Loom & Thistle
Concept Statement:
Loom & Thistle is a locally owned business that specializes in the restoration and preservation of traditional Navajo weavings, bringing significant historical artifacts back to their original condition while also providing a variety of original designs available for purchase. Using local wool, yarn and traditional weaving practices from the Navajo culture keeps the traditions alive and connects the artist and the user back to their ancestors. Incorporating neutral colors derived from nature helps drive the designs of these textiles, the Navajo people and communities have a strong connection to nature, and the many significant symbols it contains.
Brand Identity:
Loom & Thistle connects to the traditional ways of the Navajo weave, embedding the emotional and cultural connection to weaving into their everyday practices. The showroom is a highly inviting space with many different seating options for collaboration and meetings with clients. Keeping the environment near the loom in an open and positive environment to link the generations of Navajo families together by the healing powers that the space of the loom can create.
Sustainability Promise:
As a business Loom & Thistle cares highly for the environment and sustainability and aims to be a highly green-focused business. With our efforts to conserve and restore original Navajo weavings, we are able to work and bring back textiles to perfect condition with local and sustainably sourced materials, all dyes are toxin-free and derived from natural elements and overall our projects use fewer materials.
IDEC 2021 Student Design Competition
Final Design Competition
Documents
Textile Restoration
Mood Board:
Neutral
Mellow
Timeless
Sustainable
Living Room
Level 1
Looming Studio
+ Showroom
Cash + Wrap
Office
Photo + Storage
Dining + Collaboration
Floor Plan:
Designing this floorplan was a challenge because of how narrow each shipping container is, clearance around furniture was very important to ensure the client had enough room to move around, trying to keep the plan open concept was also crucial to make the spaces feel larger.
Kitchen
Half Bath
Guest Bed
Master Bed
Closet
+ Laundry
Full Bath
Level 2
Site Plan:
Location: Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah
LEED Smart Location:
The project is located on an infill site in the heart of Downtown Salt Lake City's Arts District, the site has existing water and wastewater infrastructure already implemented.
The lot is located near a variety of public transportation services, with a bus station (125015) 0.1 mi away and the courthouse light rail station located 0.3 mi away. All of these public transportation services provide service daily during both weekdays and weekends.
The site plan shows nearby neighborhood assets within a 0.5 mi radius including restaurants, entertainment, markets, and healthcare buildings.
LEED Connected and Open Community:
Located in an existing city and in an arts district where there are many existing studios around encouraging young artists to connect and form a community, it also encourages people in the area to get out and explore local artists.
Looming Studio & Showroom: This space within the studio is meant to feel safe and comfortable for both the primary user and guests. The open bright space offers a great first impression when entering the studio and sets the tone for the rest of the spaces, the gallery wall gives visitors a look at the artist's work in a quick and easy way and the spotlights give a clear look at each textile.
Additional Hallway:
In order to connect the two main level shipping contains in the form that I was planning I needed to add a connecting hallway. This hallway is large steel-cased windows on both sides allowing for lots of natural light and adding architecturally to the shape and look of the building. This space is not functional for any textile making but rather to add ease to the user. Stairs were added to reach the second residential level.
Cash & Wrap:
An open and inviting space, this being the first space that you walk into when entering Loom & Thistle we made it very bright and airy by including tons of windows to allow for natural light to spill in throughout the day, the bright light in this space enhances productivity and allows for an efficient workspace. This space is used both for checking out customers' purchases, daily computer work, and wrapping up any online orders that had been placed. Having lots of storage underneath the countertops for wrapping paper, boxes, tape and, other packing supplies were necessary, along with keeping everything within easy reach
Photography Studio & Textile Storage:
Has all the necessary storage for all of the textile makers' yarn, completed textiles, inspirational items, and photography accessories. Included a skylight for additional natural light in a typically dark space. Photo backdrop can be interchanged between different styles and colors and additional photograph artificial lighting was added to take high-quality images of finished textiles.
Materials & Finishes:
When choosing the materials and finishes for this space the goal was to keep everything fairly neutral with warm-toned accent colors such as: red, orange and, yellow. These tones are seen within the runner rug and leather, as well as the hardwood floors used throughout most of the spaces, and all the rugs placed throughout are original Navajo textiles that have been repaired and used in the space to accent the purpose of Loom & Thistle. All the hardwood flooring is repurposed and refinished. The blue tile as the kitchen backsplash was included to break up the warm tones without having too much where it would clash. All tile is from Fireclay Tile who produces its tiles from 100% renewable or reused resources and is a certified B-Corp.
Dining & Collaboration Space:
This space features a large dining room table big enough to fit 12 people and can be used in many different ways such as meals, collaboration with clients, meetings, and events. Having this main central space creates a place for clients and designers to come together and collaborate on a project to ensure its perfect for their needs. This room also offers a coffee bar towards the back of the room with a variety of options for guests.