The following posts are explanatory segments of a proposed redesign for the kitchen, and living room for context, of the two bedroom apartment keeping in mind the theme of the dynamics between people and an added dimension of sustainability.

St. Elmo's Hotel in Palouse, WA

St. Elmo’s Hotel was built in 1888 in Palouse, WA and is a historic landmark for the local community. The building is being refurbished back into a hotel with a spa and 2 rental suites , one and two bedroom, on the second floor.

The Trouble with the In-Between

The concept of a home, being that which originates from the heart of people, challenges accepted concepts of design. How can a poem morph the physical box in which a person resides? What can the physical processes and materials of design do to complement the dynamic provocation of the death and rebirth of people so affixed in the concrete jungle that is home? It is the life, struggle, and death of people who create what is considered home; therefore, it is left to interpretation.

Concept Model

The gravity of the horizontal lines in combination with the tangling weeds of the base holds down the legs of the lattice. The nonobjective individual lattices are asymmetrical in nature, but the repetition creates a unity and rhythm for the whole. The scale relationship is emphasized between characters in the lattice and the conjoined circular lattice shape. The fragile structure is held down by something stronger and firmer reflecting the tenuous relationship between the fragility of growth and the restriction of steadfast paradigms. The color emphasizes the weakness of the structure of people in contrast to the firm ground that cracks far from the anchored footing of the lattice.

Inspiration Parti

The abstract inspiration for a physical home.

Abstraction Process

In the beginning of poetic abstraction dark feelings arose creating more violent and painful images. Images of life, toil, struggle, death, and finally acceptance recycled in the same thought as I tried to find a place for the discomfort of realization. My inspiration comes from digging into the pain and examining the beauty of survival. This produces a more inspiring picture of people who do not simply rely on aesthetics, but rely on each other.

Abstraction 1

Abstraction 2

Abstraction 3

The Rose That Grew from the Concrete

Tupac Shakur’s poem “The Rose that Grew from the Concrete,” speaks highly of the beauty that fights and grows against the odds in some of the most disparate situations. The concrete represents the oppression that stifles the growth of the dynamic community that calls these places home. A question I ask myself is exactly how much life is lost while fighting the weight of the concrete and why the same such life has the fortune and resilience to succeed. Either way the rose is one among a few who are allowed to shine on the backs of supportive family and community members.