001 → Forms & Function

Sacred and Profane

Bathhouse and laundromat
LA River, 2019

Umberto Eco suggests that we're subliminally attracted to what we often avoid in daily life. This concept applies to the distinction between sacred and profane experiences, exemplified in public bathing cultures worldwide. The project proposes inverting these roles by combining a bathhouse (ritual) with a laundromat (routine) along the LA River. Sacred water from Owens Valley filters through the building, transforming into "holy water." The design contrasts opaque and transparent elements, marble and stone surfaces, and hidden and exposed spaces to blur the lines between sacred and profane. This creates a unique path where visitors experience both realms while taking in the city's horizon.

City of Space

Bullring and parking
Barcelona Port, 2018

After World War II, Barcelona's growth was driven by the SEAT car industry. As car production increased, a parking structure near the port became necessary. Lamborghini, a SEAT partner with a passion for bullfighting due to his Taurus zodiac sign, sponsored the project on condition it included a bullfighting arena. Local architect Ricardo Bofill, known for his collection of bullfighting postcards, designed the structure. His plan featured a three-row parking system on the first floor, space for bulls, and audience seating. Bofill employed his signature stacking method for platforms, enclosed the exterior with brutalist-style solid walls, and incorporated arched sections for spectators. His distinctive staircase design, reminiscent of his housing projects, connected the various levels and platforms.

Multi-Family Housing

West Hollywood housing
1051 Splaunding Ave., 2017

Major Architecture Components: 12 units: A two-story house with a central circulation core. Three units on each side stacked to the second floor. The units' square footage is designed in a rhythm of A, B, C and repeats on each side with different orientations - two two-bedroom townhouses, two flats, four one-bedroom flats, and four studios. Construction Type: Type I-A for Subterranean Parking - Type V-A for Residential Units. Structural System: The parking starts 2 feet away from the site property line. The edge of the property has a front retaining concrete wall 24 feet high, which extends down 12 feet. The walls in the parking are concrete with a 2-hour fire rating, and as the level rises the wall materials transition to wood studs and gypsum board with a 45-minute fire rating. The two 1-foot thick circulation walls are also concrete. At some windows, there are existing wing walls above and below that frame the glass.

Maison Dom-ino

Material Transformation
MIT Chapel, 2017

The chapel, located on the MIT campus in Boston, was designed by architect Eero Saarinen. It was conceived to provide a private and poetic space for visitors and musicians. The landscape follows the same pattern as the campus walkways, with walls and trees providing a uniform background for the chapel and isolating the site from the noise and bustle of adjacent buildings.The cylindrical building's unique and graceful design was intended to meet the needs of all faiths and continues to serve that purpose. The structure's main body is formed by a solid curved brick wall supported by four columns surrounding it. The interior offers views of the curving brick wall, creating a more poetic space. This cylinder was designed as an unwrapped rectangular brick structure that transforms into the wrapped cylindrical form. Additionally, the brick wall is proportionally divided into the interior cylinder, entrance, and an empty space inside.

In-fill

Office building
San Pedro, CA, 2016

The idea of the architect was to experience the area and land. Thomas Phifer has a great understanding of Urban planning and design. This building is the architect of geometry with a sequence of views. This building and the Pavillion have geometric repetition. In spirit, the building is recalling the Ancient Greek Temple, engage the visitors to landscape more than the building itself. The building is made out of wood and glass. The glance of this building is the cantilever idea that is hanging over the edge which is the guest house. The order behind the diversity mimics endless human variation. The variation between human that shapes their characteristics, skills, and creativity. The repetitive rhythms of sequence merge and become united and unique. The axial line oblique to an angle that makes juxtaposition between two spaces that represent team collaboration and sliding together. This divergence angle aids each space that perches in the landscape to receive sunlight.
--” The journey of arrival at the Millbrook House is an unhurried ascent, focused on experiencing and re-experiencing the land.”

Tower Strcuture

Observatory
Mount Wilson, CA : 2017

The tower's foundation must be located within the sloped area of the model base. Provide three viewing platforms within 400 square feet serving the following: look up, look down, look in. The required height of the floor level of the top viewing platform must be 45 feet above the zero plane. One of the three platforms must reach 24 feet over the ravine. Model making requirement: rubber cement allowed, no wood glue or super glues allowed.

