Christopher Knauf Architecture + Design Selected Works - 2021
CV
Tel: (218) 280-1124 E-mail: cknauf@comcast.net 1643 W. 48th St. Los Angeles, CA 90062 USA
My name is Chris Knauf and I am a graduate student studying architecture at the University of Southern California. As a returning student, I discovered that everything I ever enjoyed -- sketching, design, photography, computer science, model making, geospatial analysis, map making, construction, renovation, landscaping, problem solving and optimization -- is encompassed in architecture. I often wonder my life would be like had I discovered this sooner. I have diverse interests, but am particularly keen on sustainability and adaptive reuse for greater environmental responsibility. I also feel a responsibility to society, so community engagement and the accessibility of good design for social justice resonates deeply with me. To this end, I dedicate a considerable amount of time developing a non-profit that will provide dignified living and community to the chronically homeless in Memphis, Tennessee.
Education B.Sc. Geology - University of Texas at Dallas - 1995 M.Sc. Management Information Systems - University of Maryland - 2000 M.Phil. Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing - University of Cambridge - 2001 B.F.A. Architecture and Interior Architecture - University of Memphis - 2019 M.Architecture - University of Southern California - 2022
Experience 1996-2017 2006-present 2018-2019 2018-present
Lieutenant Colonel - United States Air Force Pilot - FedEx Express Architectural Intern - Fleming Architects Director - Dignity901
Credentials 2018 2021
USGBC LEED Green Associate NCARB ARE Practice Management Division passed
Contents Residential Hospitality Institutional Civic Design-Build Landscape Artwork Concrete Welding Wood
01 11 20 27 43 44 45 46 47 48
Los Angeles, CA - Fall, 2020
Residential
Intersectionality As Los Angeles is at the intersection of East and West, the University of Southern California finds itself at the intersection of commercial and residential zones. The project site holds this threshold and like in nature, it’s at such thresholds that life is most vibrant. The proposed International House at USC will be a place connections are made and walls are brought down. The surrounding “Collegiate Gothic” context is acknowledged with humorous disdain through a screen of half-tone gothic perforations which embraces the site yet is open to the community. A “Digital Commons” at the community end of the pedestrian mall invites students and neighbors to connect through entertainment and dining. Dense student and affordable housing are integrated with myriad outdoor common spaces, providing opportunities for deeper connection with the community. The International House intersects cultures and classes, making life there vibrant.
1
16 '
- 9"
2
13 '
- 4"
3
16 '
- 11
"
4
13 '
- 1"
5
17 '
- 1"
6
Clinic Mechanical
Laundromat
Cafe
Games
Exhibits
Reading
A
16 ' - 10 "
B
15 ' - 1"
C
15 ' - 1"
D
Bookstore
Reading
Lecture
Conference
UP
Office
Mechanical
Meeting
1st Floor Plan
1st Floor Plan 0
120’
Grids
Intersections
Traffic
Plan to Elevation
DN
Lounge
Grow
2nd Floor Plan
0
Context
120’
Common Room
Common Room
Typical One Bedroom Dorm
0
Typical Two Bedroom Dorm
20’
Materiality
Emphasizing the intersection of public/commercial and private/residential grids, the structural timber towers, aligned with the domestic grid, are clad in brick and redwood that evoke that typology. The circulation, aligned with the downtown grid, is made of a metal that echos an industrial theme and the metal screen that embraces the site is perforated in a half-tone contextual gothic.
North Elevation
0
60’
Longitudinal Section Perspective
0 60’
Transverse Section Perspective
0 60’
CLT Shear Wall Construction Detail
4” CLT floor Metal brackets @ 18” o.c. 5/16” self-tapping screws 6” CLT shear wall 4” rigid insulation Moisture barrier 2” air space
CLT notched for roller blind Flashing Window assembly
2” x 2” vertical battens @ 24” o.c. 2” x 2” horizontal battens @ 24” o.c. 2” x 8” vertical redwood rainscreen Flashing
Brick tie Brick
View from Main Campus at Jefferson and McClintock
View South from Third Floor Balcony
Memphis, TN - Fall 2018
Hospitaity
Library
Staff
Office Lobby
Cafe
Retail Foyer
Video Wall
Ground Floor Plan 0
10’
30’
50’
Adaptive reuse of the Continental Cement plant as a boutique hotel with rooftop bar presents opportunties for views of the Mississippi River and downtown Memphis while leveraging altitude for renewable energy. An adjacent sculpture and spray park invites recreation while connecting the hotel to the local context.
