KAMDEN EKERN interior architecture and product design
PORTFOLIO This is a collection of interior architecture and product design projects that were completed during both graduate school at Kansas State University and a study abroad semester at ELISAVA in Barcelona.
ORIGEN restaurant spring 2017 HARBOR law firm fall 2017 SUMNER high school fall 2018 BIRI side table fall 2017 MOSQUITO packaging spring 2018 LETICIA lounge chair fall 2018
ORIGEN Restaurant Denver, CO Spring 2017 Restaurants across the country have a strong Mexican-themed interior, but serve radically American versions of traditional Mexican food. Origen is the inverse of this trend; its menu boasts authentic options that are served in a contemporary interior. The food is inspired by Mexico City street food, and the drink menu features strictly tequila and rumbased cocktails, Mexican beer and wine. Origen’s goal is for its patrons to experience a delicious, truly Mexican meal at an affordable price. The project’s site is in Denver’s affluent Cherry Creek district, which places it in the middle of a vibrant shopping and arts scene that is easily accessible for all surrounding residents.
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CONCEPT Origen is meant to have an atmosphere that is perfect for groups, couples, or individuals. The initial strategy was to divide the space into zones based on the sizes of tables.
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Entry
Entry
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Kitchen
PLAN The most notable aspects of the plan are the extra long bar that spans the length of the room, and the community-style table that is perpendicular to it. The northwest corner also includes garage doors to take advantage of Denver’s favorable weather. Each of these details create an inviting and social atmosphere for customers.
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LOGO PROCESS
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TA B L E S Y M B O L S
B A R B AC K WA L L
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An even further abstraction of the calendar can be can be seen in the CNC-milled wall behind the bar. The decorative wall is also functional, as beer taps and liquor shelf pegs extrude from the center holes.
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BRAND Origen’s brand was inspired by the beauty and complexity of the xiuhpohualli, the Aztec calendar and its symbols. The restaurant’s symbol is an abstracted version of the calendar, and its smaller symbols are used as identifiers on the corners of tables and receipt clipboards.
HARBOR Law Firm New York, NY Fall 2017 Team of 3 Harbor Law Group is a Government Affairs and Public Policy firm. They strive to assist with legislative, regulatory, investment, and litigation responses to legal issues that their clients encounter. Harbor’s team often collaborates with government officials in drafting new bills and assists candidates with the legal and financial aspects of campaigning. They believe that effective collaboration between corporations, governing bodies, and the public will achieve the best quality results. Their new office design will be used to effectively facilitate this collaboration. My role in the project consisted of interior planning, materials and finishes selections, renderings, and presentation material. A comprehensive space programming report can be found at https://issuu.com/kamdenekern/docs/final_book.
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CONCEPT A driving force behind this design was human connection, collaboration, and comfort. The space is meant to foster non-workrelated relationships, help people work better together, and be happy in their typical workplace.
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BASIC REQUIREMENTS
100 Private Offices
Conference Rooms
Training Room
Reception and Waiting
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Supplementary Staff
Break Room
File Storage
Multipurpose Space
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LEVEL 1 In order to meet the 100 required offices, they were placed into clusters with circulation wrapping them along the outer facade and core walls.
Scanned by CamScanner
Scanned by CamScanner
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R AT I O S Partner Attorney : Associate Attorney / 3 : 1 Attorney : Paralegal / 8 : 1 Attorney : Legal Administrative Assistant / 4 : 1
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LEVEL 2 The second level is purposefully left without a true break room to encourage interactions between people who do not typically collaborate.
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CONFERENCE Left: Open meeting spaces are placed between the office entrances and the exterior, and are used to break up workstations into various departments.
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Below: Large conference rooms are placed on the corners to provide natural light and downtown views. Informal meeting areas are adjacent.
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Left: Small, two part work pods are used for small group collaboration and private work spaces away from one’s assigned desk.
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INFORMAL Above: Building corners are used as informal collaboration spaces and supplementary locations for coffee, copies, and office supply storage.
SUMNER High School Kansas City, Kansas Fall 2018 Fifth Year Capstone, Team of 10 The IAPD Capstone Studio collaborated with Sumner Academy of Art and Science to conceptually redesign the school as a 21st century learning center. This project included a lengthy research and master planning phase that consisted of site visits and focus groups with Sumner Academy students, teachers, and administrators. The master plan was divided into three phases to be completed throughout 15 years; phase one would be basic tenant improvement, phase two a demolition and remodel of the building’s core, and phase three an additional building. Product design was also a requirement. The team was divided to complete each of the requirements, and I was part of the phase two team. While an entirely collaborative process, individual team members also got to take the lead on specific areas. My individually-designed portion of the building was the performing arts center. A complete compilation of the project can be found at www.issuu.com/kamdenekern.
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CONCEPT It was imperative to interpose the new design concepts with the existing historic building to create a functional and visually interesting building that will facilitate Sumner Academy’s continued tradition of academic excellence.
