Archinect - Features

'Everything in Design Is Extremely Collaborative': A Conversation with Emerging Architecture Practice Studio MUKA

2023-09-01T08:13:00-04:00

Starting your own practice comes with a mixture of excitement, collaboration, stressors, and endless problem-solving. As a new firm, architects Neda Kakhsaz and Zabie Mustafa are developing their approach to architectural design and how they would like to make their mark within the industry. After meeting as architecture students at Pratt Institute, they have embarked on showcasing their design sensibilities by creating strong narratives surrounded by a specific "theme or topic as it relates to the sensibilities of the project location" with their collaborators and clients.

For our latest Studio Snapshots installment, we chat with Neda and Zabie, co-founders of Studio MUKA, to discuss their journey of starting their own firm and what they hope to create as a budding design practice.

'Everyone Has a Design Voice Worth Hearing': ANACAPA Architecture on Teamwork and Design Intention

2022-04-02T09:00:00-04:00

Defining a sustainable and healthy firm culture is essential for any design practice. Besides creating a robust portfolio and showcasing design expertise to execute projects, fostering a collaborative workplace comes down to firm leadership, team expectations, and opportunities for transparent communication. For architect Dan Weber, an important factor when running a design practice is listening to the team and valuing quality over quantity.

Weber is the founder and principal architect of Santa Barbara-based practice ANACAPA. Nestled along the coast of Southern California, the firm's robust portfolio of custom residential, creative offices, and urban infill projects has garnered them notoriety within the industry. So what helps this 19-person team flourish? As Weber explains: "The original and ongoing intention with ANACAPA is to create a lasting company that is firm in its roots and represents something more significant than just its founder."

In this latest edition of Archinect's...

'Architecture as Provider Instead of Shelter': Matter Design's Brandon Clifford Discusses Architecture and Speculative Design as a Catalyst for Social Good

2021-04-14T08:25:00-04:00

Learning how a design studio begins its journey into professional practice is an eye-opening experience. For Matter Design, they started with a mission to build projects they designed themselves. While this response may seem simple in its approach, they explain, "we were much more interested in the means, the methods, and communication between design and materials." Yet, four years after our Studio Snapshot interview with co-founders Brandon Clifford and Wes McGee, the practice has grown into a catalyst for bridging architecture, speculative design, and interdisciplinary social missions.

Archinect re-connected with Clifford to discuss recessions, running a speculative design studio, and how the firm's latest project AquíAquí is more than just a public space project. Clifford shared, "I can say that we have built Matter Design on a series of speculative built works that serve as individual challenges to default practice." In response to the development of AquíAquí, he explains, "we t...

Woods + Dangaran on Creating Architecture as an Act of Purpose and Intentionality

2021-03-01T12:45:00-05:00

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.

Studio BANAA on Turning Diversity Into a Creative Force

2021-02-25T09:43:00-05:00

For our latest Studio Snapshot, Archinect had the pleasure of chatting with Nastaran Mousavi and Dane Bunton, founding partners of San Francisco-based architecture practice Studio BANAA.

Hailing from different corners of the world — Dane is a Bay Area native and Nastaran grew up in Northern Iran — the two have been steadily fusing their diverse backgrounds with the city's eclectic California blend to create fresh and dynamic spaces not shy of colors, patterns, and personality. We talked about their new housing research campaign, surviving the pandemic as a small practice, and launching new, innovative business endeavors.

Mork-Ulnes Architects on Balancing Californian and Norwegian Design Spirits

2020-12-03T13:12:00-05:00

For this week's Studio Snapshot, Archinect spoke with Casper Mork-Ulnes, Founder and Principal of San Francisco and Oslo-based firm Mork-Ulnes Architects.

We talked about his approach of managing offices on two continents as a nimble 10-person practice, touched on strategies of combining two design mentalities — Scandinavian practicality and Californian optimism — as a unique asset, and learned how lessons from Norwegian work culture could contribute to increased productivity among the entire team.

Walker Warner Architects on Creating 'Enduring Architecture for Inspired Living'

2020-11-09T09:00:00-05:00

Operating from a studio in bustling downtown San Francisco, Walker Warner Architects has maintained a unique ability to capture the essence of their clients' sites whether rural or urban, across the Western United States and Hawaii and create calming blends of space, context, materiality, light, and craft.

