Brett Woods and Joseph Dangaran, co-founders of boutique architectural firm Woods + Dangaran. Photo: Francis Dreis.

For today's Studio Snapshot episode, Archinect interviewed Brett Woods and Joseph Dangaran, co-founders of Los Angeles-based architecture and interior design firm Woods + Dangaran.

Established during the greatest recession in a generation, the small practice had to maneuver rough economic waters in its early years, ultimately equipping the team with the confidence and skills needed to weather the economic downturn and operational challenges of the global pandemic a mere decade later.

The conversation touched on the team's flexible structure, the importance of a positive and encouraging studio environment, and the desire for timeless design.

Can you tell us how Woods + Dangaran was founded?

We have been close friends for nearly twenty years since first meeting at University of Southern California School of Architecture. During the great recession of 2010, Brett moved back to LA, and it was over BBQ and a few beers that the idea of Woods + Dangaran was formed. Our initial question became: how could we lay the foundation for a successful practice during the worst economic crisis in a generation? The answer? Invest in a team of smart, passionate, and hard-working architects and make the process genuine and enjoyable for the clients.

How many people are currently employed? How is your office structured?

The studio is currently staffed by eight architectural team members, two interior designers, two partners, and an operations manager. We are actively growing to fill the needs of exciting new projects underway. We have structured the studio so that at any given time, every team member feels supported and mentored, regardless of their experience level or niche expertise. Each project is supported by a minimum of one partner, one project architect, and one architectural designer.

Would you like to scale up and grow your team? What do you consider the ideal size for your practice?

We are not interested in growth for growth’s sake. The office has organically grown to fit the needs of current and potential projects, and we are excited by the opportunities a growing office provides.

Woods + Dangaran was founded during the greatest recession in a generation and that experience has given us the confidence and know-how to propel us through the pandemic.

We would like to stay small enough to be nimble and flexible in our approach to unique and custom projects while maintaining a certain size that is required for large and complex residences and estates.

What have been the biggest challenges starting and running your own practice?

The happiness of our clients and our team is always at the heart of what we do. From the beginning, it has been our goal to create and foster a studio environment that is positive and encouraging as that is a mutual benefit to both firm and client. As we are a service and deadline-based industry, we have found that setting realistic expectations with our clients and team has fostered an environment where everyone can be excited about the projects they work on and their daily execution.

What challenges have you faced during the coronavirus pandemic? Has remote work been a solution?

Like most, we have been working remotely for nearly 11 months. This is a great challenge to the culture of our studio and the collaborative approach in which we work on every project. Communication and trust are key in our industry, and remote working has required increased efforts to maintain both.

From the beginning, it has been our goal to create and foster a studio environment that is positive and encouraging as that is a mutual benefit to both firm and client.

Our team — and clients — have been very resilient, and in many ways, the pandemic has made our office stronger. Woods + Dangaran was founded during the greatest recession in a generation, and that experience has given us the confidence and know-how to propel us through the pandemic.

Describe your work. How do you define your own unique style and approach?

We view our work as an evolution of Modernism and are dedicated to elevating the quality of life by practicing architecture as an act of purpose with specific intention. With each project, we aim to carefully curate a journey through indoor and outdoor spaces that are luxuriously simple and elegantly fluid. Every building we produce is marked by purity of form; deliberate floor plans; refined use of honest materials; and abundant connections to nature, with the intention of creating sanctuaries of light and space.

We view our work as an evolution of Modernism and are dedicated to elevating the quality of life by practicing architecture as an act of purpose with specific intention.

However, our most important asset will always be our collaborations: with clients, with craftspersons, and coworkers. In doing so, we are better able to inspire clients with a clear vision of the finished product. By working in an open and honest manner, we deliver work that is uncompromising in craftsmanship, and the results are projects that are subtle and disciplined.

What do you want your firm to be known for?

We are all humans working passionately each day on the projects that we love with clients that are a pleasure to collaborate with. We are passionate about maintaining and restoring historically significant homes while developing new, modern residences for this generation and the next. We would hope that future generations see the timeless character of our work and value each project enough to restore them in the future.

Where do you see Woods + Dangaran in five years?

No one knows what the future holds, but simply put, we would love to be doing great work with great people, whether that work is residential for a new home, restoration, or estate property, or a more public-facing space such as a gallery, boutique vineyard, or cultural institution. We are actively working on new projects in many states, both near and far, and hope to continue growing the firm nationally.

Do you have a favorite project? Completed or in progress.

It’d be difficult to name a specific favorite project, but we really enjoy the opportunity to work on homes set on sizeable lots. We feel honored that our clients trust our ability to site plan and strategize on large properties that include working holistically at every scale, from designing custom furnishings to integrated interiors, architecture, and landscape.

If you could describe your work/practice in three words, what would they be?

Intentional — Collaborative — Timeless.