Halcyon Haven

Our Script

Cary: Hello, my name is Cary Evans

Camden: And I’m Camden Michalek, and we are from Cedar Park FCCLA.

Cary: Welcome to Halcyon Haven, your new teenage therapy center! With this project we completely reimagined what a therapy center could be. 

Camden: We believe that designers are hired to create unique and innovative spaces, so we designed a therapy center like no other, one that draws in patients with its whimsical and wonderful atmosphere! 

Cary: And as a teen who regularly attends professional counseling I know that I feel the most safe when I walk into their office and there is appropriate lighting and a natural feel to the room. So through this project we wanted to embrace everything that I know from my personal experience. Therefore we wanted to eliminate the stigma of going to therapy. 

Camden: Our first step was to come up with three project objectives. These were to provide safe and inviting therapy rooms for teenage patients, to design an extremely functional apartment for your center's director, and to create a responsible design that betters your patients wellbeing. From there, we went into our schematic design by creating bubble diagrams for the space planning in the directors apartment, and preliminary furniture plans using tracing paper, and then finalizing the floor plan and furniture plan in CAD using sketchup. Now let’s walk through all of our design decisions!

Cary:  As we walk through the front door, your patients are greeted in the reception room. In here, we wanted to create an incredibly relaxed and inviting entrance so we opted to have the sign in counter perpendicular to the front door, as it creates a more informal and inviting entrance instead of feeling like a cold office building. It’s these small interactions and details that we focused on in order to make the most comfortable space possible for your patients. 

Camden: For the positive distraction that you had requested, one of the best ways I've found to help relieve anxiety is looking at a fish tank and I’m sure your patients will feel the same, so we added one on top of the sign-in desk. And in here you’ll see the first use of the fun wallpapers we added throughout the counseling center to provide positive distractions in every room. 

Cary: In a previous meeting you brought up a fair concern that these wallpapers might be a bit distracting for patients which I can relate to as I have ADHD, with that said though I know that I’d love to attend therapy here and don’t see it as much of a concern. However, we still took that thought to heart and toned it down, only adding wallpaper to one or two walls in each room, and we ensured that there is at least one seat that doesn’t face any, so that patients who may easily get distracted don’t have to face it. Additionally, this adds the benefit of costing less, as it is  much more affordable to only wallpaper one or two walls rather than all four in each room!

Camden: Building on that, we’ve received feedback, particularly from adults, that they think our rooms look a bit overwhelming which we do understand. We wanted to dig into this a bit further though to ensure that we were designing the most appropriate space for your patients' wellbeing, so we decided to survey teenagers and get their direct feedback on the rooms. We talked to 25 teens from all walks of life around the country in order to get the most diverse opinions we could, and the feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. Teens love the space and think it’s incredibly inspiring. Now let's walk into the group commons area.

Cary: In here, we were inspired by the tropical villas of Tulum and Bali. Their clean lines, mix of wood tones, and meditative atmosphere was perfect for what we needed to accomplish. As teenagers ourselves, we are constantly seeing tropical villas featured all over the internet, so we wanted to bring that into suburban Chicago to ease that fomo that your teenage patients might be feeling.

Camden: We believe this is an incredibly important aspect to consider when designing a therapy center for teenage patients as one of the leading causes for teenage mental health issues is the fear of missing out that we get from seeing people visit vibrant and idyllic locations while we are stuck at home. It causes lots of stress and even depression in teenagers, causing many of them to only want to stay at home and they get stuck in this loop of looking at social media. By creating one of these vibrant spaces in your counseling center, teens will want to come to therapy as they will feel like they are getting to live that fun, unique lifestyle when they’re here.

Cary: For the commons area, we designed this system of banquette seating, which doubles as sofas, and provides space for homework, games, and relaxing. Additionally, all of the banquettes have drawer storage underneath to store things such as games. All of the seating faces each other to encourage conversation, and is surrounded by a ring of plants to bring an organic energy to the room. Community building was at the forefront of the design here, as this space will create strong support systems for students going through therapy. To further aid with positive communication, we opted for a bright pink and green theme as it makes the room feel playful and uplifting.

Camden: We understand that this space is going to get a lot of use, so we selected a high performance fabric, Perennials Ishi Dove, for the banquette upholstery. Perennials, as well as the sunbrella fabric we selected for other rooms, is wonderful because it’s made of 100 percent solution dyed acrylic, making it impossible to stain while it still retains all the qualities of a natural fiber, making it the perfect choice for your space. 

Cary: Now to help boost your patients' spirits and make them feel appreciated, we added these tv screens to the wall on which you can add pictures of their artwork . We found teens going through therapy like to have a level of control of the space they are in, so seeing their work on the walls will let them feel like they have contributed to the room's design and therefore feel more comfortable. 

Camden: Additionally, we have added bluetooth speakers throughout the center so that students can change the music to their liking to further allow for that level of control.  Walking across the room you’ll see the gathering kitchen. 

