JASMINE STOPHER
Embedded Files
introduction + context
My interior design thesis aims to reshape what abortion care consists of. From public education to procedural care, this thesis project aims to erase the stigma surrounding abortion care and demand it be understood as a basic healthcare need. My passion for feminism shaped this thesis, as I feel it is essential for accessible, affordable, and comfortable abortive care to be a priority within our society. There is a massive stigma and many opinions surrounding abortive care, and this facility aims to create a comfortable, respectful, and informative environment for patients in search of abortion or birth control care. The integration of an education centre will provide a safe, informative, and unbiased zone for up-to-date sexual education, including birth control options as well as abortive care. In order to create an environment that is more approachable and comfortable for women, a cafe has been integrated to create a more homely atmosphere where patients will feel more relaxed and at ease.
values + atmospheric intent
The project aims to transform the perception of abortion care through purposeful and comprehensive interior design. The ultimate goal is to erase the stigma surrounding abortion care and this is achieved through education as well as experience sharing. If women leave this abortion clinic with a positive experience, people will realize that abortion care is nothing to be ashamed of, but something to be empowered by. Taking ownership of one’s body and making decisions that are personally appropriate empowers women on a global scale. Taking the actions necessary to redesign what healthcare facilities look like is the first step in developing a more accepting and respectful resource for women to utilize freely.
Sense of place is employed in all occupancies of this interior. Both the clinic ‘bloom’ and the cafe, ‘flour-ish’ aim to create a calm, comfortable, and understanding atmosphere that fosters relaxation for users while creating a homelike feeling. In the education sector 'thrive,' a sense of place is enacted to familiarize students with what an abortion facility is like. This location-based learning provides unbiased and up-to-date information for students, reducing anxieties and misinformation surrounding abortion care and sexual education. The atmospheric conditions of all three spaces within this facility are seamless, prioritizing the user-centric approach that fosters comfortability and respect over all other values. This atmosphere is shaped by the healthcare workers, staff, patients, and visitors of the space.
namesake
flour-ish
flour-ish
thrive
thrive
bloom
bloom
“To bloom” means to flourish or thrive, fully encapsulating the atmospheric goals of the design. This word was chosen for it’s delicate sound and look, however, the word’s meaning is robust, strong, and powerful. This represents the clientele of the health clinic: strong and powerful women who make brave decisions regarding their health and lifestyle. This is supported by the secondary occupancies: the cafe adjacent to the clinic appropriately named ‘flour-ish,’ synonymous with bloom - with a delicious twist - and the education centre, ‘thrive’ is synonymous with both bloom and flourish, complimentary to both the clinic and cafe.
concept statement
This project is designed to reshape abortive care environments, employing a user-centric approach that embodies strength and power communicated through purposeful materiality and spatial organization. While providing a comfortable and informative environment, the atmosphere fosters a relaxing and homelike sense, enveloping users in comfort. The design of the workspaces aims to prioritize the efficiency and productivity of the users, employing design techniques that allow healthcare workers to exude positive energy to visitors, improving experiences between all occupants.
floor plans + materiality
flour-ish
The cafe floorplan of 'flour-ish' demonstrates the functionality and harmony that the cafe exhibits. With ranging styles of seating with a unique circular service counter, this space is functionally and conceptually well-considered. The integration of planters, displays, and curvilinear features emphasizes comfortability and warmth. This is supported by the carefully considered and purposeful materiality. Utilizing warm, medium-toned woods, faux leather upholstery and natural materials such as concrete and plaster elevate the interior environment, ultimately advancing the comfortable and warm feeling that users desire.
thrive
Within this floorplan, the relationship between the lobby and the education centre is clearly shown. The play on curvilinear shapes is massively prevalent within the library and education centre. The ramp and stairs shape the entry, and the different seating types within the education centre are shown to emphasize the need for different types of collaboration zones. This is to provide the best foundation possible for people to engage in both instructional and self-directed learning. The materiality of this space echoes the lobby with the absence of colour blocking. Within this space, I found it imperative to the design to allow the students and people of the public who are there to learn, to bring the colour and vibrancy to the space. To avoid the environment feeling stark, the incorporation of plaster and soft materials were integrated, as well as warm wood slats on the ceiling plane.
