Interior Design recently posted an article on MA's collaboration with clothing retailer, BLDWN. The flagship store recently opened on Melrose Place in Los Angeles. The design for this 1,200 square foot retail store is an homage to the classic American craftsmanship true to the brand’s philosophy. The space is crafted as a series of framed vignettes that seam together the BLDWN story, one of both lifestyle and the celebration of the American lineage.

A recent article on The Chalkboard recognizes the changing landscape in retail, designating "experience" as the new driving strategy behind stores. The article highlights seven retail stores in LA that deliver an "experience" with three MA projects, including Raquel Allegra, The Row Melrose and BLDWN.

On November 13, La Mobiliere hosted its 9th edition of Dimension Mobilière at the Swisstech Convention Center in Lausanne. The theme -- "Against the Tide" -- explored the evolution of our habits and our ways of thinking. David was invited as a panel speaker to discuss the role of architecture in the community, and the importance of instilling values and culture into the work. David's personal experience brings a unique integration of Swiss and American culture to the built environment.  

On October 14th, 2019, MA joined 150 other architecture and design firms to celebrate the winners of the 2018 and 2019 Architecture MasterPrize. The event at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao featured the Architectural Designs, Products and Firms of the Year winners, alongside a dinner from Michelin-star chef Josean Alija.  We are excited to have 5 projects amongst the winners: LR2 Residence, Whitepod Zen Suite, Studio Dental II, Raquel Allegra, and COH Showroom!

In their newly released November issue, Wallpaper features LR2 Residence in an article that highlights the core concept of the project, a "contrast between bombast and retreat, between building and nature." Set on steep hillside terrain, the programmatic elements peel away from the primary group of building blocks and shift to follow the rough slope of the land to maximize views and space.

Join us and the arts community at Bergamot Station, Santa Monica for the annual Summer Open House event on Saturday, July 27th. The Summer Open House highlights gallery exhibitions and brings together live music, food trucks and special events.  We will be highlighting a few of our projects with a Process vs. Product side-by-side showcase. Stop by MA East, Suite D5! This is a free, family friendly event.

Set alongside Lake Geneva’s shores, this two-level residence is organized to take full advantage of the lake views. Direct access to both levels from the exterior allowed for an unconventional layering of programs, the private spaces on the lower level and the public spaces on the upper, to maximize exposure to the most dramatic views. Though programmatically separate, the two levels are centrally connected through a spiral staircase wrapped in wood louvers. The primary living area on the upper level is accented with a drastic pitched ceiling that visually gestures to the exterior terrace, an extension of the living area, and the lake views beyond.

We are excited to announce LR2 Residence has been selected as a finalist for this year’s World Architecture Festival in the House - Completed category. The World Architecture Festival program is a three-day event presenting key-note speakers, discussion and debates among architects worldwide and we are looking forward to participating. 

Construction on a new 5,000 square foot residence in Venice, California is nearly complete. The design for this residence began with its exterior -- 3 ‘gardens’ to enjoy the year-round temperate climate. The scale of the gardens is varied with one larger garden creating drama while two smaller gardens allow for intimacy and moments of pause. A series of parallel datum walls constructed of CMU blocks anchor the gardens and organize the interior spaces around the exterior space. The materiality of the wall evokes a sense of heaviness and provides a visual marker between floors. The volumes of interior spaces are stretched and overlapped to create an overall building mass built with a sensitivity to the scale and interplay of the exterior space. Wood siding wraps the perimeter and sits atop the massive walls, lifting and lightening the massing.

David, along with Alexandre Salice and Derek Buell, celebrated the win of Studio Dental II at the AIA Conference on Architecture 2019 in Las Vegas. The conference used the ever-changing landscape of Las Vegas as a lens to explore how architecture and design can address the critical challenges facing cities around the world today.

Construction recently began in the high hills of Malibu for a new single-family residence. Anchored by multi-level travertine walls and massive operable window-walls, the design for the house dissolves into the landscape as it opens up the interior spaces to the surrounding site and the ocean beyond. Wood finishes warm the interior while water and landscape elements across the exterior will provide the backdrop for the family’s sculpture collection.

