UNDERCOVER ARCHITECT
TOWNHOUSE DESIGN-BUILD IN HARLEM NY / CHRISTIAN VOLKMANN
Christian Volkmann(Author)
Oscar Riera Ojeda Publishers Limited
Will be published approx. on 1. July 2026
Book
Hardback
200 pages
978-1-964490-42-7 (ISBN)
Description
Every aspiring architect dreams of building a house from scratch and experiencing every phase up close, from the design to the
finished building. Sometimes this really happens: this book describes an architect's real life experience, wearing multiple hats, of the
comprehensive process (planning, design, finance, permits, coordination, construction etc.) involved in the design and construction of
a small building in Harlem, New York.
Undercover Architect suggests that the way in which architects position themselves in the practice urgently needs to change: the
creation of tangible artifacts requires more, not less practical involvement and greater application of comprehensive competencies in
the field. Besides providing an in-depth account of the evolution of this specific project in Harlem, it is also aimed at helping the next
generation of architects eager to make extraordinary designs through a proper understanding of the playing field and engagement
with hands on design-build activities.
finished building. Sometimes this really happens: this book describes an architect's real life experience, wearing multiple hats, of the
comprehensive process (planning, design, finance, permits, coordination, construction etc.) involved in the design and construction of
a small building in Harlem, New York.
Undercover Architect suggests that the way in which architects position themselves in the practice urgently needs to change: the
creation of tangible artifacts requires more, not less practical involvement and greater application of comprehensive competencies in
the field. Besides providing an in-depth account of the evolution of this specific project in Harlem, it is also aimed at helping the next
generation of architects eager to make extraordinary designs through a proper understanding of the playing field and engagement
with hands on design-build activities.
More details
Edition
New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Edition type
New edition
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
453 Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 165 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-964490-42-7 (9781964490427)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Christian Volkmann
Is an architect and Professor at the City College of New York, where he coordinates the third-year Undergraduate Design Studio and the Technology curriculum. Educated at ETH Zurich and TU Berlin, his work focuses on integrated architectural design, combining technology, environmental systems, and construction within the design process.
He founded his architectural practice in New York in 1998 and has worked internationally in Europe and the United States. His teaching, practice, and research emphasize sustainable and energy-efficient architecture, design-build methodologies, and comprehensive design strategies, including the Solar Roofpod, a net-zero-energy project developed as an experimental and educational platform.