The work of KKDS originates in the classical tradition. It is edited throughout its development and executed in a modern fashion. This process ensures an authentic result that is rooted in the past, realized today, and reflective of design principles that contribute to a sustainable built environment.

Throughout the design process, core design values are continuously reviewed and applied, resulting in a product true to its intent, its inhabitants, and its surroundings. These core values include:

Authenticity: The structural expression and material selection of a KKDS building are intended to reflect honest use.

Refinement: Life today is full of distraction and overstimulation. One’s surroundings can help quiet the noise. Depending on a client’s particular needs and aesthetic preference, KKDS seeks to edit a building, from the whole down to its details, into a refined design expression without sacrificing quality, materials, and craftsmanship.

Shared versus Private Spaces: In many aspects of modern life, it is relevant to consider where the line exists between what is shared and what remains private. Spaces within a building are no exception.

Circulation: How a person moves through a building is often an afterthought. KKDS believes that circulation should be carefully thought out and designed as an integral part of the overall design concept.

Sustainability: Buildings should strive to be sustainable as individual entities as well as contributions to a greater sustainable built environment. This includes site considerations such as orientation to sun and wind as well as on-site water management. Building considerations include determination of potential for preservation or reuse; use of regional and local design strategies and materials that are time tested to improve a building’s energy efficiency; and selection of local and energy efficient materials, products, and mechanical systems, when possible. The goal for a KKDS building is an overall balance between design intent and positive environmental impact.