Christian Kaufman Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio

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Architecture is not simply a job. It is a lifestyle. It is a way of looking at the world. It is a verb. It is a constant exploration where one looks for and inds inspiration in the world around them, and then applies that inspiration to create something completely new. And that thing we create is beautiful and makes a diference in the world. J. Brantley Hightower


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The Flint Hills Retreat Center was a design submission for the 2014 Bowman Design Forum at Kansas State University. We were tasked with the design of a retreat center sited within the Flint Hills near Alma, Kansas. Utilizing natural forces and the biology of the site as a focal point

I designed the center to mesh with the surrounding landscape. Using the surrounding landscape to inform my architecture rather than setting the building in opposition to it. The walls of all buildings are made of rammed earth and the roofs are semi-intensive structures to allow for prairie

grasses to grow. The retreat center was not intended to be a separation from nature but rather an extension of it. The structures were placed near the highest point at the northern end of the site for views out as well as the maximization of usable daylight and earth integration. All of the


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buildings are partially integrated to minimize temperature swings and utilize the more stable temperature of the earth. The spaces are organized in a radial fashion. Expressing the importance of communal interaction, the most public spaces are placed at the heart of the center. A large

oculus at the heart connects patrons with the sky forming an association with the public aspect of the space while the integrated private spaces form an inverse association with the earth. Along the perimeter, the residential “havens� sit along the southeastern edge, ready to greet the

morning sun. In contrast, the cleansing saunas and washing facilities sit on the western edge, associated with the setting sun. These associations with nature are the key themes of this retreat center, providing cleansing of the spirit and body through natural and communal interaction.


COMMUNITY CENTER The community center is the heart of the compound. Within the center is located all of the dining, health & wellness, and communal interaction space. A courtyard at the heart, containing an oculus, emphasizes the center of the compound.

SAUNA The sauna provides spaces for ritual cleansing and cleaning. Included here are the sauna itself along with showers and laundry spaces. Situated for views of the setting sun, this spaces symbolizes the death and rebirth of the self.

HAVENS The havens are the housing units for the guests of the retreat center. Each building provides spaces for 4 patrons. Along the south eastern edge of each building are meditation spaces where patrons can relect on their experiences during the rising of the sun.

GREETING CENTER & OFFICES The greeting center provides spaces for the check-in and processing of guests as well as the administrative spaces needed by the retreat center staff. It is located along the main axis of the site for easy orientation and identiication by visitors.

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NATURAL RHYTHMS All aspects of the retreat center were designed to maximize the impact of natural forces on the site. Overhangs along the south are designed to block solar gain in the summer and maximize it in the winter. Spaces are organized by solar orientation based on use.

VIEWS OUT Stemming from research done by Richard Neutra. I took the human experience of looking out through tall prairie grasses and applied it to the exterior loop of spaces. Exterior columns are made to look like the waving big bluestem of the area, providing psychological comfort to patrons.

COMMUNITY CENTER Communal interaction is the most important aspect of the retreat center. Recognizing this importance, the community center was placed in the center of the compound with all other private spaces radiating out around it. The center is also raised above the other buildings giving views out to the south.

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This proposal for the new Global Campus Building at Kansas State University was done in collaboration with one of my classmates, Jason Barker. This new building would house the Global Campus part of Kansas State University which deals with online schooling. In addition to

this, a proposal was made to the College of Human Ecology Hospitality Division, and to the Holiday Inn adjacent to the site, to provide spaces for students in Hotel & Restaurant Management to manage a small restaurant as well as some hotel rooms in association with the Holiday Inn.

In order to organize this complex program we separated the Global Campus spaces from those of the Hospitality department. A large atrium acts as the main entrance to the building while simultaneously bisecting the programmatic spaces. The long bar on the east side houses


the Global Campus program. This includes the Dean’s Ofice, Classrooms, Marketing, Financial, and Conference services for the University. On the southern edge of this side of the building is a secondary atrium which provides light and views to the Global Campus Spaces. On the

western side of the building are the spaces for the Hotel and Restaurant Management department. The irst loor contains a small student run restaurant as well as an event space and large classroom. The top two loors contain hotel rooms run by students and which connect

to the Holiday Inn via an inclosed bridge. Small conference rooms extend outside of the building as well as into the atrium spaces bringing the private spaces to the public. This is meant to create a welcoming gateway to the university as well as engage the surrounding community.