Cary: We chose to use a light, sustainably sourced wood for the millwork, as in our research we found that 40 percent of a room should be wood in order to create the most comfortable atmosphere. Additionally, we selected porcelain countertops as they can be more affordable than natural stone and are less prone to staining while still keeping the same look.

Camden: Of course we made sure to follow all of the NKBA guidelines, creating a clear work triangle between the fridges, range, and sink, and we allocated over 4 and a half feet of clearance between the island and cabinet wall to allow for multiple people to comfortably walk around. This large island provides plenty of prep space, while at the end we put seating on three sides to better allow for conversation as everyone will be facing each other. Additionally, we ensured that all of the stools can be completely tucked under the counter so that the entire island can be used for cooking as we know you’ll be hosting cooking classes and community dinners. 

Cary: We incorporated open shelving with baskets for snacks as we know it can feel incredibly uncomfortable and invasive to be rummaging around in unfamiliar cabinets so by placing the snacks out in the open, students will feel more at ease and in control when finding what they want. This was backed by our research which showed that patients going through therapy like to have a level of independence and freedom that open shelving provides, as they won’t have to ask for where things are. 

Camden: The whole space is also very versatile. A projector screen can come down from the ceiling and you can bring in these Pillowfort bean bag chairs for movie nights. For game nights, we found these beautiful Good Idea Trade round folding tables and Bentwood stackable chairs which can be brought in for more table space but can be easily stored when not in use. All of this can all be viewed in our floor plans and renderings. Now as we wrap up this room, let's discuss how we incorporated the principles of design throughout the spaces.

Cary: Here in the common room we really played around with movement and rhythm, which is especially present in this glammora ribbon wallpaper which looks as though it could flutter with a gust of wind, adding to the whimsical atmosphere we wanted to create. 

Camden: We created unity throughout the center with our heavy use of plants and the color green as this helps create a natural and fresh atmosphere in the space. Additionally, we selected this beautiful Kentwood Milan flooring for the entire center. Kentwood is amazing because it is sustainably sourced from forests in France and it is Greenguard Gold certified, ensuring it won’t emit volatile organic compounds which many floors do. VOC’s have been proven to cause sickness over prolonged exposure, so ensuring that the materials in your counseling center don’t contribute to this is extremely beneficial to your patients wellbeing.

Cary: We used the principle of contrast by selecting very different color schemes in every room. In the individual therapy room, the red-orange color scheme that helps sooth patients and allow them to open up as red is an inspiring color. 

Camden: In the group therapy room we went a different route, opting for lots of blue and white, as blue is incredibly relaxing, but helps keep the room bright and airy. This is incredibly beneficial here as the room is on the north side of the building, and being in Chicago, it won’t get a ton of natural light in the afternoon. 

Cary: The principles of proportion and scale played a huge role in the design as from researching therapy centers, we discovered that at-risk teens tend to close up if they feel overpowered. Due to this, we selected furniture that was all similarly scaled to minimize the feeling of hierarchy, such as ensuring that all the chairs in the group therapy room had the same seat height. This way, when patients are seated with their therapist or small group, they feel like equals and are more willing to open up and make progress. 

Camden: Now for the design in the individual therapy room, we wanted to create an incredibly relaxed and comfortable environment. The room, inspired by Morocco, relieves patients' anxiety by transporting them almost into another world with its unique color scheme and curation of furniture. 

Cary: We incorporated many vintage pieces in here as they are generally more soothing with their curved lines and warm wood tones and most people have a mix of newer and older furniture in their homes, so having that here creates a sense of familiarity and comfort. Additionally, we sourced them from sites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for incredibly affordable prices and doing so allows for a more sustainable design.

Camden: Moving over to the group therapy room, we wanted the furniture to help liven up the space so we selected some funky pieces such as this stool that reminds us of a pig, which will hopefully put a smile on your patients faces like it does for us. We found this really cool Weitzner magnetism wallpaper for above the desk, which allows the wall to act as a bulletin board, adding a level of functionality, and we added lots of surfaces for people to place things, as we learned that therapy patients like to feel a sense of territory in order to feel the most comfortable. Now let's walk over to the director's office. 

Cary: With this office we went for a very functional design while still fitting with the theme of the center as a whole. We selected an executive desk and opted for a wall mounted monitor that increases the usable desk space. And to ensure privacy and confidentiality, we added roller shades to the windows behind the desk, and placed visitors chairs across from the desk so that the monitor may be hidden. 

Camden: Now for the final space in our walkthrough, the directors apartment. With this space, we started by researching tiny houses. Of course, the first thing we found was to add tons of built-ins as they provide the most usable space while taking up the least amount of floor area. We also found that using lots of color creates the illusion that more can fit into the room than actually can, making it feel larger. 

Cary: In the living room, we selected this super comfy sofa which serves as a place for the director to relax and it’s upholstered in Sunbrella Canvas Blush, another high performance acrylic fabric. Then we picked swinging chairs as a fun way to help the room feel larger, as the absence of legs creates an illusion of more floor space. Now let's move into the director's kitchen. 