bloom
Within this floorplan, the clinic known as ‘bloom’ is shown occupying the entirety of the second floor. The relationship between spaces in this plan is vital to effective and productive usage of the interior, as well as dynamic usage by inhabitants. The clinic is located on the second floor to maintain privacy, structure, and efficiency. The materiality of this space is a more light and fresh take on the previous materiality shown, using calming tones in each material selection. The wood is lighter, as well as the concrete and terrazzo features. There is more incorporation of upholstery as well as strategic millwork design.
reflected ceiling plans + lighting
flour-ish
Regarding the ceiling development in the cafe, keeping it simple and not overbearing allowed the rest of the cafe to shine in its materiality, planning, and comfortability. There are three major bulkheads that are seamlessly integrated into banquette seating arrangements and over the service counter. The lighting anchors spaces and perfectly suits the needs of each seating group, further impacting the atmospheric experience, simultaneously providing adequate task lighting.
thrive
Within the ceiling development of the library and education centre, directional wooden slats are utilized to add volumetric interest, as well as incorporate the warm materiality in a fresh and interesting way. They shape the seating groupings, as well as provide a point of interest to those entering and inhabiting the space. The lighting perfectly suits the needs of each seating group, simultaneously providing adequate task lighting. The lighting and ceiling development ultimately contribute to the atmospheric and conceptual goals of the space.
bloom
The ceiling development of the second floor incorporates directional wooden slats that are utilized to add volumetric interest, as well as incorporate warm materiality. They are integrated mainly above seating areas to provide a point of interest while patients and visitors are waiting. The lighting is strategically chosen to suit each type of functional seating group and integrates task lighting where necessary. The lighting and ceiling development ultimately contribute to the atmospheric, functional, and conceptual goals of the space.
entry + lobby
The entry condition sets the tone for the entirety of the interior experience. Curvilinear lines and warm materiality shape and define the atmospheric experience within the entry and lobby condition. Wayfinding signage is clear, concise, and remains beautiful in its simplicity. Integrating the ramp into the main area of the lobby provides a seamless transition from the lobby to the education centre and the stairs, as well as a perfect transition space to move from the entry to the cafe. Utilizing colour blocking draws the eye and incorporates curves into the design in a refreshing way, sparking interest and comfort within entering patrons.
flour-ish cafe
The cafe encapsulates what comfort and warmth feel like. The usage of materiality strategically shapes the space, as well as the individual groups of seating within it. This is all to ultimately encourage conversation between people and create connections, as well as provide areas for solitude and alone-time for those who need it. The incorporation of colour blocking plays a fun contrast against the raw materials such as concrete and plaster, integrating a dynamic and playful element to the space. The relationship between straight and curvilinear lines is emphasized to celebrate the shape of a woman's body, in a strategic and interesting way. The use of written graphics compliments the energy of the space, honouring the high-spirited vibrancy of the colour scheme.
thrive library + education centre
Thrive encapsulates the energy and stimulation that is desired to be felt by the students and patrons of the space. The seating groups, collaboration zones and individual seating areas provide flexibility and functionality, while simultaneously supporting conceptual goals. This is all to ultimately encourage learning and connections while erasing stigmas surrounding sexual health and abortive care. The booth seating showcases the materiality as well as the integration of picture rails, also intended to hold books and educational materials. The planters shown seamlessly integrate biophilic value within the space, making a connection between natural materials and the patrons of the interior environment.
bloom sexual + reproductive health clinic
The interior of the clinic patient recovery room and the procedure room show the value and impact of curves, shapes and lines within a clinic environment. While all materials must have massive durability and sanitization value, the design does not compromise aesthetics or comfort for these needs. The materiality rather compliments the functionality of the space, successfully supporting the conceptual goals of this interior environment. Ultimately, the goal of this space is to provide a warm and safe environment for patients while undergoing emotional and physical stress. The integration of warm woods, interesting terrazzo and a minimal colour palette contribute to these goals. The ceiling is a feature in each space, as cove lighting in the procedure room indirectly illuminates, as well as the wallpaper on the ceiling that intends to create a positive visual distraction for patients.
summary
As a whole, this project aims to keep a user-centric approach that is sufficiently informed by intensive investigation, research and analysis that ultimately characterizes a warm, comfortable, and safe environment for women in need of sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion care. Creating an environment that satisfies all of these needs proved to be a challenge, however this project successfully and confidently meets all conceptual, functional and atmospheric goals. Ultimately, the goal is to erase the stigma surrounding abortion care for women, as well as increase education and awareness surrounding accessibility and inclusion of abortion care within basic healthcare systems.
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