ADC212 Construction Materials & Details: Methods | Professor Paula Behrens | Autumn 2023

AutoCAD, SketchUp, Lumion

Not in a studio class, but rather one focused on materials, we were tasked with renovating a suburban kitchen. Nearly completely open-ended, there were technical specifications such as minimum horizonal counter and cabinet lengths, in-kitchen seating, and a desk for academic tasks for school-aged children.

For the two years I was an architecture student at CCP, I interned with a boutique interior designer in South Philadelphia, during which time we renovated a handful of kitchens. My experience with her directly influenced the selection of materials for this project.

That can be seen in the waterfall countertops of blue-streak quartzite, or the minimalistic yet modern overhead lighting, the antique yet timeless style of the Restoration Hardware drawer pulls, and the monochromatic color palette.

My time in this internship provided important experience in the practical side of the design world. I had held these material selections in my hands, and, in the case of the drawer pulls, personally installed them in a client’s home. The result of this real-world knowledge is a modern luxurious but functional kitchen.