Ryan A. Kahen ryan.kahen@gmail.com 203_927_7739 www.kahendesign.com
Education Wentworth Institute of Technology_Boston, MA Master of Architecture Bachelor of Science in Architecture Study Abroad Program_Berlin, Germany
May 2013 Aug 2012 Fall 2011
Experience Project Manager_A05 Studio_Brooklyn, NY Project Designer and Manager Lead Project Fabricator Founder_Kahen Design_Brooklyn, NY Handcrafted product design and manufacturing Material research and development Designer_SITU_Brooklyn, NY Project Designer and Manager Fabrication Manager Lead Project Fabricator Designer_Matter Practice_Brooklyn, NY Project Designer and Fabricator Prototyping, fabrication, and installation of various projects Freelance Fabricator_SITU_Brooklyn, NY 2013 Beaux Arts Ball installation Fabrication and installation of the environment Fabrication Technician_Wentworth Institute of Technology_Boston, MA Aid for model shop Maintain fabrication tools (3-axis CNC mill, laser cutter, woodshop) Monitor Shop Use Modeling Consultant_Geosyntec Consultants_Boston, MA 3D Modeling and Rendering Consultant Constructed 3D models using Various Modeling softwares Produced realistic renderings used in marketing services Helped develop Remote Reality for OptiRTC
Skills Software_Rhino 3D, Grasshopper, AutoCAD, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Google Sketchup, Microsoft Office Suite Hardware_CNC milling, laser cutting, 3D printinting, wood shop, metal shop
March 2019 – Present
Feb 2014 – Present
Oct 2014 – March 2019
Sept 2013 – Oct 2014
Sept 2013
Aug 2013 – Sept 2013
Apr 2012 – Dec 2012
Encode Engage School: Wentworth Institute of Technology Location: Boston, MA Completion: 2012–13
Our current digital age has considerably affected the ways in which we operate as humans. Information technologies have increased the speed of our cities through the ways in which we access, share, and communicate data. The use of mobile technology, specifically the smartphone, has been a key component of this progression into the digital age. These technologies have become situated within our daily lives, causing a shift in the way we engage with both our space and one another.
Mother Component Mother Component
Connection Wires Connection Wires
Daughter Component Daughter Component
Through the study and experimentation of sensorial technologies, this thesis aims to bridge the gap between the virtual and the physical. Our cities are embedded with sensing technologies, collecting environmental, social, and infrastructural data that is used as a way to monitor our cities, ensuring safety and efficiency. While these technologies are already situated within our urban fabric, we as the users do not have a direct relationship with them. We become the observed rather than becoming an active participant in our city. Rather than having our embedded technologies simply collect data, they can be used to create an environment that both recognizes and responds to us as the users. With a dialogue initiated by an input/output system we can create a new relationship between people, technology, and architecture. Through the medium of installation, a new artificial atmosphere is created, encouraging curiosity, active participation, and exploration within the fabricated environment.
5V DC Brushless 5V DC Brushless Fan Actuator Fan Actuator
Connection Wire Connection Wire
Light Emitting Light Diodes Emitting Diodes (LEDs) (LEDs)
Arduino Microcontroller Arduino Microcontroller
Light Emitting Light Diodes Emitting Diodes (LEDs) (LEDs)
0.25 in. Plexi Glass 0.25 in. Plexi Glass Structure Rings Structure Rings
0.25 in. Plexi Glass 0.25 in. Plexi Glass Structure RibsStructure Ribs
Lightweight Inflatable Lightweight Inflatable Fabric Skin Fabric Skin
0.25 in. Plexi Glass 0.25 in. Plexi Glass Structure Rings Structure Rings
0.25 in. Plexi Glass 0.25 in. Plexi Glass Structure RibsStructure Ribs
Lightweight Inflatable Lightweight Inflatable Fabric Skin Fabric Skin
Passive Infrared Passive (PIR) Infrared (PIR) Motion Detection Motion Sensor Detection Sensor
Connection Wires Connection Wires
Electret Microphone Electret Microphone Sensor Sensor
1:1 Detail Mother 1:1 Detail Component Mother Component with one of threewith Daughter one ofComponents three Daughter Components
Connection Connection Wires Wires
5V DC Brushless Fan Actuator
5V 5V DC DC Brushless Brushless Fan Fan Actuator Actuator
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
Light Light Emitting Emitting Diodes Diodes (LEDs) (LEDs)
Arduino Microcontroller
Arduino Arduino Microcontroller Microcontroller
0.25 in. Plexi Glass Structure Rings
0.25 0.25 in. in. Plexi Plexi Glass Glass Structure Structure Rings Rings
0.25 in. Plexi Glass Structure Ribs
0.25 0.25 in. in. Plexi Plexi Glass Glass Structure Structure Ribs Ribs
Lightweight Inflatable Fabric Skin
Lightweight Lightweight Inflatable Inflatable Fabric Fabric Skin Skin
Encode Engage
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Wentworth
The central component houses the micro controller, 4 LEDs, a PIR sensor, and a 5V DC fan to translate environmental stimuli into a direct output response.
