Undercover Architect

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.

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.