Welcome to Keil Style.

Welcome to Keil Style - a blog that will explore my transition to a career in the fields of architecture and interior design. 

It is often said that your earliest memories are painful ones but the only pain associated with my childhood memories was the crick in my neck from craning to view the exteriors and interiors of city skylines across New England. I was blessed to have a father who encouraged me to be curious and inquisitive about my surroundings. Whether hiking Mount Wachusett near my hometown of Worcester, MA or strolling the streets of historic Boston he encouraged me to look at the natural and built environment and to develop an appreciation and understanding of how the two are intertwined. My thirst to understand how buildings were erected - the purpose of footings, headers and flashing was unquenchable. I marveled at how stone masons creatively applied gargoyles to rooftops to divert rainwater and how different choices in materials and colors affected the appearance of a home of commercial building. 

At the same time, I was fascinated by the way people used buildings and how some always seemed more hospitable and functional than others. It was only when I began my studies that I realized that this was the outcome of design decisions and as I have progressed through my courses I have tried to be cognizant of how my choices will affect clients.

I have long held the belief that everyone deserves a beautiful built environment. While it need not be grandiose it should be well built and be functional for the occupants. An article that I read in 2012 (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2084971/Hong-Kongs-cage-homes-Tens-thousands-living-6ft-2ft-rabbit-hutches.html) about people living in 6' x 2' cages in Hong Kong reinforced this belief and this profession will allow me to positively affect the everyday lives of countless people through remunerated and volunteer work.

For the moment, my designs live on paper and a computer screen and are brought to life using hand rendering, scale models, AutoCad, SketchUp and Podium. It will be the fulfillment of a long-held dream when my designs become reality. 

Visitors Center for St. Stephen's Square, Vienna, Austria - Jane Linn Keil

The exterior walls are translucent concrete (made by LitraCon - worth a google if you're not familiar with it). The doors are NanaWalls VSW65 system - each panel  glides and stows so the entryway is open and unobstructed. The building will be almost entirely self-sustainable. A rooftop water collection system/underground storage tanks system will provide water for priming the waterless urinals, the AQUS water reuse toilets, sinks, and landscape watering. Potable water will be delivered from the city drinking water system. LED lighting fueled by a rooftop photovoltaic system will complement daylighting in both buildings created through the use of translucent concrete, NanaWall systems, and prominent southern exposure glass facades. The daylighting system includes a daylight-optimized footprint, daylight-responsive electric lighting controls, and high-performance window glazing. Additionally, the buildings will be handicap accessible and displays will be available to visitors with physical, visual, and auditory limitations through the use of electronic and tactile elements including the use of braille and TDD components. Glass elevators in the main display hall will provide access to the digital display balcony, and the use of NanaWalls in the entryways will provide thresholdless entry for ambulatory and non-ambulatory visitors alike.

Bike path Pavillion - Jane Linn Keil

Self-sustainable structure designed to provide a short-term respite from recreational use of the B&A Trail. The structure is composed of Cor-Ten arches and galvanized steel support beams. Their weathered patinas create a visual esthetic that blends naturally with the wooded site. Poured concrete and metal roofing compose the restroom structures, and a stamped concrete pad elevates the overall design 8” about the site. Solar panels and low-voltage LED lighting complement the design. Glass panels with portions of the Maryland State Flag provide additional interest. Dry compost toilets and waterless urinals ensure minimal environmental impact and the compost is used to fertilize the landscaping. Compost is also made available to community members. A water collection system with filtration provides water for hand sanitation. Potable water is delivered to the site via city supply.

First Residential Design Studio Project - Jane Linn Keil

A diplomatic retreat in the style of Philip Johnson. Marble floors with gold veining establish a base for the burnished gold Henge chandeliers and mother-of-pearl mosaic Maya Romanoff wallpaper.. ArcCom fabrics, custom rugs and original works of art by Philip Johnson complete the design.