Encode Engage Wentworth
Multiple sensors were used in this installation to collect data and initiate responses based on human engagement. Infrared sensors detected a person’s location in space, awakening the installation. As the user enters the personal zone of each component, the embedded LED lights glow and the piece inflates, creating a canopy overhead. An electret mic detects and translates speech into a visual output, adding dynamic light pulses to highlight communication and social interaction.
Based on a 10 day-long trip through New York City, Big Bend National Park, and Marfa, Texas, this installation was a means of translating our experiences. These works are the product of a collaboration among our fall 2012 Special Topics Studio class with Samantha Altieri, Viviana Bernal, Erblin Bucaliu, Katherine Bujalski, Brittany Carey, Kristen Giannone, Mark Morin, Bao Nguyen, Samantha Partington, Charles Simmons, Liem Than, Robert Trumbour (instructor), Alex Cabral and myself. This studio aimed to capture the findings— including drawings, sensory data, and emotional mappings—recorded by the group and through working at a 1:1 scale, represent them in a built form.
in Relation School: Wentworth Institute of Technology Location: Boston, MA Completion: 2012
STEEL CONDUIT PIPE : 0’
6” TRIANGULATED GRID : 0’
The installation created a field condition to allow the user to experience a sensation of compression and release. Through the use of low-tech materials and high-tech design tools, we created a system utilizing bent PVC tubing that would then populate the site. The system was comprised of an isometric grid at the base plane that set up an even framework to build upon. A group of pipes bundled together at midheight and steel pipes pushed the PVC pipes outward to create a canopy.
A
STEEL BANDING : 5’
TOP BRACKET : 10’
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A SITE PLAN 2
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TOP TRIANGULATED GRID : 13’
in Relation Wentworth
Using the parameters set up within this system, clusters could be generatively arranged to create varying densities throughout the site based on selected nodes. The final arrangement allowed for the user to create their own experience as they meandered through the installation.
Turntable Lab Storefront
Client: Turntable Lab Company: SITU Location: New York, NY Completion: 2017 Photography: John Muggenborg
As a designer at SITU, I worked with Turntable Lab—A DJ shop and retailer of hi-fi audio equipment —to realize their new storefront in the East Village. This project was designed for maximum flexibility and with the ambition of uniting various aspects of the business, creating a place to showcase high-end audio equipment, while maintaining the charm of a neighborhood record store.
Storefront Turntable Lab
We divided the store into two zones—a display of high end equipment and collection of vinyl records—allowing users to directly engage with Turntable Lab’s curated selection of products. The front-of-house zone features large display cabinets to showcase a range of hi-fi turntables, speakers, and high performance audio accessories. The back-ofhouse is lined with record shelves and browsing bins for users to comfortably peruse through a thoughtful curation of vinyl. Each zone caters to the variety in Turntable Lab’s customer base, while bridging the gap between DJ enthusiasts and audiophiles.
A universal cleat system was developed with a family of interchangeable shelves, hooks and display rails to suit the requirements of existing and future merchandise. This kit of parts allows for flexibility in product display and spatial configurations, offering Turntable Lab growth for a continually growing industry.
Storefront Turntable Lab
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Mobile browsing bins and display walls can be quickly rearranged, opening up the space for live performances and other events in the confined space.
Storefront Turntable Lab
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This modular system creates a framework for Turntable Lab to grow with their ever-adapting needs as retailers and a community space for audiophiles.
Whitby Makerspace
Company: SITU Client: Whitby School Location: Greenwich, CT Completion: 2016 Photography: Patrick Mandeville
Designing with SITU, I developed a new makerspace at the Whitby School for students of all ages to tinker, experiment, learn and explore. Situated within their existing library, the project aimed to rethink traditional programming and allow for Whitby’s hands-on approach to learning. The latticed plywood rib structure forms a shell to house activity while providing for a variety of ideation tools,such as whiteboards, book storage and displays for student work. Utilized by students for class projects, independent learning, and after-school activities, this makerspace blurs the boundary between work and play.
