Integration of expressive glass with architecture
About The Studio...
What We Do
Kaiser / von Roenn Studio is a unique architectural glass art studio developed to address and meet the needs of architecture in multiple ways.
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With their organization and experience the studio offers the following services to architects/ designers, private clients, developers, public art agencies, and artists:
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Design - original and collaborative.
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Fabrication/Installation of projects designed by the studio as well those created by others.
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Engineering of glass systems.
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Consultation for architectural glass art projects.
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Administration of projects designed by the studio as well as by others.
The studio is led by Ursula Kaiser Vourvoulis, President, who has more than 25 years experience in senior glass studio positions and Kenneth von Roenn, Director of Design, who has more than 50 years of experience as an architectural glass art designer, a studio owner, an architect ( M. Arch., Yale U. ) as well as a principal of an architectural firm.
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The foundation of the studio is built upon the principles of collaboration, within the studio organization as well as with clients, architects/designers, fabricators/suppliers and artists, and public art agencies.
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In all of its work the primary objective is for the harmonious integration of glass art with architecture with the purpose of making environments more interesting, meaningful and ultimately more memorable. The process of integration also extends to the process of coordinating the glass art within the planning and construction of architecture.
Design Philosophy...
The fundamental principle of our approach to design is that the work we design is first and foremost an integrated element of the architecture. As such, it is designed to meet the specific needs and issues relevant to the architecture.
To guide our design work we analyze a project by examining several questions, which are as follows:
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what is the role for artistic glass in the building? .
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how is it to enhance the architecture? .
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what are the issues that it is to address, i.e. control light, provide obscurity, etc.? .
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what functions is it to perform? .
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how is the work to be viewed?
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by whom?
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when, for how long and how often?
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from what distances?
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what activities will the viewers be involved with while viewing the work? .
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how is the work illuminated? .
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how is it to be viewed from the exterior? .
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what are the safety concerns?
Answers to these questions serve to direct the development of the design and to measure the success of the project at its completion.
Philosophy
Project Execution
We believe that the execution of a project, which includes fabrication, installation and the administration, is as integral to the creative process as is design. It is because of this attitude, that we have the same degree of focus, attention to details, and most importantly passion about the execution of a project as we do for its design. Moreover, we strive to infuse the pragmatic aspects of a project with a sense of creativity and imaginative problem solving.
An integral component of a project’s execution is collaboration with other team members of the project. We encourage, rely upon and nurture collaboration. We introduce and apply this attitude that the execution of a project is part the overall creative process with the intent of bringing all of those with whom we work into this process. We feel as though our collaborators are more engaged in a project when they believe they are contributing to the creation of a work of art, which ultimately brings everyone more joy and pride, making the experience all the more fulfilling.
Ultimately, we evaluate the success of a project as much by how well it is executed as well as how well the design fulfills the needs of the architecture.
Execution
Ursula Vourvoulis
Education
Sheridan College, Oakville Ont. Canada
Graphic Design 1973
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Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
Extension Classes, Metals/Silversmithing, 2005-2008
Employment
2013-present: Kaiser von Roenn Studio, LLC.
Tallahassee, FL
President/CEO
2008-2013: Architectural Glass Art
Louisville KY Vice President of Project Development
2006-2008: Ultraglas Inc.
Los Angeles CA Creative Director and
National Sales Manager
1998-2006: Colorpro LLC
Santa Fe Springs CA Part Owner/ Director
1992-1998: Glasstech/ Du Verre, Inc.
Culver City CA Creative Manager
1989-1992: Ursula Kaiser Designs,
Toronto Ont. Canada Owner
1978-1989: Canadian House and Home Magazine,
Your Money Magazine, Homemaker’s Magazine / Comac Publishing
Toronto Ont. Canada Art Director
1974-1978: The Toronto Star Newspaper
Toronto, Ont. Canada Art Associate
Professional Positions
Present: Member: SNAG, Florida Society of Goldsmiths, The Enamelist Society Previous:
1982-1985 President Toronto Art Directors Club
1981-1982 Board of Directors, Toronto Art Directors Club 1984-1986 Board of Directors, National Magazine Awards Foundation 1989-1990 Scott Taylor Cancer Research Fund, Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation/ Fund Raising
Professional Accompolishments
As an editorial art director at various magazines in Toronto I won numerous awards for design and art direction from organizations such as The Toronto Art Directors Club, The National Magazine Awards Foundation, The International Editorial Design Competition, The Typographers International Association and more. I worked closely with editors, writers, photographers, designers and illustrators, managed art department staff, as well as overseeing large annual budgets.
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Upon my move to CA in 1992 I became involved in the architectural glass art business, going on to co-run two companies of which I was a part owner. In 2006 I moved to take the first of several senior positions at another art glass company in LA, and then in 2008 was offered a position at AGA in KY.
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At both those companies I brought in and managed various significant large projects as well as contributed to product development and creative direction. My duties also included managing sales staff and outside sales representatives across the country.
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In early 2013 I started KVR Studio with my partner Kennth von Roenn, to continue designing and managing architectural glass projects. We utilize the extensive network of fabricators and suppliers we have developed over the combined years of our experience, both throughout the US and in other countries, to complete our projects.
ursula@kvrstudio.com
Tel: 502.419.3439
Kenneth F. von Roenn, Jr.
Born Louisville, KY
4/14/1948
Education
Florida State University, BA 1970
Yale University, M. Arch. 1981
(thesis: "The Primary Modalities of the Relationship Between Art and Architecture: Integration, Juxtapostion & Synthesis")
kvr@kvrstudio.com
Te: 502.417.4476
Employment
Louisville Art Glass (Penco Studios) 1970-77
Apprentice, General Manager, President
U of Ky School of Architecture, Lexington, KY 1975-77
Instructor of Art in Architecture courses
von Roenn Studio Group, Branford, CT 1977-83
Swain School of Design, New Bedford, MA 1983-84
Developer of Art in Architecture Program
Berry Associates Architects, Louisville, KY 1983-85
Bailey, Preston, von Roenn Architects, Louisville, KY 1985-1990
Principal
Architectural Glass Art, Louisville, KY 1990-2013
CEO, Design Director
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 2013-2016
Director, Master Craftsman Studio
Developer and Instructor of Public Art Program
Kaiser / von Roenn Studio, Tallahassee, FL 2013-present
Abbreviated Accomplishments
Designed and executed more than 1,500 commissions in the U. S., Middle East, Far East, Europe, Canada and Mexico
Work published in more than 75 books, magazines, & digital publications.
Received more than 25 awards for work, including two hall of fames and lifetime achievement for the state of Kentucky.
Written and lectured on the topics of Art in Architecture, the Evolution of Architectural Glass Art, and the Development and Issues of Public Art
DIVERSITY
Our primary objective in designing projects is to address the needs of the architecture, which varies with each project. Therefore, the solutions and strategies that are employed are necessarily different from project to project. As a result we have had to develop new techniques and technologies to achieve the objectives and meet the needs of each project. It is for this reason that there are so many different approaches within the breadth of our portfolio. We far prefer this approach to the alternative of developing a singular style that is modified from project to project. Moreover, it is never our intention to glorify a technique or material for their novelty, but rather rely on a broad range of diverse solutions to more sympathetically integrate our work with the architecture, of which it is but part and parcel.