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PROCESS
21st Century Education Research
Site Visit + Focus Groups
Site Analyis + Master Planning
Schematic Design + Design Development
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KEY FOCUSES
More Functional Square Footage
More Efficient Circulation
Interior Graphics + Wayfinding
Reinforced School Identity
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PROJECT PHASING
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Phase 2 | Renovation
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Phase 1 | Tenant Improvement
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Phase 1 | Tenant Improvement
Phase 2 | Renovation
TENANT IMPROVEMENT - space planning - furniture, fixtures, equipment - materials and finishes - graphics and signage
Phase 3 | Addition
REMODEL - redesigned building core - performing arts center and event space - library and student commons - classrooms
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ROOM KEY 1 Teacher Parking 2 Bus Loop 3 Morning Entrance 4 Kitchen 5 Cafeteria 6 Locker Rooms 7 Emergency Exit 8 Swimming Pool 9 Original Gymnasium 10 Theater 11 Green Room 12 Band Room 13 Choir Room 14 Student Commons 15 Administration 16 Computer Lab 17 Library 18 Main Entrance 19 New Gymnasium 20 Balcony 21 Upper Library Commons 22 Roof 23 Solar Panels 24 Outdoor Patio
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3 | Addition
ADDITION - bus loop and main entry - additional parking - additional classrooms - special academic concentrations
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COMMONS Located near the main entrance, this space is utilized before, during, and after school as a waiting area, collaboration space, and alternate classroom. It can easily function as a cave, campfire, or watering hole.
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LIBRARY The two levels were connected with a double height space and living wall to visually connect the variety of collaborative and private work spaces. Its south facing facade naturally lights the entire space. CAFETERIA Upgrades to the finishes, furniture, ceiling elements, graphics, and lighting made the cafeteria a higher functioning space that could seat more students at a time, which is necessary for the school’s growth.
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CLASSROOM Furniture selection was the most important part of the classroom designs because it must effectively pair with the nature of the course material as well as the variety of pedagogies that teachers may choose to implement.
T H E AT E R The new theater is adjacent to the set and prop shop, event space, band, and choir classrooms. Curved gypsum walls and curved mahogony grill ceiling are used to evenly distribute and direct sound.
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CLASSROOM Mobile standing height tables were selected for both the art room and science classrooms for their mobility that will be useful while conducting experiments or creating large artwork.
BIRI Side Table Spring 2017 Biri is inspired by the simple geometry and construction of contemporary Scandinavian furniture. Its timeless style fits seamlessly into a variety of commercial and residential interiors. It is meant to appear as if no hardware was used to construct it; this is nearly true, as only one screw is needed to make each leg, and it is hidden by dowel cap to create the look of traditional joinery. The legs are also held tightly in the tabletop without use of glue or hardware, and could easily be tapped out if it became necessary to disassemble it. The final product was constructed with red oak. As a commercial product, it would be offered in a variety of sizes and material combinations.
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CONCEPT As a commercially sold table measuring 12”L x 12”W x 18”H, its simple style is complemented the option to customize. Buyers would be given the option to choose individual legs and tops to create the ideal table aesthetic for their space.
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PIECES
C U S T O M I Z AT I O N
CONSTRUCTION
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MOSQUITO Takeout Packaging Mosquito Restaurant - Barcelona Spring 2018 Team of 3 This project was completed during my study abroad semester at ELISAVA. Mosquito is an existing Asian-fusion tapas restaurant in El Born neighborhood in Barcelona. The assignment was to create the perfect takeout package for their restaurant. Team were required to design the physical package as well as its graphic design. Materials, ease of manufacturing, relevancy to the food type, and usability were all necessary to consider. My primary responsibility was to design the concept for physical package and how it could be constructed.
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CONCEPT This solution is a combination of three key concepts: origami, bento boxes, and Indian dabbawalas. The goal was to honor the nature of a tapas meal while making it easily transportable, recyclable, and perfect for sharing.
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Chop sticks provide handle strength
Handle sticks to sides and bottom
Lid fits snugly on top
Container holds up to four tapas
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Cardboard with wax inner coating
Unfolds and Tears for sharing
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LETICIA Lounge Chair Spring 2017 Inspired by the distinct furniture styles of the 1950s, this lounge chair is constructed with red oak and uses only mortise and tenon joints. The woven canvas seat is stretched through slots in the frame and looped around small dowels. The frame and arms were designed in Rhino and CNC cut to achieve symmetry and fit each piece perfectly together. Leticia is meant to be the perfect chair for leaning back and reading. Users sit just inches off of the ground so that the legs can comfortably bend or stretch out. The chair arms are placed at a comfortable height for both the user’s arms to rest on them and to avoid neck and eye strain when looking at a book or screen.
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FRONT
SIDE
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3/8” Dowel Canvas Frame
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S E C T I O N - S E AT A P P L I C AT I O N
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MISC Art and Design N/A
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I grew up with a love for fine art, and I always spent as much free time as possible drawing and painting. It’s a special opportunity to be commissioned work and create something that is one of a kind for someone. My college experience has led me to have a deeper interest in product design, which I got to explore with multiple projects during study abroad. I’ve also been fortunate enough to use my love for graphic design in practice by creating logos and art for businesses and bands.
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INTRODUCTION_1
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“Floating On”
Table Lamp
IKEA Transformation
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“Difference Maker”
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“The Louvre”
Branding
Cover Art
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“Sagrada Familia”
THANK YOU