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katherine janik selected works

katherine

the catholic university of america architecture major sustainability minor

janik@cua.edu 203 . 321 . 5790

I am an architecture student focused on the art of creating spaces that seamlessly connect people with each other and the environment through natural materials, sustainable design, and human-centered thinking. I am a small business owner and artist, a peer to peer educator and healthy relationships activist, an orientation leader, an outdoor enthusiast, and tennis coach.

c o n t e n t

janik

recreation center

willow research diagrams

weaving garden walk

brewery

townhouse

le droit housing

artwork

stepping into georgetown recreation center fall 2020 semester long project studio 301 / douglas palladino georgetown, washington, dc

With the goal to connect Rose Park and Rock Creek, this structure is built into the hill that was previously unused and was a barrier between these 2 parks. The structure uses its form to reach into the landscape and allow for reflective travel between the parks. Each level focuses on a certain aspect of healthy living: garden and food, community

view from rose park

building, and individual growth.

site geometry diagram

paths that bring you to each level and take you into the landscape

massing diagram

double height spaces for circulation

sand process models

6 site plan

southeastern section

southeastern elevation

8 view from rock creek

second floor plan

third floor plan

first floor plan

10 view from southern path

south western section

north eastern section

view from northern path

willow material research diagram of biology, production, and use fall 2021 two week project studio 401 / adam ainslie & andrew linn

harvest, boiling, stripping, and bumdling

This exercise challenged me to think abstractly about representing the world around me in 2 dimensional drawings. I then used this method to create a 3 dimensional space in the same language for my semester building design and master plan.

growth, seasons, roots

I researched the willow tree’s biology, production, and use as an architectural material. Throughout this structural and functional analysis of the willow in these lenses, I used hand drawings to establish a diagrammatic language for the semester. I sharpened my skills to communicate quickly and accurately through hand drawings and diagrams.

erosion, toxins, ecosystems

living wall, structure, properties

weaving, cell structure, texture

weaving garden walk garden center fall 2021 semester long project studio 401 / adam ainslie & andrew linn front royal, va

This project extended my willow research, shown previously by using the design language adapted from it. The task was to revitalize the Virginian town of Front Royal and to develop a thesis based on bringing the people back to the Shenandoah River. I studied food supply in the town and determinied the need for another grocery store and a shift to a healthier lifestyle through an emphasis on nature and healthy food. My solution is a modern garden center that does more than just sell plants. There is a farm-to-table restaurant, an event space, a local goods market, a nursery, educational kitchens, orchards and berry picking, connected by meandering paths throughout the site to encourage people to enjoy nature and explore the grounds.

My final presentation was composed of 4 hand-drawn and painted watercolor papers measuring 22” by 30” each. I chose this unique appproach to my presentation and used the delicate nature of watercolor to highlight the richness of nature and the natural beauty of the garden center. I layered the drawings and paintings to emphasize the concept of weaving that came from my willow tree research. This word weave was very important in my project and is the inspiration for my overall garden design.

The project was anchored by a greenhouse spine that followed the natural topography. This allows people to follow along and observe the workings of a greenhouse while learning how to grow their own food & enjoying the natural beauty of the area.

As shown in this section, the garden center takes advantage of the topography by being built into its slope. This helps the structure to harness the southern sun and take advantage of earth sheltering spaces for storage. The two perspectives show the observation level above and the interactive layer below the greenhouse.

intersecting the process dc brau brewery spring 2020 semester long project studio 202 / carlos reimers washington, dc

perspective from road

This brewery is divided into two distinct parts: the production (constructed as a linear grounding piece) and public space (the intersecting glass structure that allows for public viewing into the beer making process). The angles are taken from the sites’ context and pay respect to the surrounding environment. This brewery allows the visitor to be incorporated into the magic of beer making without tampering with the delicate process.

glass public space intersecting the wood beer making process

double height wood spaces allow for public to look into the production from above

circulation of people and beer production

1. RECEPTION 2. STORE 3. BAR & SEATING 4. COURTYARD 5. BOILING & MASHING 6. OFFICE 7. PUBLIC BATHROOMS 8. EMPLOYEE KITCHENETTE 9. PRIVATE BATHROOM 10. EVENT SPACE 11. OUTDOOR CONCERT SPACE 12. FERMENTATION 13. CONDITIONING & PACKAGING

first floor plan

6 10

10 6 7

9 6 6

east elevation

longitudinal section

1. RECEPTION 2. BOILING 3. BAR 4. MILLING 5. FERMENTATION 6. EVENT SPACE 7. CONDITIONING & PACKAGING 7

section

In the midst of a global pandemic, I designed this townhouse for a group of young adults living in DC & working at home. This townhouse achieves balance through a variety of shared and private office spaces alongside common rooms for socializing. It maximizes daylight through the use of a light well and a large bay window facing the rear. This rowhouse blends well with the others while simultaneously displaying a more contemporary facade.

first floor plan second floor plan

dc rowhouse spring 2021 two week project studio 302 / georgeanne matthews washington, dc

third floor plan

living & working now

perspective from street

embrace affordable housing spring 2021 semester long project studio 302 / georgeanne matthews washington, dc

perspective from ledroit muse

Embrace is an affordable housing complex nestled between the educational and residential sectors of the neighborhood, grounded by the historic, Le Droit Park. A friendly node in the midst of this neighborhood, Embrace offers not only physical connections but also chances for community interaction within the space. It is comprised of 2 parallel buildings connected by community balconies to allow for people to stop and visit with their neighbors as they circulate throughout the building.

engages community with public spaces

courtyard that welcomes le droit

balconies for interactions among residents

connections between sectors

WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN HIGH SCHOOL

HOWARD APARTMENTS W ST NW

2ND ST

4TH ST

site plan

LE DROIT MUSE

V ST NW

COMMUNITY GARDEN

LE DROIT PARK 0'

20' 40'

80'

160'

north elevation

COMMUNITY BALCONY

GYM

COMMUNITY BALCONY

section

COMMUNITY ROOM

FRESH MARKET

16'

32'

W ST NW

FRESH MARKET

first floor plan

MAIL ROOM

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

DAY CARE

0' 4' 8'

16'

LE DROIT MUSE

32'

typical floor plan

GYM

COMMUNITY BALCONY

0' 4' 8'

16'

32'

perspective of courtyard

made gr8 by k8 custom watercolor small business spring 2020-present local artist featured at cedar corners general store stamford, ct

I started a small business during the Covid-19 lockdown as a way to relax and cheer up my friends. I posted a few of my watercolors on Instagram and began to receive requests to do other people’s family and friends. I marketed my artwork on social media and began to take custom orders for birthdays and holidays. I love this style of watercoloring because of the unique simplification it creates of each photo. My style is similar to diagramming where you focus just on what is important and what contributes to the narrative. I look for the features that make each person recognizable and use that to design a small snapshot of their memory with the beauty and grace of watercolors.

janik@cua.edu

203 . 321 . 5790