Camden: We chose this beautiful green zellige tile from Zia tiles, as it helps bring the tropical vibe into the apartment. We selected a narrow fridge, placed the microwave over the sink, and designed an open island to maximize counter space. The island also adds seating to provide the director with options for dining and working. 

Cary: Across from the kitchen we designed a banquette style dining area which allows for the table and chairs to fit into a smaller footprint, maximizing the use of space. There are drawers underneath and shelving above, and you’ll notice another use of our curved millwork detail similar to the media centers. You can see this space on our elevation which is drawn to half an inch equals 1 foot scale. Now in the middle of the apartment we placed the bathroom, creating a natural separation between the bedroom and living spaces without requiring doors.

Camden: In the bathroom, we opted for a floating vanity as it again creates the illusion of more floor space and continued the use of zellige tiles from the kitchen. Per your request we added a shower tub combo, and we designed this large linen cabinet with access from both the bathroom and bedroom, providing easy storage and access to towels and by placing a laundry hamper inside, creates an easy pass through for dirty clothes from the bathroom to the laundry room. For the laundry, we utilized a stackable washer and dryer, and the linen cabinet to the side provides plenty of storage for laundry detergents and dryer sheets.

Cary: Finally, for the bedroom, we designed a built-in bed and wardrobe which you can see in the elevation and rendering. The wardrobe provides 14 linear feet for hanging clothes and there are drawers underneath the bed, as well as cabinets attop. Additionally, the entire bed can hinge up to provide access to a larger storage area for items such as a suitcase.

Camden: We really think your director will enjoy living in this amazing apartment we created for them and we hope you enjoyed your tour of Halcyon Haven! We really enjoyed creating this unique space! And now do you have any final questions for us?

Judges Questions

How did you design the logo?

• We first wanted to come up with a name that encapsulated the atmosphere and aura we created in the space, which is how we came up with Halcyon as it means "a time of great relaxation and peace." Then, we designed the logo using Adobe InDesign. 

How did you print the boards?

• We worked with a local business in Austin called Miller IDS which I (Camden) learned about through my work (Mohon Interiors). We designed the boards in Adobe InDesign (To Scale) and then sent Miller PDF's and they printed them for us. (We did pay to have them printed)

How did you conduct the survey?

• We utilized Instagram. With us going to college soon and Camden posting his designs, we have been gaining followers that we don't really know from all around the country (and even the world). We conducted several polls in our stories, asking for peoples raw opinions and criticism of the spaces. 

How did you design the porch?

• We wanted to simply continue the same aesthetic from inside out onto the porch so we utilized similar tables and a sectional. (We weren't asked to do this, we just thought it looked strange leaving the porch empty).

What was the hardest thing to do?

• Camden: We put so much effort and detail into this project that it was hard to decide what to include on our boards and in our presentation versus what we should cut. Our project and details go far beyond what we had time and space to present so figuring out what was the most important and what would really display the scope of our design was quite challenging.

• Cary: While Camden is in Practicum for Interior Design (Year 3) and works at a design firm, I am only in Interior Design 1 so I didn't know how to make the renderings. It was really interesting to learn about his process though as he has been working with SketchUp for over 3 years and has been doing photorealistic renderings for over 1 year. 

How did you make the renderings?

• We first model the spaces in SketchUp, adding the architecture, furniture, and many of the textures. Then we move the file into a render engine called D5 in which we add our final textures and lighting. D5 then renders the images and makes them look real. From there, we put the images into Adobe Photoshop to tweak the colors and add any final small details before we add them to our boards in Adobe InDesign.

Are your woods sustainable?

• Yes, the Kentwood flooring is sustainably sourced from forests in France, and we worked with Benson Hardwood Floors in Austin to learn about the details of how Kentwood sources their materials. Additionally, all for our other wood was either sustainably sourced or reclaimed. The majority of our wood furniture was sourced from sites like FaceBook Marketplace and Craigslist which also makes it sustainable and affordable.

What are your ceiling heights?

• We made most of the rooms 9 foot but wanted to create a more dramatic ceiling in the common area after seeing the elevation so we opted to have it arched to 10.5 feet.

Is there anything you would do differently?

• Camden: Since rendering the rooms I have developed my skills in rendering and found that I prefer the look of rendering using only natural light as it makes the renderings appear more realistic and beautiful. This is also a trick used in professional architectural photoshoots. Due to this, I would love to go back and re-render everything without using artificial lights. 

• Cary: Nope, I love everything we did and wouldn't do anything differently.

Score

At Region (V Texas) we scored low 90's and got 5th place as a result of us not including an elevation and lacking on a few other points. We filled in the gaps though to reach the results we later got.

We got a perfect score at state (Texas) for this project and script and placed 1st. The judges comments were incredibly positive and had very little feedback. 

We placed 1st at nationals and recieved a 99.