alex kieve

Structural Designer and Drafter

Performance Structures Inc. produces the large, reflective sculptures of Anish Kapoor.  At PSI, I work to bridge the gap between concept and reality, first by translating the artist’s vision into digital form, and then by devising and drafting the complex processes, assemblies and fixtures necessary for their fabrication - thus translating the digital into the physical reality.

Storage and style come together in this bespoke birch credenza, custom built for a couple moving into the top unit of an old San Francisco apartment. The tight twisting stairwells made getting anything pre-assembled up the stairs impossible, so I designed, cut and finished this piece in my shop before assembling it in the unit. I have no idea how it’s coming down!

With LMNOP Design, I had the pleasure of working with the San Francisco-based non-profit La Cocina to help design the interior of their new women-led food hall in the heart of the Tenderloin neighborhood. These images show the Communal Corner, a space dedicated to encouraging play and interaction for all ages. The playful sculptural furniture at the center can be rearranged to serve any number of needs or whims - whether it be seating for dining, eating and chatting, an impromptu classroom, or a play structure. Recently, it was used as a stage and backdrop for Drag Me to Brunch, a mid-day drag show put on by members of Fluid Co-op.

This mobile coffee kiosk was designed and built for Bay Area non-profit specialty coffee company, 1951 Coffee. I wish I could say I was responsible for the overall concept design because it’s really cool, especially the wood slats over translucent corrugated plastic! Instead, I helped move it from concept to reality by executing the CDs, design detailing and fabrication drawings. Check it out if you are in downtown Berkeley and need a pick-me-up!

Construction Supervisor and Asst. PM

Project Frog designs, manufactures and deploys component building kits to provide high-end learning environments quickly and affordably.  I supervised the construction of the first Frog prototype.  Subsequently, I coordinated logistics and supervised the first two deployments: a child development center for CCSF and the Jim Russel Racing School on the first turn of Sonoma Raceway.

Designer

I teamed up with the international non-profit Architecture for Humanity and the municipal government of Rio de Janeiro to propose an initiative to combat rising obesity rates within impoverished areas of the city.  We proposed an activation of traveling play structures built with recycled materials – starting with a base of colorful, repurposed tires - to engage local children. Additionally, we proposed workshops so these communities would actively participate in building additional features for play.

A small prototype lamp made from a beautiful, translucent sheet of aspen veneer and a section of 4” industrial copper pipe. A special thanks to Gina for her expert machining and copper polishing skills!

Designer

We worked with Red Bull to renovate this Venice Boardwalk-adjacent penthouse in the hip Hotel Erwin.  We removed a fireplace and added bench seating and a custom DJ booth on one end, and incorporated a Murphy bed behind a whitewashed wood-slatted wall.  After the build-out, we invited Red Bull sponsored artist to create custom works throughout the space.  Custom patio fixtures include bench seating and a wrap-around bar.

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Van Cleef & Arpels timepieces are prized for their fanciful faces and intricately designed mechanics.  For this one-time event, visitors wandering into the central jewel court of South Coast Plaza found themselves inside the magical inner-workings of a Poetic Wishes watch - surrounded by floating gears, springs, ferries, butterflies and kites.  The hanging elements - constructed with aluminum, foam-core, expanded pvc and acrylic - were secured from a custom hanging rig.

Designer

For the 2012 US Open of Surf at Huntington Beach, we worked with Nike to create a 40' x 40' Trade Booth to promote their upcoming Surf, Skate and Winter lines.  Continuous plywood finish through the walls and fixtures creates a unified backdrop for the merchandise to shine.  Lounge and office spaces offer opportunity for breakout sessions.

Designer

Ferragamo approached Guild to create a pop-up shop within the architecture of a new Beverly Hills construction.  Using language from the branding and visuals, we created more than 24 custom fixtures and furniture pieces to highlight the premium product line. The space was anchored by a vertically arrayed pole wall with integrated illuminated shadowboxes and an LCD display.

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Progressive Insurance, in their first year as the primary sponsor of the International Motorcycle Show, sought to integrate motorcycle culture and their clean iconic branding to create the motorcycle enthusiasts' ultimate garage.  The 50' x 50' activation centers around a large, intricate slot-cycle race track.  Other custom amenities include gas-tank painting, a custom t-shirt press counter, a swag vending machine, an agent station and a lounge.  The activation traveled with the IMS in two 50' semis to 12 locations around the country.

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Working with the Nike Visual Merchandising Team, we designed and fabricated a custom retail fixture to anchor the Hyperwarm campaign.  The red light pulses from within and carries up an arrangement of frosted tubes.  The fixture is comprised of the central light column, acrylic tubes and an exterior of frosted acrylic, all mounted to a steel frame.

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With Activision and event production company NCompass, we designed and built gaming stations to house over 900 XBox consoles for this massive Call of Duty tournament.  Inexpensive materials, simple building processes and close attention to material yields were crucial for the success of this project.  The whole event was housed inside a giant wooden hanger built by Howard Hughes to build the Spruce Goose.

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South Coast Plaza approached Guild to create an immersive installation with Chinese New Year fast approaching.  Inspired by Chinese kites, we designed a Dragon that appeared to descend upon the Jewel Court from the beautiful stained-glass window above.  It encircled the court, acting as both a backdrop and centerpiece for the traditional Lion Dance and other celebrations.

Designer