About
Studio KaaKi was established with a vision to create architecture that is joyful, beautiful and enduring. We believe each project, large or small, can create positive change for the environment and the people who use them.
Studio KaaKi is a team of committed architects and designers with extensive experience working on high-end residential, residential apartments, educational and commercial projects. Our studio is based in Chippendale, Sydney, NSW and our projects span from Sydney through to the NSW Snowy Mountains.
We oversee projects across all stages of a project from concept design, design development, approvals and construction services. We enjoy establishing open and collaborative relationships with our clients to achieve the best outcome for their projects.
Our design approach is highly creative and we use multiple techniques of model making, hand drawing and BIM modeling to explore concepts, document and communicate our design ideas.
Practice to us is more than just projects. We see our practice as a platform to engage with industry, other organisations and creative practitioners and are active within the local Architectural community.
Team (left to right):
Declan Barnett, Graduate of Architecture | Caroline Kite, Director | Kristian Kaufmehl, Director | Rosamond Kember, Architect
Studio KaaKi Team
Kristian Kaufmehl
Director
M.Arch UNSW | B.Arch Studies UNSW
Kristian has a layered design experience in both Industrial Design and Architecture. Initially starting his career as an Industrial Designer in Europe Kristian found himself gravitating towards Architecture and moved back to Australia to study and work.
Following his studies, Kristian began his architectural career in 2004 at Daryl Jackson Robyn Dyke (DJRD) Architects working on commercial, educational and residential projects and notably on the Frank Gehry designed Dr. Chau Chak Wing UTS Faculty of Business, where he was one of the Project leads. Kristian worked on this project for four years starting at Frank Gehry’s office in Los Angeles, USA during the design phase and throughout construction where he was based on site. Following DJRD, Kristian was a Senior Associate at Silvester Fuller in Sydney, leading mixed-use, multi-residential projects, childcare education projects, a resort project and was part of the core design team in the office.
Kristian had an upbringing surrounded by creativity, building and skiing; his mother was a textile designer and grandmother a ceramicist. His parents were often renovating or building the family home and Kristian was always involved on site. During this time and into his early university years Kristian was a professional downhill ski racer, competing at the top level for Australia.
Kristian’s early life and connection to the Australian Snowy Mountains has been instrumental in expanding Studio KaaKi’s projects in the region, as it has been a lifelong dream to work in these magnificent landscapes.
Caroline Kite
Director | Registered Architect NSW 9187
M.Arch UNSW | B.Arch Studies UNSW
Caroline is a registered architect with over 15 years experience working for architectural practices in Sydney as well as in construction on building sites. This unique experience has given Caroline a passion for design and making and the skill and knowledge to achieve a highly resolved and detailed architectural outcome.
Caroline believes in a strong design process of hand sketching and model making to provide clarity throughout all stages of a project. Establishing close and collaborative working relationships with the project team, particularly clients and builders, is one of the most satisfying parts of a project for Caroline and leads to the best outcomes.
Caroline is a strong advocate for architecture and contributor to the profession, and dedicates her time outside of practice to teaching at UNSW and USYD, and volunteering with the Australian Institute of Architects through Co-chairing the EmAGN Emerging Architects Committee (2020-2023) and the NSW AIA Chapter Council (2022-2023). Caroline has also been a juror for the NSW AIA Architecture Awards Program for Residential Houses (New), the EmAGN Project Award, Emerging Architect Prize jury and juror for the AIA Student Prizes. Prior to this, Caroline was a Board Member (2017-2022), mentor and volunteer from 2011 - 2021 with The Anganwadi Project, an Australian organisation that partners with Indian NGOs to provide architectural services in the design and build of preschools in informal settlements in India.