So I really like the outdoor space on the fifth floor. I think outdoor areas are pretty essential for student life. Personally an outdoor space helps me reconnect to myself. It’s a nice place to take a phone call and do some breathing. It is also a great place to have lunch, talk with friends, or just sit alone and listen to music. But during the rainy months it’s not very usable. It’s windy, too cold and wet. There is about like maybe a 2 x 2 area you can stand just outside the door. I thought about the idea of adding heaters to the design but I feel like the idea of having propane or something similar to that would be a little difficult for the school to maintain so I just left them out.
Outside either of the entrance is there will be a triangle awning to protect that area from rain. It would also be angled so that the water can slide off one side maybe into a flower bed or some sort of drainage. The big blank walls on either side strike me as a really great art opportunity. But since most of the people that are on the fifth floor are creative, I thought it be a great idea to have a large chalkboard on either side. This area will be for anybody to put their drawings, ideas, thoughts, and just goofy doodles. It’ll be water resistant but also the elements would help clean away the chalk, so there would always be a fresh surface to draw on. It’s fun to see what survives the longest on a chalkboard anyway. Overhead there would be some pretty outdoor lights, Seattle is often overcast so this would help brighten up a dark day. Also during in the winter it gets dark like around 3 PM so this would encourage students to stay a little bit longer, it feels more inviting and less spooky. Underneath each of the awnings will be tables and chairs similar to the ones that are already out on the patio. They can be rearranged, whether you have a big group of people or you just wanna sit by yourself. Also in the center of the outside area will be some weatherproof couches and a nice coffee table with a large umbrella that can cover the area. The umbrella could be collapsible so when it is sunny you can enjoy some of the sun and not have to have the patio completely covered. Along the railing are mountain shapes that are specifically designed to help protect the area from wind. Sitting right up next to these would keep you warm and blocked form the chilly air.
Overall I just wanted to redesign the space to be more inviting for people to hang out and be social outside. This allows the space to be more available year-round. It still probably wouldn’t be nice to be outside when it’s too wet and rainy but if there is a light drizzle and some wind it would still be pretty accessible. The vibe I wanted to go for was being up in the mountains outside enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee and being social with your friends and family.