Mahram Garden

Landscape
Rolling Hills Estates, CA : 2020

The Rolling Hills backyard design embraces the hillside terrain with a multi-level landscape. A sleek infinity pool becomes the centerpiece, seemingly merging with the distant ocean views. Adjacent to the pool, a raised jacuzzi offers a cozy retreat. Drought-resistant native plants like coastal sage and manzanita surround the area, providing low-maintenance greenery. A natural stone patio with built-in fire pit creates an ideal entertaining space. Terraced levels connected by winding decomposed granite paths lead to intimate garden nooks, featuring a mix of succulents and ornamental grasses. Strategic lighting enhances the evening ambiance, while olive trees offer shade and Spanish style charm, completing this serene hilltop oasis.

Expo Park Bridges

Johnston MarkLee Shanghai, China , 2018
A different sort of pedestrian passageway, a bridge, was completed along the east bank of the Huangpu River in Shanghai’s Pudong district. While the bridge—more precisely, a 56,000-square-foot plaza with two irregularly shaped spans extending over a manmade waterway—evokes the moon gate in both name and form, its concerns are more egalitarian in nature.

MacArthur Conservatory

Omgivning
MacArthur, 2018

Constructed in 1926, this impressive 11-floor building was originally home to Elks Lodge No. 99, a chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. This fraternal group and social organization commissioned architects Alexander Curlett and Claud Beelman to design the structure. The interior featured painted murals by artist Anthony B. Heinsbergen.

Line Hotel

Omgivning
Los Angeles, 2020

The adaptive reuse project, which will convert the building's upper floors into 109 rental apartments - some as small as 380 square feet in size. The residential units will use "creatively deployed areas for seating and storage," and incorporate upscale fixtures, finishes, and detailing to show that "small areas and high quality are not incompatible," according to a design narrative by the architect. Plans call for retaining and upgrading existing ground-floor retail space, as well as converting the building's basement level into a bar. The Lane Building's rooftop will be activated with a landscaped deck with dining space, as well as new metal structures to extend three 1,100-square-foot penthouse unit with private outdoor access.

Murrieta Hot Spring

Omgivning
Historic Preservation, 2021

The project involves transforming a 46-acre former bible college campus into a hotel, restoring its original purpose as a resort centered around a historic mineral hot spring. The renovation plan includes, converting dormitories and existing lodging facilities into hotel accommodations, repurposing the campus library, gymnasium, classrooms, meeting areas, and dining facilities into new spaces for the hotel, spa, and resort amenities.

Skydance Media

LMA office
Art District, 2019

The BXP campus underwent a comprehensive repositioning effort across multiple buildings. This included establishing a new building standard for finishes, hardware, and fixtures; renovating courtyards with convenience stairs; adding communal amenities; upgrading corridors and restrooms; creating a spec suite; renovating lobbies; applying a new exterior paint scheme; and installing electric car charging stations. These improvements modernized the campus, enhancing its appeal and functionality for tenants.

TRACTION

LMA office

Art District, 2019

Traction is a 40,000 SF adaptive-reuse project which activates the city block, providing retail and restaurant space on the ground level and office space on the second floor, with access to an amenity roof deck. The project consists of six seismically separated buildings; three new and three existing, one of which is a 100-year-old previously unreinforced brick building.

VRV : OmgiVRV : OMGIVNING OFFICE : INTERIOR CURATION : 2022

VRV is a modern apartment complex located in the growing arts neighborhood of Stanton, in the northern part of Orange County. When designing the shared areas, our main goal was to select artwork that, reflected the lively character of the development, captured the spirit of creative living that VRV represents.

RED CARPET : TOLO OFFICE : YUNHEE MIN : UCR MUSEUM : 2018

A large-scale installation resulting from collaboration between architect Peter Tolkin and artist Yunhee Min. This undulating fabric structure serves as both viewable art and inhabitable space. Inspired by Renaissance ceiling paintings, it's constructed using canvas and over 15,000 colored paper tubes. Parametric scripting enabled precise control of the parabolic curvatures formed by the compressed tubes. The installation's design harmonizes with the classical proportions of UCR's Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts atrium, creating a unique visual and spatial experience.