Each year 100 personalities are elected for invitation to the Forum des 100, a platform for debate and discussion aimed at promoting the economic dynamism and creativity characteristic of the French-speaking region of Switzerland. Following a recent article in Le Temps, David was selected to participate in the day long conference. Held at EPFL’s Swisstech Convention Center, the theme this year was “Ecological transition: the time of action."

The MA team celebrated alongside LA peers last night at the AIA|LA ceremony event where LR2 was awarded an Honor level Residential Architecture Award. Of the project, the jury remarked,"...the ends of the volumes have a concavity that remakes the side of the building into a volume. It's a fascinating strategy for the massing of the house, adding to the elegant and refined design."

Every year, AIA|LA hosts the annual 2x8 student exhibit, a program that showcases student work from architecture and design institutions throughout California. The grand opening party will take place on May 9th at the Helms Design Center Trade Showroom from 5:30-8:30. Montalba Architects is pleased to sponsor the event and we look forward to seeing the work.

Construction on a 5,000 sq. ft. single family residence in Santa Monica Canyon is scheduled to conclude in April. With millwork installation wrapping up, much of the interior work is complete, though exterior landscaping and site work will continue through the next month. Landscape and site work are central to the primary design intent, which is the dissolution of boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. The house is divided into two distinct volumes bisected by a strip of landscaping. This folding garden feature subtly incorporates backyard greenery into the footprint of the living space. In this way, the house’s built structure is inextricable from the plot of land on which it lies allowing the home to feel like a sheltered outgrowth of the site itself. 

The Whitepod eco-luxury resort, situated high in the Swiss Alps about an hour outside of Lausanne, immerses its guests in the unique experience of the alpine landscape. The pod design was inspired by the concept of Zen as well as the Wu Ting movement theory, which postulates that "everything is connected, everything is energy.” The interconnectivity and the notion of ritual of the five natural elements informs both Pods’ interiors. A central circle that conceptually represents the cycle of time is shifted and duplicated to create a relative positioning of programmatic spaces. The wooden walls are curved to define these spaces and finished with precise details. The focal point of the primary space is a recessed bed surrounded by a tatami mat, and a raised tub echoes this positioning at the core of the circular bath. 

In conjunction with Frieze Art Fair Los Angeles and ALAC (Art Los Angeles Contemporary), Montalba Architects will be joining 20+ galleries at Bergamot Station for ART + Brunch. Our exhibit will feature renderings of current projects, as well as a model making demonstration using our 3D printer. Join us for art + brunch bites Saturday, February 16th from 10am-12pm.

We are very happy to announce the promotion of six staff members -- Juliet Hsieh, Alex Salice, Jen Loesche, and Jon Handzo to Associate and Vanessa Valeriano and Caroline Kang to Senior Designer. “Each of these dedicated individuals is highly engaged in our practice and motived by learning a variety of disciplines. And beyond their individual strengths and skills, they all share the same underlying quality: the positive and constructive attitude that is the foundation of the MA spirit,” said David Montalba. Congratulations!

Montalba Architects is proud be named “Best Contemporary Architecture Firm” by Angeleno magazine in its January 2019 guide to the best of LA’s home design and décor. The feature highlights our award-winning local projects Nobu Ryokan, The Little Beach House and The Row’s Melrose Place boutique as noteworthy LA landmarks.

The artgenève 2019 salon d'art will debut a conceptual venue space designed by MA for its ARTalk series. Entitled 99% AIR, the space will be constructed using only inflatable elements for its seating and staging, whereby transforming air into the primary material. The venue for the ARTalk discussions provides a breath of “fresh air” in artgeneve’s visually dense Palexpo hall, and an empty area in which to sit, relax and discuss the content of the surrounding exhibits. Once the artgenève event comes to a close, the dismantled venue will leave behind only 1% of its total mass as material waste. The conference runs from January 31 to February 3, we hope to see you there!

Studio Dental II receives highest honors in the 2019 AIA Interior Architecture Award which celebrates innovative design achievement in interior spaces. Situated within a rapidly developing neighborhood in San Francisco’s financial district, the project is defined by a conceptual ‘lantern’ within the dark building core.  This central idea gives a volumetric sense of scale, luminescence, and transparency to serve as the framework for a series of operatories within. 