For our latest Studio Snapshot, Archinect connected with the firm's four Principals Brooks Walker, Greg Warner, Kathy Scott, and Mike McCabe to learn more about how the practice managed to grow into a 65-person team and if managing construction sites in two states divided by an ocean ever proved challenging.

Miner Road by Faulkner Architects: Forming an Intimate Connection With Its California Landscape

2020-09-14T13:36:00-04:00

A few weeks ago, Archinect had the chance to connect with Greg Faulkner, founder of boutique Northern California-based practice Faulkner Architects, to chat about his process, business approach, and design philosophy as part of our Studio Snapshot series.

Today, we are taking a closer look at one project from the firm's compact yet exquisite portfolio that impresses with an impeccable sense for site selection, material choices, and space-crafting: Miner Road.

Faulkner Architects: 'The Site Will Tell Us What to Do. We Listen.'

2020-08-26T12:55:00-04:00

Should you ever have the pleasure of visiting the compact but growing portfolio of exquisite residential projects that Greg Faulkner and his small team have realized over the years, the drive would lead into picturesque and seemingly untouched landscapes of Northern California and the Lake Tahoe region of Western Nevada.

Nestled between pine trees, rocks, and steep cliffs, Faulkner Architects' residences and mountain retreats reflect the ruggedness of the embedding terrain with a bold material palette that makes confident use of weathered steel, reclaimed wood, and exposed concrete. Paired with a dedication to craft, regard to the vernacular, and careful site selection, the firm creates elegant, modernist jewels — one project at a time.

For this week's Studio Snapshot, Archinect connected with Greg Faulkner to learn about his design process, what drives material choices, and how he runs a team of seven from two locations.

Lessons in Monochromatic Composition from Arthur Elrod

2019-07-27T07:13:00-04:00

Arthur Elrod, the noted Mid-Century Modern interior designer, is widely known for his eye-popping, colorful, and groovy designs, but what can we learn from his monochromatic works? Stylistically eclectic, formally complex, and materially decadent, these works hold valuable lessons that, upon further inspection, make great precedents for contemporary design explorations.

Why? Because Elrod anticipated a now distinctly contemporary form of eclecticism that combines the curatorial approach of discerning taste with a no-holds-barred, cabinet of curiosities-centered sensibility that relies on color and materiality to seemingly tie together new and traditional spaces and objects alike. While Elrod’s colorful works are sure to wow, this approach is more effectively appreciated through the subtlety of his monochromatic designs, where Elrod manages to work in surprisingly explicit ways to undermine the notion that Modernism was founded on newness alone, and to erode the idea that design ha...

A Day At Space Saloon: Exploring Experimental Architecture in the High Desert of California

2019-06-26T12:54:00-04:00

Tucked between Palm Springs and Joshua Tree lies the Morongo Valley. This desert landscape may be an obscure location to hold a week-long student workshop. However, if there is one thing architects like Arata Isozaki and Albert Frey have taught us, it is that the desert is often a perfect backdrop for exploring materials, form, color, and spatial design.

The non-profit organization founded by Danny Wills and Gian Maria Socci provide a unique design laboratory experience for students to collect, explore, research, and experiment new potentials for design education. Not only do the students have the ability to prototype, build, and engage in transdisciplinary forms of architecture and design knowledge, they are also able to engage with practicing architects through site-specific projects. This year's Space Saloon experience titled "FIELDWORKS" allowed students to question various processes and techniques through data and data application.

Building Trust as an Attentive Firm with Fleetwood Fernandez Architects

2019-06-05T12:00:00-04:00

Trust between an architecture firm and its clients is as important as it is difficult to foster. As the founders of Fleetwood Fernandez Architects can attest, one method of establishing trust is to keep their firm small, allowing their relationships with select clients to become familiar and consistent during the arduous process of building a piece of architecture together. Through their strong partnership, they have achieved some of the most striking buildings and interiors in the Los Angeles area, including a Santa Monica home for a construction magnate and an upscale donut shop in Del Mar.

For this week's Studio Snapshot, we spoke with Hunter Fleetwood and Mariapaz Fernandez of Fleetwood Fernandez Architects. We discussed the difficulties of the first year of running the office, imagining an ideal client as well as the pleasures and setbacks of remaining a small firm.