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Kansas State University Mission Statement “To foster excellent teaching, research, & services that develop a highly skilled & educated citizenry necessary to advancing the well being of Kansas, the nation, & the international community. The university embraces diversity, encourages engagement, & is committed to the discovery of knowledge, the education of undergraduate & graduate students, & improvement in the quality of life & standard of living of those we serve.�

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This project involved many clients and a large amount of involvement with the administrations from Global Campus and the College of Human Ecology at Kansas State as well as the cooperation of the owner of the Holiday Inn. This project helped expose us to the real demands of projects as well as to generate interest and expose the need for a new building for the Global Campus department to the university board.

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The One-Artist Museum project followed a study tour to New York City in the spring of 2015. We were tasked with designing the museum for a contemporary, living artist following extensive research of the chosen artist’s work. Using this knowledge we came to conclusions

regarding how the artist’s work affects the form, space, and order of the building as well as the implications regarding cultural, contextual, and functional concerns. In terms of context, the site is located along Houston Street, a major artery on the north end of the SoHo district. Along

with the multiple subway entrances around the site, these two contextual elements serve to activate the street around the building making this Museum an important beacon for art. Gerhard Richter’s work serves as an excellent choice for this artistic hub. Being one of the most sought after


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and highest paid artists of our time, a museum dedicated to his work would reinforce SoHo’s history as an artistic and cultural hot-spot. Richter produces works in a variety of mediums from sculptural glass planes to paintings. All are along the same theme of creating an impersonal art

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and that art itself is an imperfect representation of reality. This inluence can be seen easiest in his glass sculptures that bend light and relections to distort the surrounding architectural space. Following Richter’s idea that all of his artwork depicts this same theme of imperfection, all


gallery spaces were made identical to provide a backdrop in which to express this reality. These galleries are separated from the rest of the public spaces of the building and suspended between the two vertical circulation shafts to show prominence and importance. A large wall of channel glass broadcasts these galleries to the surrounding city as well as providing soft, even light to the galleries themselves. By placing other functions including children’s spaces, classrooms, and a cafe within the building, it provides means to draw more people and expose Richter’s art to more diverse and numerous populous. Gerhard Richter believes that the art of painting is dying out in today’s society and the hope is that this increased exposure his artwork as well as multiple opportunities for teaching within this museum will inspire visitors to themselves pursue painting and revitalize this dying art form.

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The Crossroads Campground is a Co-Working and Co-Making space situated in the Crossroads District of Kansas City, Missouri. This stateof-the-art contemporary building nestles within its context rather than dominates it. The orthogonal form of the building as well as the use of lo-

cal, re-claimed brick embraces the site and gives a sense of belonging. Programmatically, the Co-Making shop spaces take up most of the area on the irst loor while the quieter Co-Working spaces are occupied on the second loor. Two service cores located within these spaces pro-


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vide the needed inclosure for some of the more private spaces while still providing necessary adjacency to the other, more public, spaces. Overhead planes on the west side of the building provide shade for the entrance as well as an exterior work yard. These planes can also be lowered to provide enclosure and security for the campground. Skylights on the north and south ends of both the Co-Working and Co-Making spaces provide natural light for occupants. Glass loors directly beneath these skylights allow light to reach the irst level as it washes over the re-claimed brick, celebrating this aesthetic piece. Open loor plans allow for maximum lexibility as well as maximizing the long-life looseit aspects of the building. This encourages occupants in the buildings to organize their own work-spaces as well as increasing collaboration between these tenants. In order to showcase the work of the occupants, the exterior work-yard on the eastern side can be opened up to the street during regular business hours or during “First Fridays.� An event in the Crossroads District in which artists and shops open their wares and are accompanied by music and food. This cultural event has picked up steam in Kansas City and provides an excellent opportunity to adver-


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tise for this building. As part of this comprehensive studio, we were instructed to develop wall sections and details as well as in depth lighting and materials for a “principal space� in the building. For the Crossroads Campground, that was the entrance and event space. Shown here, along with a rendering and internal elevations on the opposite page, the principal space contains a high degree of openness and lexibility present in the rest of the building. The even space in particular can be closed off from the break room and kitchen area by two large, sliding, industrial metal pocket doors. These doors betray their heavy nature by gliding along two tracks on the loor and ceiling for easy movement. A kitchen and front desk nearby services the event space and break area and provides a welcoming presence to all who enter the Crossroads Campground. Along the left hand wall, light iltering down and illuminating the wall provides an intriguing effect for all occupants.

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