Happy New Year from all of us at MA!

Construction recently finished for an office in Pully, Switzerland. Situated on the ground level, the concept for the company’s new headquarters is a ‘building within a building’. Based on a series of coalescing transparent boxes, the enclosed offices, meeting rooms and yoga/gym area together form the boundaries of communal space. These boundaries are softened and blurred with the use of materials. Large sliding glass partitions allow for unobstructed views through the space and create flexible division between programs adapting to working needs for different groups. 

On Thursday, Founding Principal David Montalba presented Studio Dental II to an esteemed jury at The World Architecture Festival Awards (WAF). WAF is a global award program that coincides with a three-day event filled with keynote speakers and presentations. We are excited to participate.

We are honored to have three projects win an award in this year’s Architecture MasterPrize - Raquel Allegra, Studio Dental II and COH Showroom. Bex and Arts was also recognized with an Honorable Mention. The Architecture MasterPrize honors worldwide projects in the disciplines of architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture, and projects were reviewed by a some of the industry's top designers. A winner's event will be held next year at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain. 

Tuesday night, David and several other MA staff, accepted a merit award in the Built category for Studio Dental II at the 2018 AIA|LA Design Awards gala. The event was hosted at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood and celebrated the award recipients amongst Los Angeles' architectural community. We were honored to be apart of the celebration!

With the exterior Swiss Pearl paneling up, final interior work is being wrapped up at a hillside residence in Pasadena. A ‘matchbox’ concept was the driving force behind the design intention of this studio residence. The layered volumes step downhill, creating open spaces between the masses for integrated planting areas, covered terraces and dual linear water features for passive cooling. In addition to increasing the buildable area of the home, views are maximized by pulling out and pivoting the volumes.

Design for a new residence is beginning on the sloped terraces of Lavaux Vineyards on the south-facing northern shores of Lake Geneva. Named UNESCO World Heritage site, the vineyards can be traced back to the 11th century when Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries controlled the area. The wine produced from these vineyards has long played an important part of the local economy. The site is an amazing example of centuries-long interaction between people and land, a relationship that is deeply rooted in the design values for MA.

A recent article in Surface magazine features The Row as one of 6 retail spaces to capture brand identity in the built environment stating the flagship store is “...a tribute to California Modernism, which is echoed by The Row’s own clean-lined aesthetic and signature style.” The brand’s sophisticated approach to tailoring and detail is the inspiration for the subtlety of the built space. The site was also once a private residence and much of the design references this context. Visually undisturbed floor-to-ceiling glazing seamlessly joins the ‘library’, ‘dining room’ and ‘living room’ quarters, all filled with sunlight from the central courtyard. Rather than focusing on the product and the point of sale, the design was redirected to focus on creating an intimate space that feels like a place where one would want to sit, relax, think or socialize. 

We are excited to announce Studio Dental II has been selected as a finalist for this year’s World Architecture Festival in the Health - Completed Buildings category!  The shortlist this year includes projects from 81 countries and all finalists will present at the festival in Amsterdam. The World Architecture Festival program is a three-day event presenting key-note speakers, discussion and debates among architects worldwide and we are excited to participate.  

A large fixed window was recently installed at the basement level of the San Lorenzo residence in Santa Monica. The glass wall looks onto a folding garden feature set within a three-story courtyard that feeds light though each of the floors and provides unobstructed sightlines to the green spaces. The glass is captured by concrete on all sides, maximizing light and dissolving the boundaries between the spaces.

Cerniers 21 is a preliminary proposal for 21 chalets above Monthey, Switzerland.  The design combines the function of a traditional Swiss chalet with the form of a camping tent.  Large openings on the North and South sides overlook the city of Monthey and flood the interiors with natural light. The frame is clad in local wood and sits atop piles allowing the chalets to integrate into the sloped landscape with little impact to the land.

Over the weekend, MA participated in Make a Mess day at Bergamot Station.  Over 400 kids grades K-8 flooded the galleries and grounds of Bergamot to participate in a wide range of art projects.  MA led an Observational Drawing workshop whereby kids were asked to depict an area of Bergamot with a focus on lighting, proportions, and relationships between objects. 