Designing AND Developing Is a Fantasy for Many Architects; David Freeland Tells Us How FreelandBuck Did It With the Stack House

2018-09-14T12:00:00-04:00

Nestled in the hillsides of North East Los Angeles, a new four-story home built by the architecture duo FreelandBuck is offering a lucky buyer a taste of quintessential California living. Designed as a series of volumes stacked on top one another to slightly varying orientations, the 2,207-square foot residence comes complete with a wide-open floor plan, seamless indoor-outdoor living spaces, far-reaching views of the San Gabriel Mountains, and an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that can be rented out or used as office space.

Designing for Disaster, Before It Happens: Resilient by Design Seeks Architects

2017-06-02T12:41:00-04:00

Disasters resulting from climate change, such as sea level rise, often cause billions of dollars of damage. In an era when the United States Federal Government has largely withdrawn from climate change policy, San Francisco Bay Area-based Resilient by Design has released a design brief in hopes of assembling ten teams of architects, engineers, designers and experts to help anticipate and design for the needs of the region before massive devastation occurs. So what architects should apply?

Establishing Shot: Will the Hollywood Competition Redefine Single Family Housing?

2017-02-02T12:17:00-05:00

What is the future of single family housing? For Nick Graham of Arch Out Loud and property owner Steve Alper, the tract of land just below the Hollywood sign offers designers a powerful opportunity to (re)define sustainable design and future living.

At home in a changing climate: strategies for adapting to sea level rise

2016-08-03T10:09:00-04:00

For most of us, ‘home’ conjures a sense of safety and security. But a home is a fragile thing: vulnerable to quaking ground, rushing water, violent winds—not to mention, the volatility of finances and health. This has never been more true than in the time of climate change. The global thermostat of the home in which we build our homes is on the fritz.

Architectural panel tape proves its strength with SPF:architects' Double Stick project

2016-04-09T10:49:00-04:00

The “Double Stick” residence comes by its name honestly. With an impressive anodized aluminum façade held in place by a high performance, two-sided architectural panel tape, this 5,000-square-foot single-family dwelling designed by Studio Pali Fekete architects is a stellar expression of modern design and engineering.

Site/Context: Cupertino's rate of change

2015-10-14T11:34:00-04:00

And the winners of Archinect's Dry Futures competition, "Pragmatic" category, are...

2015-09-16T14:00:00-04:00

As much of the US is put through a record heatwave and the drought in California staggers on, jurors for Archinect's Dry Futures competition have been sweating through the entries to find which proposals will prevail. After reviewing the many submissions, and discussing them at length, the winners have been selected!

And the winners of Archinect's Dry Futures competition, "Speculative" category, are...

2015-09-16T14:00:00-04:00

Even with an epic El Niño expected to appear on the horizon, California remains locked in its severe and historic drought. But while water may be scarce in the country's largest economy, provocative and thoughtful submissions to Archinect's Dry Futures competition weren't.

The Deans List: David Gissen of California College of the Arts

2013-11-21T13:27:00-05:00

The Deans List is an interview series with the leaders of architecture schools, worldwide. The series profiles the school’s programming, as defined by the head honcho – giving an invaluable perspective into the institution’s unique curriculum, faculty and academic environment.

For our first installment, we spoke with David Gissen, the Director of Architecture at California College of the Arts in San Francisco.

Review: Central Park at Playa Vista by Michael Maltzan Architects

2011-04-27T14:27:00-04:00

Placed near the east end of continuously expanding Playa Vista, a mixed use development with the marketing strategies and lifestyles of loosely called New Urbanist or thereabouts genre, the newly opened “Central Park“ could be described with the words of my film maker friend as a “designer park,” meant semi ironically and with an admiration for its talented layout and realization.

A Conversation with Michael Woo

2011-04-07T20:02:59-04:00

By Orhan Ayyüce

Michael Woo is the dean of California Polytechnic University, Pomona the College of Environmental Design which contains departments of Architecture, Art, Landscape Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, and the John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies. He is a familiar name in Southern California. Mr. Woo has served in Los Angeles City Council and ran for the mayor's office in 1993 as the Democratic candidate, losing by a small margin to Republican candidate and businessman Richard Riordan. A planner by education, Mr. Woo is a unique dean for a design school with the background of an established politician and, to a degree, an environmental activist. I sat down with him last December in his office and had this conversation.