Perched on a bluff in the Pacific Palisades, the focus of this project was maximizing the exceptional views of both the canyon and the Pacific Ocean.
From the initial sketch to the final construction, this project balanced the modern with the traditional. The house was built for a couple who asked to merge their preferred styles, resulting in a clapboard box floating over glass walls. The ground floor is wide open, flooded with light & air, with a centralized stair and planted atrium that connects to a more intimate bedroom floor upstairs, full of warmth and character.
Project Architect for BAM
“It’s not a commercial space, it’s a conversation place.”
- Jaye Buchbinder, Emeco’s Head of Sustainability
American furniture company Emeco - a category leader in sustainability - bought a 1940’s era sewing shop in Venice Beach with the goal of creating a zero-energy live and work space. The focus: stay true to the building’s original design while using humble and honest materials to create a minimalist aesthetic. Eco-features abound, including biodegradable insulation, thermally efficient glazing, and solar power.
A unique renovation that expanded the footprint of an existing bathroom by transforming an unused balcony into a Scandinavian-inspired wet room. Louvered windows ensure necessary ventilation while a transparent ceiling allows natural light to flood the space. The minimalist approach, clean lines, and neutral palette create a calming ambiance while organic materials such as warm wood and ceramic tile conjure the tranquility of a Nordic spa.
Design for a new, approximately 6,000 square foot house with stunning ocean views. A circular stair “corkscrews” through the center of house, connecting all three levels. The interior spaces remain simple and clean, allowing the views and light to take over.
Project Architect for BAM
Let the building be the design. This was the motivation during the extensive remodel of a small bungalow in Venice. The house was stripped down to the structure and re-built in a way to showcase those elements hidden from view. Exposed lath walls, ceiling joists, wall framing, and various other salvaged materials provide the backdrop for the next generation of this 1920’s bungalow.
After we completed the kitchen redesign in the main house, the client commissioned a unique space that would serve as both a commercial kitchen and creative culinary studio. With minimal square footage, a highly customized layout was critical for optimizing the storage, flow, and functionality of the studio. The client was thrilled with the end result, and seven years later continues to say that it’s a “dream space” that still functions perfectly…highly rewarding feedback for an architect.
The design for this pre-school was to create one, large interconnected space, which could be subdivided as needed through the use of furniture or storage elements, maintaining maximum flexibility. The structural building column in the middle of the room became an opportunity to design an integrated seating area around, extending out from the kitchen area beyond. The column itself was detailed with wrap-around wood panels to mimic the trunk of a tree, with exposed knots and varying grains to emphasize the wood character.
