Chris Whiteside

Hariri & Hariri Architecture is a New York based international architecture & design firm established in 1986 by sisters Gisue Hariri and Mojgan Hariri. Today they are celebrated as two of the most accomplished women in American architecture & design and are described by critics as one of the most progressive and out-of-the-box firms currently working in the United States.

At Hariri & Hariri I have worked across all project stages, gaining an understanding of the complete building process on a broad spectrum of projects within New York and internationally. These projects have included the conceptual design of a folding modular home, a number of one off houses, Madison Avenue private equity offices, a large residential project in Tehran and a hotel in Yaz’d, Iran.

My roles have included concept and schematic design, BIM and algorithmic modelling, rendering and client presentations, design development and production of construction documents, site visits and coordination with consultants, clients and contractors.

ONLY WORK PUBLISHED ON THE HARIRI & HARIRI ARCHITECTURE WEBSITE IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR MY ONLINE PORTFOLIO HOWEVER A GREATER SELECTION OF MY WORK WILL BE BROUGHT FOR INTERVIEW INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS AND ADDITIONAL PROJECTS.

Kunming House of Art & Culture - 2020

Dianchi Lake, Kunming, China

The Intention of this 30,000 SF, 3-story project is to create a HOUSE of ART & CULTURE for the Kunming community to reshape people’s experiences of global contemporary art and culture. It aims to create a reason for artists, designers, and cultural experts from all over the world to visit and settle in the city of Kunming.

Conceptually, the architecture takes form inspired by the “Green Lake” park known as the “Jade in Kunming”, which is a large void in the center of the city, filled with water & used as a public space with activities within and surrounding it. This large, organically shaped Jade, or Green Lake, has two long dikes dividing the lake into four parts. The four smaller lakes then are linked by bridges, pavilions on various islands within the park, tree-lined walks and locals enjoying themselves.

The House of Art & Culture is the JADE LAKE inside-out, as if what was removed from the center of the city to create the “Green Lake” Park was deposited on the site by Dianchi lake. The mass is divided into two parts by a rupture, creating the entrance and the main circulation via a three-story sky lit fissure. Various levels and spaces are bridged through stairs and platforms accented with Corten steel railings.

Program:

The Main Floor & Upper Level contain art galleries that will exhibit cutting edge contemporary art including painting, sculpture, mixed media & film.

The Film Gallery will exhibit video art and multi-media shows and screen award winning art films. A Food Gallery will host international chefs and exhibit a culinary & dining experience in response to the Chinese appreciation for food as a cultural event, and the importance of cooking & sharing food.

The lower level exhibits both Local & Global Fashion, with the runway constructed along a pool of water. This exhibition space opens onto a large terrace leading to the Sculpture garden, which is situated on the bank of the lake Dian with views of the “Sleeping Beauty” Mountains.

Walkthrough Movie

In the process of learning Twinmotion I made the following walkthrough movie of the house:

Folding Modular Pod - 2018

This modest, modular, prefabricated pod has been designed with hinged, folded panels to facilitate their shipping and assembly. In its folded-flat configuration the lightweight pod fits on a flatbed truck so it can be transported to any desired location and then unfolded on site. Furthermore, it can be configured and expanded with additional pods into a variety of habitable combinations.

The project was originally designed for Revolution Precrafted as a prefab housing solution for the Philippines.

I joined this project at the end of the schematic design phase and was tasked with imagining the pods being used for different functions on fictional sites within the Philippines. I came up with the following scenarios:

1. A residential development of single pod homes

2. A luxury home comprised of two pods

3. A series of pods used as beach huts for a resort

For each scenario I designed the site plan and plans of the pods, imagining the site and producing the images shown. These designs have since been exhibited at Art OMI in New York, with plans to build a prototype pod in the architecture park.

Madison Avenue Private Equity Offices

I was involved in the complete life cycle of this multi-storey office fit-out on Madison Avenue, from schematic design and design development to completing a full package of construction documents. Currently I am undertaking weekly site visits, coordinating with contractors to resolve on-site issues, and understanding the complexities of building within Manhattan. Construction is nearing completion.

This project has not yet been published and so my work is not available online, however it can be brought to interview.

Additional Projects

I have worked on a number of private houses and apartments within New York with drawings available to be brought to interview. I am currently working on a large hotel project in Yazd, Iran and a waterside house in King’s Point, New York.