THE
C O N T I N E N T A L
Context Model
Local windspeeds at 150’ above ground capable of producing 54,000kWh/year per turbine, grossing almost $26,000 in electricity
N
10mph
Over four acres of 30’-deep trenched geothermal coils reduces heating and cooling costs 75% over conventional system
Energy Efficiency and Production
4
5 8
6
2
5
9
2
8
3
2
1 Picnic Tables 2 Sculptures 3 Splash Park 4 Bioswale 5 Rain Gardens 6 Performance Space 7 Trolly Stop 8 Parking 9 Bicycle Racks 10 Hotel
1
10
8 9
2 Site Plan
Existing Conditions
7 0
25’
75’
125’
9” reveal with floorceiling channel glass
VONN Talitha 60W FEISS Paulson LED Vanity light four 40W equivalent
Typical Guest Room Reflected Ceiling Plan 0
3’
9’
15’
FEISS Paulson flushmount LED fixture - three 60W equivalent
Juno 6” Recessed LED downlight
Lady7 tunable desk lamp
Robert Sonneman Perno swing arm floor lamp - two LED 150w equivalent
Roo m 416 SF STA FF 194 SF
ME CH 38 S F VEN D ING
Warm exhaust air LED perimeter downlight
Roo m 416 SF
61 S F
Roo m 410 SF
FEISS Paulson LED Wall Sconce - 50W equivalent
UP
Roo m 422 SF
LED perimeter uplight Chill panel
Roo m 410 SF
Cool fresh low speed air
UP
Third Floor Plan 0
5’
15’
Exterior Wall Section 0 0’-6”
1’-6”
2’-6”
Highperformance channel glass
ROPATEC T30PROS 30kW Permanent Magnet Wind Turbine (4)
Vegetation reduces solar heating
Circa Coulesse lounge system
Caruso Silente acoustic panels
Nordic W-Series commericial ground source heat pump with shallow well-field
Low-e multichamber insulating core curtain wall
South-North Sectional Perspective
0
5’
South Elevation
0 5’
15’ 25’
West Elevation
Foyer and Lobby
Rooftop Dining
Memphis, TN - Spring 2018
Institutional
Fire Station = Monastery With classical proportions, warm materials, and a flowing layout, Fire Station #6 is a calming influence for our brave firefighters. The core is an “ambulance module”, expanded circumferentially by Le Corbusier’s Modulor, creating a shape close to the golden ratio. This module is repeated and stacked, resulting in the golden ratio in elevations as well as plans. Vertical louvers blocking the east and west sun evoke another communal building, La Tourette. The rooftop garden with it’s many points of access recalls the Piazza del Campo in Sienna while industrial bar grate and photovoltaics lend a more technological feel and shade what structure is not insulated by the green roof.
Module
Duplicate + Flip
Stack
Screen + Glaze
Rest Leisure Work
A102
1
A102
Fire Station #6
2/28/2018 8:31:29 PM
1
Knauf
Second Floor Plan Scale
DN
UP
Library Kitchen/Dining
Leisure
DN
Storage Chief
DN
Mech
Storage 82
.5
7°
Sprinkler
UP
1
A101 DN
Fitness
Open to below
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
0
5
10
20
Third Floor Plan
30’
West Elevation
North Elevation
North-South Section
East-West Section 0
5 10
20
30’
Roof Garden
Southeast Corner with Signage
Chipboard, basswood, metal mesh, styrene
Memphis, TN - Spring 2019
Civic
With it’s current mausoleum-like feel, the Brooks Museum of Art is poised to move to the rapidly redeveloping riverfront of downtown Memphis. The museum’s growing collection will leave the low ceilings, poor lighting and dysfunctional flow of the existing structure for a new home with abundant natural light and soaring interior experiences while retaining open park space for the community and for a contemplative sculpture garden. This new “Brooks on the Bluff” would be more accessible to the public, reconnecting truncated and confused pedestrain traffic and creating a public promenade, embracing the Mississippi.