Wednesday evening at Perspective Europe: International Architecture Forum in Venice, THE PLAN magazine announced the winners of THE PLAN Award 2018 and MA had two projects amongst those receiving recognition:  Studio Dental II was a finalist and Raquel Allegra received Honorable Mention.  The annual conference coincides with the opening of the Venice Biennale Architecttura 2018.  This year’s question of FREESPACE “focuses on architecture’s ability to provide free and additional spatial gifts [and] encompasses freedom to imagine the free space of time and memory, binding past, present and future together, building on inherited cultural layers, weaving the archaic with the contemporary.” 

Construction of a 3,700 sf single family beach home in Oxnard is nearing completion.  Intended to be a second home and gathering point for family and friends, communal spaces and expansive ocean views are central to the first floor, while the second and third floors are reserved for more private spaces - the guest and master suites.  Connecting the varying levels of program and privacy is the stair core.  Flooded with light from above, the stairs are encased in vertical wood louvers bridging all three levels. The louvers allow light and ambient activity to travel throughout, while structurally supporting the stairs.  

The 2x8 opening reception for the AIA Los Angeles student exhibit, 2x8: Interlaced, will be held this coming Tuesday, May 22 at Helms District in Culver City. Montalba Architects is a longtime supporter of the program, which showcases exemplary student design work from institutions across southern California. The reception will announce the student winner (work that was submitted as part of the AIAlLA’s student competition), alongside a Pecha Kulcha with students and jurors.

Newly discovered archives of Los Angeles photographer Marvin Rand have been recently released in a book, ‘California Captured’ (Phaidon).  Rand, a significant chronicler of postwar Los Angeles, captured iconic mid-century buildings with a critical lens.  He photographed them as part of the city fabric, beyond a lifestyle spotlight. Rand’s fervor for which he pursued his passions inspired the MA Marvin Rand scholarship given annually in tribute to his influential storytelling.

Erewhon Market opens in Santa Monica at the corner of Wilshire Blvd. and Harvard Street. Tasked with giving patrons a new shopping experience, the design highlights and unifies primary communal areas, while providing a platform by which the food is showcased and guests are encouraged to gather.  Large skylights flood the interiors with light and sculpted soffits with suspended opaque glass help fade ones’ awareness of the building edge.  A large indoor-outdoor trellis extends over the garden terrace imparting the dappled light effect of a tree canopy in an effort to create a landscaped communal space within the urban retail block.

As an avid supporter of youth mentorship programming, Founding Principal David Montalba, FAIA, completed a napkin sketch to be auctioned off at the annual ACE Spotlight Awards dinner on February 22. The ACE (Architecture Construction Engineering) Mentor Program raises money to help expose and educate students on careers in the design and construction industry. To date, the Los Angeles affiliate has provided over $1M in scholarships to local high school and college students pursuing a career in one of these fields.  Annually, the program reaches over 8,000 students nationwide.

Last year, Montalba Architects finished work on two, adjacent, waterfront residences in Malibu. The collaboration, which included Interior Designer, Chad Eisner, was featured in Luxe Magazine earlier this year. The piece details the complexity of building on the beach and the existing infrastructure of the home. With the help of builder George Peper, the team was able to focus efforts on updating and streamlining the home's design: incorporating traditional Japanese concepts and materials within a quintessential California approach.

The proposed redevelopment of Bergamot Station was officially approved by the City of Santa Monica.  Dubbed ‘The Alley’, the new mixed-use project will include a façade overhaul along Michigan Avenue and the introduction of an open-air shopping arcade, bisecting the current footprint between Michigan and 26th Street.  New tenants include retail, hospitality and corporate office space.  Montalba Architects is leading the design of the phased overhaul, which is slated to begin construction in April.

We are very happy to announce the promotion of five staff members in the New Year: Alix Schir to Associate Principal, Jose Diaz and Jordan Bartelt to Associate, and Cristina Martinez Yanez and Greg Oelker to Senior Designer. Collectively, their experience and project leadership within the office includes a variety of residential, commercial and hospitality work. “All five have been vital to the growth and development of the office over the last several years and we look forward to supporting their respective future paths here at MA” said Founding Principal, David Montalba, FAIA. Congratulations!

