Emily Ridinger

The exterior shows a brick building with a covered patio area. On the left is a sculpture that resembles the outlines of two birds. On the right is a white, vertical, illuminated sign that reads, “The Song Bird. ”

This is Engine House 6–the building that is home to “The Song Bird. ” Sculptures and illuminated signage echo its brand identity on the exterior, which sets the tone for the interior of the project.

The reception/lounge area shows an open, vertical space with a curved staircase on the left. On the right, a reception desk stands in front of a wide hallway that leads back to an open studio. In the middle, tall, linear structures in different shades of magenta connect the music studios on the bottom and the reflection pods on top. Wood slats wrap the structure in the middle. Acoustical lighting in the shape of birds hang from the second to the first floor.

The lobby/reception area acts as the first human touchpoint for the women coming in. Right away, the user’s eyes are drawn upward to see the vertical connection between the practice music studios and the reflection pods. The architectural forms in this space resemble a deconstructed piano/organ, immersing the user in the purpose behind the design.

The cafe shows a long, stone counter with pastries on it. Behind the counter, is a wall of instruments including a guitar, bass, and violin. On the right are small, circular tables seating as well as a garage door that leads to the outdoor seating area. There is also recessed lighting in the wall by the door in the shape of a large treble clef. The overall colors in this space are different shades of blue, gray, and pops of magenta.

The cafe is the only space that is open to the public. The purpose behind it is to bring the community in while also generating revenue to advance the mission of the Song Bird. This space is complete with outdoor seating and a music library where people can rent instruments.

The social lounge shows the wooden reflection pods on the left. In the center is soft seating with acoustic panels hanging from the ceiling. There is also a privacy wall that separates the lounge from the restrooms. In the foreground on the right is a smaller lounge space complete in pastel blues and pinks, and a lit sign that reads “SB. ”

This is the upstairs social lounge. The entrances of the reflection pods are in this space, but the main purpose of this lounge is to foster community. This is one of the only spaces in the program that doesn’t revolve around music and solely focuses on social connection.

The “Nest” shows an open studio space, with an organically shaped wooden ceiling. All of the walls are made out of frosted glass to allow natural light in but ensure privacy. The floor is a geometric navy and white tile. In the front right, a pink, hanging egg chair offers some seating in the space. In the middle are guitar stands, and in the back right is a drum set.

This is a community music studio called “The Nest.” This space provides a more private studio space separate from the rest of the building. Here, woman can learn and connect with others to strengthen not only their skills but also their sense of community. From a bird’s eye view, the shape of this structure resembles a grand piano, continuing the music motif.

A building section reveals the vibrant magenta and blue tones of this project. It runs the length of the building to show almost all of the spaces. The area on the farthest left is the cafe with its outdoor seating, and the farthest right is “The Nest. ” From the sky, a beam of light shines into the reflection pods through the light well.

This is a building section that shows the different relationships among the spaces. It also displays the light wells that flow into the reflection pods, which reflect the beauty of the healing process and offer a biophilic element.

The stack diagram is rendered which reveals the blues, pinks, and wood tones that cover the organic geometry. The floor plans are in a watercolor style, and show the layout of the space, which has two hallways that serve as connection points between the spaces. Almost all of the walls are curved, so the path of travel feels organic and easily leads from the front to the back entrance.

This stack diagram and these floor plans show the overall layout of the space. The flow of the floor plan reflects the song, “Silently Coping” by Gregor F. Narholz and mimics its dynamics to poetically immerse the users into the space.

The Song Bird

Located in Franklinton, “The Song Bird” is dedicated to supporting women who are survivors of human trafficking. Designed for those graduating from programs like “Sanctuary Night” or “Out of Darkness, ” my program focuses on the mental and emotional restoration of these women through the learning of music and community music therapy accompanied by employment opportunities. At its core is a cafe with an a-joined instrument “library” that encourages community engagement while providing access to affordable instruments. The cafe will also serve as a source of funding for my project and offer employment to the women. The design itself includes spaces like casual meeting areas, practice rooms, a small performance area for the public to rent, and more third spaces. The function of the space transforms to reach more demographics within the community. The vision for this project stems from my life-long love of music and the undeniable impact it has had on my mental health. I aim for this project to help these women feel seen and empowered, recognizing the transformative power of music and community on the mind, body, and soul. To strengthen my design, I have utilized research strategies like case studies, scholarly journals, and an observation study. I also have focused on organizations like Sanctuary Night and Freedom a La Carte, while exploring theories on music therapy in the context of interior space planning, material selection, and acoustics.

Emily Ridinger is a fourth-year student at The Ohio State University who is earning a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and a minor in Art History. Emily is passionate about serving others through designing accessible and sustainable spaces for all people. Throughout her time at Ohio State and multiple internships, she has strengthened her skills in space planning, concept development, 3D modeling, and furniture/material selection.

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