OUT OF THE SHADOWS BROOKS ON THE BLUFF
OPEN SCULPTURE PARK ADMIT NATURAL LIGHT
RETREAT FROM TRACKS ALIGN WITH CONTEXT
RECONNECT PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION BEND STRUCTURE ALONG PATH
PIERCE CURATE VIEWS THROUGH STRUCTURE
ELEVATE ALLOW PANORAMIC VIEWS OF RIVER
View Along Major Rift
View to Courtyard
Diverse Exhibition Spaces
First Floor Plan 0
Auditorium at Noon on Winter Solstice
50’
150’
250’
Restaurant Connector
1:60 Context Model - chipboard, plastic, foam, oiled mahogany, copper
1’=1/16” Building Model - chipboard, basswood, acrylic, copper, steel
Memphis, TN - Spring 2018
Civic
Light LIGHT Space Movement SPACE
The Fire Museum of Memphis has expanded without a master plan for decades. Like the Louvre of the early 1980s, it feels fractured, dark, and disorienting. Recalling I.M. Pei’s solution in Paris, this update improves circulation Proposed Entry Pavilion Inserted Inserted Between Existing Structures Entry Pavilion Between Existing Structures and wayfinding through a glazed common Proposed entry comprised of embossed glass panels echoing stamped tin ceiling in the The Firethe Museum of Memphis has expanded without a master plan for original museum. The ticket desk shares decades. Like thespace Louvrewith of the early this screened a gift shop, Circulation Circulation 1980s, it feels fractured, dark, and which adjoins a coffee café screened disorienting. I.M. Pei’s from the Recalling main exhibits by asolution, fire helmet this update improves circulation wall. The dark and compressedand gallery wayfinding through a glazed common and banquet spaces are illuminated and entry made of embossed glass panels Primary Primary connected though a double height atrium echoing the stamped tin ceiling in the with screened skylight above. Secondary Secondary original museum. The ticket deskExcitement shares in the form of a smoldering two-story this space with a gift shop, which ajoins exterior façade risingfrom through the atrium, a coffee cafe screened the exhibits paralleled a ladder fromhelmets. an antique by by a wall of historic fire truck, is balanced by the sobriety of a dark and gallery 9-11The memorial oncompressed the reverse. The and exhibits banquet spaces are connected through may be viewed from various angles while Lighting Lighting aascending double-height atrium with screened a sculptural ADA-compliant skylightswitchback above. A fire truck’s ladder six-run ramp which arrives rises through this space, fighting a on the upper level banquet space, which smoldering building fire. The exhibits is equipped for large functions with its can be enjoyed from various pointsAmbient Ambient new bathrooms and full-service kitchen. Area Area of-view along a sculptural six-run Penetrating the floor plate, a chandelier Task Task switchback ramp rising opposite them. Accent Accent made from hanging fire hoses provides visual interest and opportunities for repose.
MOVEMENT
Entry Connector
E
G
F
E D
E E
Commercial Kitchen with Banquet Space Beyond
A B C D E F G H I
Entry Gift Shop Cafe Lavatory Office Storage Mechanical Memorial Exhibits
D
UP
B
C
A
I
UP
H
I UP
I I
UP
Legend A Entry / Tickets B Gift Shop C Cafe D Lavatory E Administrative F Storage G Mechanical H 9-11 Memorial I Exhibits
1st Floor Plan
First Floor Plan 1 First Floor 3/32" = 1'-0"
North-South Sectional Perspective
ADA Ramp and Exhibits Ramp and Exhibits
1st Floor Reflected Ceiling Plan
First Floor 1 First Floor Scale: 3/32” = 1’-0” Reflected Ceiling Plan 3/32" = 1'-0"
0
Turn-Out Gear Exhibit With Helmet Wall Divider to Coffee Cafe Turn-out Gear Exhibit Screened From Cafe by Helmet Wall
5
10’
Section Model with Scale Firehose Chandelier
Memphis, TN - Fall 2017
William Eggleston’s photography presents unique points of view. Focal lengths may vary, but his careful balance of shapes and colors captured life candidly and made everyday subjects monumental.
LECTURE HALL OFFICE ROTATING EXHIBITS OPEN TO BELOW
OPEN TO BELOW
PATIO
Second Floor Plan
Civic
THROUGH THE LENS
CAFE
This project attempts to resolve, through a 24-degree field of view, his impact on the fabric and landscape of Memphis. As Eggleston’s photography has us look within, his museum is similarly inward-focused and is surrounded by moments of surprise and sensory pause.
Field Of View
Focal Length
Duplicate + Flip
Balance
Screen Shaded Patio
RETAIL
ATRIUM
ARCHIVES
PERMANENT COLLECTION
PARKING
First Floor Plan
0
5
10 15 20
40
60’
A
Section A-A
B
A B
Section-B
North Elevation
0
5
10 15 20
40
60’
Sculptures Outdoor movie screen Museum Amphitheatre
Underground parking access
Truncated roads reconnected with tunnels
Low concrete walls cut by paths
Site Manifestations
Sculptures
Los Angeles, CA - Summer 2020
Design-Build
A portion of a residential rear motorcourt was claimed for recreation with a deck and pergola with inspired by the house’s craftsman aesthetic and the work of architect Fay Jones.
Los Angeles, CA - Summer 2020
Landscape
A missing stairside plinth, broken sidewalk and gravel yard became an opportunity for something more. A custom succulent planter, masonry walk and graywaterirrigated droughttolerant landscape now greets and delights visitors.
Various - 2015 to 2021
Artwork
Charcoal, graphite, conte, watercolor and oil on paper and canvas.
Memphis, TN - Winter 2018
Concrete
A lighting rep’s complementary sample fixture inspired a desk lamp with pen holder made of concrete and red oak. Evoking a CMU, it is a useful companion while producing construction documents.
Memphis, TN - Summer 2017
Welding
Automotive exhaust valves, spark plugs, and motorcycle sprockets become a hat and coat rack.
Memphis, TN - Summer 2016
Wood
A drafting table was needed in a small condominium where the only well-lit locations were in areas of circulation, so a convertible solution was necessary. A single solid wood door was cut into a drafting surface, wall brackets, and a fold-down leg with piano hinges.
cknauf@comcast.net 001-218-280-1124