We are thankful for everyone’s support in 2017 and wish you all a happy and healthy New Year! 

Montalba Architects along with Taslimi construction have transformed a former grocery store in West LA into the temporary UCLA graduate artists studios.  The current studio building in Culver City, is undergoing a ground-up redesign with an approximate 3 year timeline from start to finish.  The temporary space will serve the students in the interim until the new facilities are complete. 

For several years now, the need to densify the city of Lausanne and major cities along Lake Geneva has been and still is a major issue in the construction sector. This is one of the reasons why this renovation of an existing 1910 apartment building was brought to Montalba Architects. This project was designed to respect and improve the existing construction all the while adding a floor and highlighting one of the apartments major assets: the magnificent views of the Alps and the lake.

Montalba Architects is pleased to announce its newest addition the team: Nuno Ravara as Principal. Nuno has joined our Lausanne office as its acting director after working for over 16 years at Herzog & de Meuron, and will be leading our efforts in Switzerland and internationally. We are thrilled to have him here with us as such an important part of the MA team.

In conjunction with the culmination of Modernism Week, the Swiss Consulate of Los Angeles and The Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center presented Fall in Love With Frey, an event honoring the late Swiss-American Architect Albert Frey.  In 1988 Frey left his home and it's contents to the museum.  This year, the PSAM AD Center is presenting an exhibition honoring the work of both Frey and Lina Bo Bardi titled A Search for Living Architecture.  Montalba Architects was honored to support and attend the event, which included a private tour of the home.

Situated within a rapidly developing neighborhood in San Francisco’s financial district, the brand's first brick and mortar location is as unique and revolutionary as their previous office on wheels - completed by MA in 2013.  The design of the ±1,800 square foot space is based on the concept of a ‘lantern’ within the dark building core.  The floating interior communicates a volumetric sense of scale, luminescence and transparency to serve as the framework for the series of patient operatories within.  Moments of material contrast are introduced within the rough wall perimeter and reflective framed panels throughout.

The WIN Awards (World Interiors News) announced their shortlists this week and two MA retail projects have been honored:  the Citizens of Humanity Showroom in DTLA and the Raquel Allegra Flagship Boutique in Mid-City West.  The winners of each category - Greater / Less than 200 square meters respectively – will be announced in February at the Somerset House in London.  Other Montalba projects that have been previously recognized by the program include Cassia restaurant and Soho Little Beach House Malibu.

Over the last year, Montalba Architects has been working with Reformation clothing brand on two new tech-focused shops and their new corporate headquarters at the Platform development in Culver City.  The immensely successful, socially conscious brand engaged MA to help implement a new concept in sales and retail experience for their customers.  The tech-driven stores – one on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood and the other adjacent their new workspaces in Culver City – are minimally merchandised and encourage guests to sort through inventory options via iPad and touchscreens.

Montalba Architects recently completed the first Nobu restaurant in the Bay Area.  Situated within the Epiphany Hotel in Palo Alto, CA, the environment draws on signature Nobu design elements combined with traditional Japanese materials and an open environment that engages the street front beyond.  The interior palette includes warm teak woods, glass-laminated rice paper and bronze.  An continuous light cove runs through the space, enhancing the cinematic qualities of the design.  The feature white onyx bar seamlessly greets guests from the lobby of the hotel, ushering them through the intimate dining area.

The 13th edition of the Bex & Arts Triennale of contemporary outdoor sculpture, officially opened to the public today.  This year’s theme: Energy.  Commissioned by the event's Foundation Board, Montalba Architects teamed up with the Swiss FabLab to design the "Arts and Technologies" Pavilion for the exhibition, which is on display until mid October this year.  The pavilion houses manifestos and texts from the various contributing artists, as well as miniature hand-made, scale models of each of the site-specific pieces.  In the center of the pavilion, a FabLab workshop creates digitally manufactured elements for patrons to observe.

