

The following research and analysis will investigate the intersection of architecture and treatment in asylums with a specific interest on the time period of the late 19^th century to mid-20^th century in the United States. Not only were specific environmental demands key to some treatment methodologies, such as rural environments to moral therapy, but the architecture of mental hospitals were integral parts of patient’s experiences. Here three specific hospital designs will be analyzed: the Kirkbride Plan, the Cottage Plan, and Kiyoshi Izumi’s Socio-Petal. The following analysis will be built on a series of blueprints, building notes, secondary histories, …

The Effect Of Natural Light On Mental Health, Gianna Arquilla

Honors Projects

All students have experienced low motivation at one point in their academic career, but what are the factors that can affect this? Is it solely based on their personality and work ethic, or can the environment have an effect? This study discusses the effects on mental health through architecture. Can the amount of natural light in a building affect the motivation of students? Natural light is something that is often overlooked, mostly considered as a perk rather than a necessity. How can students truly feel passionate about their work sitting in a dark place? To evaluate this data, this study …

Education And Advocacy For Universal Design And Accessibility In Housing, Apisara Vairojanakich, Amy Lyons-Brown, Molly Wuebker

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

In the United States, there is a lack of adequate numbers of universally designed and accessible houses in the housing market for the older population and people with disabilities. Many barriers, such as financial support and lack of knowledge for housing-related professionals, can prevent this population from participating in home occupations. The project developed educational products, including the universal design housing experience booklet, universal design housing checklist, and universal design blueprints. These products were delivered through the blog post on Uncurbed LinkedIn website. The needs assessment was conducted to provide the guidelines for the chapters in the booklet and checklist. …

Analyse Permeability And Integration In Architectural Landscapes To Create A Seamless Environment, Ensuring Ease Of Movement And Blending With The Surrounding Environment., Amira Fawzy Helmy Almaz

Journal of Engineering Research

The study explores the understanding of connectedness, integration, and axial route selection in urban parks using space syntax. It uses the Theory of Space Syntax to analyze georeferenced photographs and urban morphology data. The findings suggest that creating rules for integration and linkage that directly influence users' decision-making processes could lead to significant improvements in urban parks.

The study discusses space syntax as an architectural concept that views architecture as an interface between public and private spaces, analyzing landscapes through mirroring and focusing on internal configurations and exteriors. The study proposes a method to measure permeability and integration in urban …

Creating An Index To Graduate Theses To Support Their Discoverability, Ellen Petraits

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

As a Research and Instruction Librarian, one of the most frequent questions I'm asked is how to find past theses on a particular topic or theme. There is an active thesis culture at RISD that goes beyond writing and binding a text. An exhibition is held in the graduate gallery to celebrate a curated selection of theses at the beginning of the academic year. (See Book of Thesis Books) Theses can range in format from an artist book to a loose-leaf portfolio. Many emphasize the visual and are a bridge to the student’s studio work. They may include unusual or …

Daylighting In Buildings: Investigating The Relationship Between Daylight Levels And Building Compactness In Various Contemporary Architectural Types., Andrew Welch, Ermal Shpuza Phd

Symposium of Student Scholars

Among the most substantial ways to improve the energy efficiency of a building is to manipulate the floorplate in ways that lets more natural light in while reducing the energy loss or gain through the envelope area. However, creating buildings that have more natural light comes with a greater construction cost due to larger envelope areas. The goal of this research is to determine what aspects of floorplate design maximize the natural light entering a building and minimize the construction costs associated with the building. In the first phase of research last year, we analyzed a sample of floorplates from …

Visual Privacy As An Approach To Improve Human Needs In Residential Buildings In Egypt, Inas Samir Ibrahim, Walaa Nour, Mustafa Alwan

Journal of Engineering Research

Architecture reflects a nation’s cultural, social, and environmental characteristics. As a result of the recent globalization, countries have lost their distinctive architectural identities; due to this, it is difficult to identify A country’s unique identity locally and regionally. Specifically, in Egypt, houses in the traditional style are considered one of the most iconic architectural styles. There is an amazing local identity and a unique spatial quality in the region that characterizes Egypt. On the other hand, Western influences have caused many of the values and attributes of houses to fade. One of the most prominent values is the home’s loss …

Art Teams: Teaching With Arts And Emerging Media Infographic, Elizabeth Valerio-Boster, Guy Trainin

Research and Evaluation in Education, Technology, Art, and Design

Infographic from Art TEAMS at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln about teaching with arts and emerging media.

The Effect Of Lighting In Higher Education Classrooms On College Students, Caitlin M. Nelms

Honors College Theses

Classroom lighting design is important for student learning outcomes, and can have a negative effect on the physiological states of students. Interior lighting design needs to include appropriate layers of artificial and daylighting. Previous models have shown that artificial lighting can be altered to give off the same effect of natural daylight. Studies have also shown that natural lighting has a positive effect on the productivity of students in a classroom environment. Data was collected by surveying students in a classroom with no natural lighting to see how they felt in the room and if they have any lighting recommendations …

To What Extent Does Lighting Affect Students’ Preference For Seating In The Georgia Southern University Henderson Library?, Hailey M. Hawkins

Honors College Theses

This study highlights the importance of lighting in academic library spaces, specifically in relation to students' seating choices and overall experience. The research is significant as it emphasizes the role that environmental factors can play in creating a conducive learning environment for students. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, which combines quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to provide a comprehensive understanding of students' lighting preferences. The quantitative data collected through open observations and the use of a light meter provided insights into the relationship between lighting and seating choices. The qualitative data collected through questionnaires helped to understand the …