Architecture and Fashion

Students form The Catholic University of America School of Architecture and Planning studying in Paris, France, under the direction of Professor Stanley Hallet, FAIA (former Dean) were asked to explore Architecture and Fashion Design, specifically the development of a center for a master “stylist” and his or her workshop with supporting salons for fabrication, exhibit, archive, as well as apartments for visiting designers, a restaurant and garden accommodating temporary runways. A selection of projects from this semester long studio will be presented on KUBE's K-Lounge over the next few months. 

Student: Erica Donnelly        Fashion Designer: Maison Martin Margiela

Maison Martin Margiela is well known for being a "faceless designer." His anonymity has allowed the garments and designs to gain wide admiration.  Focusing on themes of transformation, adaptivity, and the strength of fragility, the concept of the runway building was developed. A series of linear elements move along tracks to allow for the transformation of spaces as needed, a theme commonly used by the Maison. Located at the corner of Boulevard Henri IV and the Boulevard Morland, the site is a meeting point for the axis of two major buildings. To not take away from the importance of the existing buildings, the fashion house keeps its more public and communal spaces on the axis with the existing building on site. This allows for a constant visual connection with the building. The private aspects of the program reside in a more enclosed area to the north of the site. To keep with the theme of anonymity, the southern facade has a series of wall panels and louvers to keep those inside the building from being seen.

9th Hole at the Building Museum - Final Views

URBAN PINBALL

Final views of KUBE's Urban Pinball 

URBAN ZEN

E Street Residence

Clients:

Artist, actress, dreamer

Psychiatrist, thinker, dreamer

Project Inspirations:                           Spatial objectives

Mind and body.                                      Place to daydream.

Light and shadow.                                 Place for gathering.

Silence and Laughter.                           Place to study.

Memory and dreams.                            Place to relax.

Friends and family.                                Place to be alone.

Food and aromas.                                 Place to be together.

Art and books.

Materials

Wood, concret, steel, glass, brick, viroc, color, light, texture

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Janet's Kitchen

KUBE in DWELL 

Janet's kitchen appears in the September issue of Dwell. She renovated her 1950 Goodman mid-century modern home using a combination of industrial materials and bright colors. The kitchen was completely opened up to the living room, and an acrylic and steel custom-designed table serves as the dining area. Materials include viroc (gray and black), colored laminate, white oak floors, and exposed steel. Click on link above for the online feature, and get the magazine on the newsstand.

The kitchen also appeared in Jennifer Sergent's blog DC by Design. Jennifer is the author of the DWELL article

Eating In

Kitchens Before and After KUBE

KUBE has developed an expertise in kitchen transformations.  They operate both as functional, efficient spaces, and also as sculptural statements within the home.  The following three projects show a range of ideas and explorations:

The "Architects Kitchen" is a mid-century modern home in Kensington, MD, where the compact kitchen was opened up and updated with a combination of colorful custom cabinets and industrial materials (viroc, concrete countertops, and exposed steel). Millwork by Potomac Woodwork. 

"Lenny's Place"  is a “bachelor pad” off U Street in Washington, DC, where the kitchen acts as a feature element, with LED lighting, a “folded” ceiling, and colorful island. Millwork by Potomac Woodwork.

D St. Kitchen  in Capitol Hill features a curved countertop that transforms into a sculptural bench.  The kitchen is designed to be highly efficient within a tight space, and it looks out through full-height glass doors onto an intimate deck space

KUBE goes to CHURCH

Clarendon Presbyterian Church

A joint venture with REVE design-studio

This progressive and forward-thinking congregation came to Reve design-studio and KUBE architecture for ideas on how to make their worship and fellowship spaces operate more successfully with their nontraditional method of worship.  In addition, the rear entry, which has now become the main façade of the church, is in need of renovation to display a more attractive and welcoming face to the neighborhood.  KUBE and Reve are proposing a full-height glass facade, with a green wall that represents the main mission of the church: feeding the hungry and welcoming all to their table. A row of doors in this façade creates a seamless indoor/outdoor relationship, allowing the fellowship space to spill out onto the new “front porch” of the church.  The renovated main sanctuary will have flexible seating to allow a variety of seating arrangements and uses, and a wall of folding doors will separate the sanctuary from the entry/fellowship space, with the possibility of joining or dividing the spaces as desired.

Proposed new entry at rear- includes Green Wall , elevator access and new deck at entry doors

Existing rear entry and interior of worship space

Interior view of worship space - looking towards new fellowship (gathering) and entry doors beyond

New Fellowship space at entry