Gina Hicks Interiors: Camp Laugh-a-lotta

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

CONCEPT STATEMENT

At Camp Laughalotta we believe that laughter is the universal language. Laughter cures most ills, is highly contagious and can melt even the most hardest of hearts. Our mission at camp is to fully develop the stages of laughter (from the teeniest tinkling of a twitter to the big bold nose chortling and belly guffaws.) We take this laughing business pretty seriously.

MOOD

Fun, playful, colorful define the mood and feel for the camp.

EXTERIOR OF ACTIVITY CENTER

1ST FLOOR FLOOR PLAN

The idea for the Bienenstock Furniture Library competition was to create a bold and vibrant activity center at Camp Laughalotta that was fun, kid-friendly, and accessible for all. Detail to texture including walls and flooring were pivotal in assisting the vision impaired. A stage that also serves as elevated seating includes a wheelchair accessible ramp with a dressing room and storage in the back. A nurse's station with frosted and colored tempered glass provide an open and playful feel while still allowing privacy to those inside receiving first aid for minor cuts, scrapes and general booboos. The tables can quickly be folded away and packed into the the storage facility along with the 30 brightly colored metal stackable chairs. Cubbies provide storage for the campers while colorful cabinets provide additional stowaway for crafting materials and games. Fun, tongue-in-cheek rules are displayed along the walls in colorful poster prints. The additional seating on the stage is for select campers to sit in at meals or at craft time, and are designated as special award seating.

Requiring immediate proximity to the entry of the activity center is the nurse's station, and adjacent to the nurse's station are the two accessible restrooms. The restrooms needed to be located within a certain distance to the exterior walls. The stage sits in the middle of the first floor and to the front of the stage are tables and chairs that can quickly be packed away to create open space or audience seating for special presentations.

Special attention was given to flooring, furniture and finishes. Although there would seem to be an equal emphasis on color, the color green actually received top billing. As in GREEN, eco, sustainable.

FURNITURE SELECTIONS

First aid blankets