Experience and interior design
Collaboration with Olivia Olsson and Leticia Penadés López
Mentors: Peter Vanooteghem, Erik Roger
Belgium 2022
SiTCA is a simulation centre at Odisee university, where medical students are put through different scenarios to train their skills. The building features two simulation rooms and one experience room, where simulations with mannequins take place. These rooms also feature one-way windows to observation rooms, where lecturers can talk through the mannequins as if they were patients, while also observing the overall behavior of students during an exercise. The building is scheduled for renovations in 2025.
The Challenge
Design a new layout for the SiTCA building, with a focus on the experience rooms and reception area.
Creative process
We kicked off the project with a client meeting to identify their specific needs: less conventional experience and observation rooms, a more logical building layout, and a cozy lounge/kitchen area. Following the meeting, we conducted research on Belgian home interiors to ensure our designs would fit seamlessly within that context.
Next, we explored various layouts, marked potential furniture arrangements, and created both digital and physical mood boards featuring material samples to gather client feedback on the overall ambiance. After finalizing the details and integrating client feedback, we constructed the model in Revit, prepared a presentation, and organized other materials for submission to SiTCA for them to use during the renovations.
Final design
Given that the existing building will be demolished, we developed a new layout while preserving the original shell. The simulation and experience rooms are strategically placed above each other on their respective floors, with the catering area and lounge spaces kept separate to aid navigation and provide a more immersive experience for students. Our primary focus was on designing the reception/catering area and the experience rooms, while the remaining spaces have been organized but not fully detailed.
Our plans will serve as the foundation for the renovation scheduled to begin in 2025.
The reception and catering/lounge area consists of one open room, which is divided by partly see-through shelves. The space has a lot of windows to open up the space, let light in and bring nature closer. Kitchen area features two tables which can be rearranged to fit more than 20 people.
The overall "Hipster" style was chosen by students and staff. The decorations, cushions and other details follow the theme, but the core elements like fixed furniture, floor and walls are kept plain, so the space would not require expensive renovations, if changes are needed in the future.
The two hallways leading up to the experience rooms aim to create a more realistic experience for the students. The first hallway looks like a street and the second hallway looks like the interior of an apartment. This means that before entering the experience rooms, students can already switch their mindset from a school environment to a simulation. It is also possible to use the hallways for exercises.
The first experience room can host two different simulations - elderly home and a dorm room. Switching between scenarios will only take around 5 minutes by reversing the bedsheets, paintings, carpet and changing photographs. The experience room is wheelchair friendly, which is achieved by having expandable and retractable doorways.
The one-way windows to observation rooms will have a thin see-through panels on them (similar to ads on buses), which means that students cannot see lecturers, but lecturers can clearly observe the exercise. This will create a more realistic experience for the students. Observation rooms will have a window for fresh air and sound absorbing panels, so that lecturers can speak freely.
The second experience room can host scenarios involving newborns or toddlers. To switch the scenarios, the toys and width of the bed can be changed. There is also direct access to a big storage space through a door which is disguised as a shelf.
Since there is an "apartment hallway" connecting the two rooms, then it is also possible to use the two experience rooms and the bathroom as one apartment to host a bigger exercise.
Since there is an "apartment hallway" connecting the two rooms, then it is also possible to use the two experience rooms and the bathroom as one apartment to host a bigger exercise.