Whitby School 27
Makerspace
BACK FACE SEAM
LAP JOINT, GLUED AND BOLTED
BOLT CONNECTIONS
STEEL MENDING PLATE
FRONT FACE SEAM
PLYWOOD RIB STRUCTURE FIELD LAP JOINT
BOLT LOCATIONS
1 1/2” PLYWOOD RIB SEGMENT
SHOP LAP JOINT TYP. U.O.N. STEEL MENDING PLATE BRIDLE JOINT
STEEL FOOTING
LAP JOINT RIB SEAM RIB SEGMENT BOLT CONNECTION STEEL FOOTING
Makerspace 29 Whitby School
Construction methods are revealed in the structure with the intention that students can explore and investigate these. The wedged ribs are formed from CNC-milled plywood segments, interlocking overhead to create a pavilion that is both structural and dynamic. Shared work surfaces, along with built-in nooks, allow students to embed themselves within the rib structure and create their own space for learning.
Columbia Schoo
ol of Journalism
Company: SITU Client: Columbia University Location: New York, NY Completion: 2017 Photography: Š Michael Moran/OTTO
Acoustic Ceiling C -9 C -1 2 A
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C -2 0
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C -1 A
C -7 A
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C -1 2 A
C -1 .2
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C -1 2
C -1 2 A
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C -1 0
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C -1 4 C -1 2 A
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The ceiling was fabricated with ezoBord, a light-weight acoustic material made from recycled water bottles. Each panel was precisely cut utilizing CNC technologies and formed around a custom bent aluminum framework.
Columbia School of Journalism
Working as a designer and lead fabricator at SITU, I produced a performative acoustic ceiling installation at Columbia’s School of Journalism. Comprised of over 100 coffered panels, the ceiling creates a new landscape for the recently renovated Joseph D. Jamail Lecture Hall. The coffers allow for integrated lighting, sound systems, HVAC, and projection equipment.
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01
SF-912
SF-911
20' - 8 7/8" EXISTING CEILING 15/16" T-GRID
17'-2 3/4" BOTTOM EXIST. GYP. 2 "T Y P13 /4 "
17'-0" BOTTOM OF TEE GRID 15' - 9 3/8" SUSPENDED CLG PLANE
1/2" EZOBORD PANEL, WHITE (OF07)
SUSPENDED LED LIGHT PANEL
8' - 8 1/4" BOTTOM OF GYP SOFFIT
PROJECTOR
0' - 0" SUB FLOOR
01
01
SF-910
SF-912
21' - 7 3/8" EXISTING CEILING 15/16" T-GRID UNISTRUT LIGHTING SUPPORT
17' - 0" BOTTOM OF TEE GRID STRUCTURE 15' - 9 3/8" SUSPENDED CEILING PLANE
1/2" EZOBORD PANEL, WHITE (OF07) SUSPENDED LED LIGHT PANEL
9' - 7 1/4" T.O. PROJECTOR PLATFORM 8' - 8 1/4" MEZZANINE BEAM
0' - 0" SUB FLOOR
Columbia School of Journalism 35
Acoustic Ceiling
Line Phono
Client: Line Phono Company: SITU Completion: 2017 Photography: Courtesy of Turntable Lab
Speaker Stands
LEGS X2
BOTTOM PLATE X1
4.5 UNITS PER SHEET SAMPLE CUT SHEET
SAMPLE CUT SHEET 4.5 UNITS PER SHEET
In a continuing collaboration with Turntable Lab, I designed the Line Phono Speaker Stands to accompany their Turntable Station. Line Phono is a flat-pack furniture line for turntables and audio accessories for the newest generation of audiophiles.
TOP PLATE X1
X1 TOP PLATE
X1 BOTTOM PLATE
X2 LEGS
Turntable Lab 39
Speaker Stands
The stands are designed with a multitude of users in mind. With only four CNC-milled parts to slot together, assembly is quick and effortless. Applying the joinery techniques and minimal hardware of the Turntable Station, a triangular stand was developed to add new functionality and flexibility.
Speaker Stands 41 The top platform is sized to fit most bookshelf and bluetooth speaker setups with the base plate offering record storage and a ‘now spinning groove’ to display your favorite album artwork. Cable management holes are strategically located, with the option to either showcase the user’s high-end cables or neatly hide them away.
Turntable Lab
Clear acrylic anglers were also designed as a paired accessory to the speaker stands.
