RISD Nature Lab Biodesign Makerspace

Collaborative Design-Build Project 

Completed Spring 2018

Peter Lokken – Furniture Design Department ’18

Kylie King – Department of Interior Architecture, Adaptive Reuse ’18

Working with principles of biophilic design for the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Edna Lawrence Nature Lab design-build 2016-2018, funded by EAGER grant (Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research) from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Following the build-out of the biophilic ceiling installation, students and faculty will utilize the space to create and teach curriculum to area high school students to engage with the biological sciences beyond the traditional STEM curriculum. The space provides an immersive environment for students to engage in hands-on design projects that cultivate a working knowledge of biology and natural systems. 

My role in the team:

Overall concept development/ 

Draft design of ceiling installation/

Illustrative drawings and renderings/

Detailed design, prototype, and fabrication and installation/

Facilitation of paper-making workshop/

Led by Biological Programs Designer, Jennifer Bissonnette, Nature Lab Director Neal Overstrom, and Professor of Interior Architecture, Eduardo Duarte. Approved by RISD Office of Construction Planning and Management.

Business of Home | What is biophilic design and why are we seeing it everywhere? 2019

The Brown Daily Herald | Nature Lab Creates BioDesign MakerSpace, 2018

RISD News | Nature Lab Wins NSF Support, 2017