NY NOW Displays
Client: Shea Brand Company: Kahen Design Location: New York, NY Completion: 2018
Working with Shea Brand—a Brooklyn-based organic skincare company—I designed and fabricated display towers and accessories for their booths at NY Now and the Indie Beauty Expo. The towers are comprised of a blackened steel base with a custom-cast concrete top. I developed a fiber-reinforced concrete blend to ensure strength while allowing for control of color and texture. Natural and tinted concrete mixes were blended to create a refined yet visually textured backdrop for Shea Brand’s vibrant products and packaging. A trio of bent steel risers, acrylic stands and concrete blocks were fabricated to complement the towers as tabletopdisplays for smaller items above.
Shea Brand 45
NY NOW Displays
Concrete Jewelry
Company: Kahen Design Location: Brooklyn, NY Completion: Ongoing
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Speaker Stands
Name: Cube Pendant Dimension: 0.5” Series: Geo
Name: House Pendant Dimension: 0.75” Series: Dwellings
Name: Tetra Pendant Dimension: 0.75” Series: Geo
Name: Brownstone Pendant Dimension: 0.875” Series: Dwellings
Name: Octa Pendant Dimension: 0.75” Series: Geo
Name: Turf House Pendant Dimension: 0.5” Series: Dwellings
Concrete Jewelry 49 Kahen Design
Drawing inspiration from my architectural background, I have designed a series of cast concrete jewelry pieces. Each piece is handmade using custom molds and a jewelry grade concrete recipe, resulting in a lightweight and highly detailed pendant. These works utilize a combination of digital manufacturing and traditional craft techniques.
Concrete Dwellings
Company: Kahen Design Location: Brooklyn, NY Completion: Ongoing
Concrete Dwellings 53 Kahen Design
Building upon the Dwellings line of concrete jewelry, a set of houses were created as a homeware collection. The cast concrete house paired with a removable walnut roof—can be used as an incense burner, tealight candle, or small planter. A custom concrete blend was developed to produce a lightweight yet durable piece.
Hardware Furniture
Company: SITU Client: Private Tech Company Location: Mountainview, CA Completion: 2018 Photography: SITU
Private Tech Company 57
Furniture
Furniture 59
Working as a designer and lead fabricator at SITU, I produced a collection of furniture pieces in a new campus for a private tech company in Mountainview, CA. The family of furniture was comprises of 11 unique items with over 50 pieces fabricated and installed. The main elements were a series of mobile storage tables with built in cabinetry, large plank tables with integrated power, mobile ideation boards with writable surfaces and built-in screens, and sliding whiteboard panels.
Private Tech Company
The furniture was built using reclaimed douglas fir that was recovered from the pilings of San Francisco’s Transbay Terminal. This wood created the framework for the tables and storage bases, and was paired with white laminate table tops or blackened steel bases.
West Village Terrace Seating
Company: SITU Client: Private Location: New York, NY Completion: 2018 Photography: SITU
Bench Seating (3) 1/4" x 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" MTL-01 ANGLES 2" x 1 1/2" WD-02 SLAT, TYP.
1/2" x 1 1/2" MTL-01 BUILT UP SUPPORT
3/4" MTL-01 VERTICAL SUPPORT THICKNESS VARIES (+ / - 2" HIGH)
1/2" x 1 1/2" MTL-01 BUILT UP SUPPORT 1/2" x 1 1/2" MTL-01 BUILT UP SUPPORT
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1/4" x 1" MTL-01 FLAT BAR
1 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 1/4" MTL-02 ANGLE, BELOW GRADE HDPE SUPPORT RAIL
(3) 1/4" x 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" MTL-01 ANGLES
Workinging with SITU’s fabrication division, I designed and engineered a pair of slatted wood benches for a private roof terrace in Manhattan’s West Village. The benches are made up of water jet ipe slats that curve over a blackened stainless steel structure.
West Village Terrace
Each bench measures 12 ft in length, with an 8 ft seating area that swoops up from the wood decking. The bench seat cantilevers out over the terrace plantings, floating the wooden seats into the landscape. Along the north bench, the ipe slats continue curving up to create a seat back.
Ghost Vines
Company: SITU Client: Teresita Fernรกndez Location: New York, NY Completion: 2015 Photography: Courtesy of Lehmann Maupin Gallery
As a fabricator at SITU, I worked along with artist, Teresita Fernรกndez, to produce her wall-mounted sculpture entitled Ghost Vines. I aided in optimizing the pieces geometries for fabrication and installation, ensuring the multi-layered sculpture would seamlessly nest together.
Ghost Vines 67 Teresita Fernandez
The piece is comprised of two layers of mirror-polished brass that span over 11 ft. The sculpture was CNC milled to achieve its intricately perforated patterning. An edition of this work was exhibited by Lehmann Maupin Gallery at Frieze New York from May 5–8th, 2015.
Ryan Kahen ryan.kahen@gmail.com www.kahen.design