A new ±5,000 square foot, ground-up residence in Venice, CA is moving ahead steadily into construction. The design includes a main house, pool and an accessory building with guest suite, garage and gym.  Defining the space and creating informal gathering areas were important features for the Clients who have children and often like to entertain guests. Generous windows and an open, expansive floor plan help to create seamless flow between indoor and outdoor areas, both visually and physically.  The organization of spaces intentionally creates pockets of privacy while preserving key views for the family.

Located within the Westfield Century City shopping center (currently undergoing extensive renovation), a new, 30,000 square foot Equinox is just opened it's doors. The Tier X facility takes advantage of a private outdoor patio with sweeping views of Santa Monica and beyond. A series of folded blackened-metal portals take guests from the lobby lobby through the various areas of the club while CNC routed feature walls with accent light panels serve to distinguish and brand the expansive interior.     

The proposed concept for the new Erewhon Santa Monica located at 2800 Wilshire Blvd has received Review Board approval.  As lead Design Architect for the ±10,000 square foot flagship location, MA’s concept was to break down the otherwise disconnected retail block into a park-like environment, engaged with its surroundings through strategic landscaping and groundscaping elements. Entry is through the semi-public, indoor-outdoor trellised terrace at the corner of Wilshire Blvd and Harvard Street.  New facade and storefront design allows visibility from the street through the interior, while drop-down glass skylights filter natural light throughout the space. Project completion is slated for December 2017.  

MA finalizes its proposed design for the welcoming pavilion at Bex & Arts 2017.  The structure will be built with sustainability at the forefront, constructed solely with Swiss materials and with the interior wrapping acting as an air filtration system for circulation.  The program incorporates an exhibition space for more than 30 artwork models, a bookstore and library, as well as a fabrication laboratory that acts as a small-scale workshop for personal digital manufacturing. Two structural shelves support the roof while the open library and exhibition space encircle the fabrication laboratory located at the center.

Montalba Architects is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2016 Marvin Rand Scholarship. Awarded annually to an exemplary employee or affiliate who has demonstrated a commitment to continued personal and professional growth, The Marvin Rand Scholarship is dedicated to the late Marvin Rand, Hon. AIA (1924 – 2009).  Marvin exhibited a relentless eagerness and enthusiastic attitude in both his work and life. The scholarship is intended to go toward the recipient’s educational and professional development. This year’s awardee is Edward Winn, a designer in our Los Angeles office.  Eddy is headed to Ghana with a design build team to construct a project he developed while completing his studies.  Congratulations, and thanks from all of us at MA!

From everyone in Los Angeles and Lausanne: thank you for another inspiring year, we hope 2017 is full of cheer!

Grading is complete on a new lot in the Malibu Hills slated to begin construction in February 2017. The ground-up, single-family residence with 270-degree views of the ocean is anchored by discrete, multi-level travertine elements and massive operable window-walls. The property dissolves as it opens up the interior spaces to the surrounding site and the ocean beyond. Wood finishes warm the interior, while water and landscape elements across the exterior provide the backdrop for the family’s sculpture collection.  An open stair links the family’s main living spaces, each with a custom stone fireplace. Flanked by water feature and an infinity pool, the main living space coupled with a private guest suite above the garage provide the perfect setting for entertaining. 

The new ±30,000 square foot Equinox Vancouver flagship opened this month.  Developed around the concept of a 'sculpted canyon' inspired by Vancouver's architectural and natural landscapes, a bold, grand entry and lobby draws patrons in and establishes a strong visual connection between the clubs multiple floors.  Across from the prominent, blackened steel stair-core are the member services offices; glass boxes which allow for easy accessibility while maintaining privacy.  Rich, neutral materials of stone and wood create subtle texture while working to programmatically define spaces and guide patrons to main walkways.

The unveiling of the new Terminal 6 at LAX next month will showcase the extensive upgrades under construction for the last two years.  From enhanced lobby and lounge spaces to new ticketing, bag-check and security points, inspiration for the planning came from 'Sunset Boulevard'.  A series of hanging, double-layered stainless steel mesh fins with integrated LED lighting help guide passengers through the terminal's newest concession and retail islands.  Similar mechanisms were incorporated into the material selection and placement for additional, subtle wayfinding support.

A new single-family residence in Cow Hollow, a short walk from the Palace of Fine Arts, is currently in design.  The idea is to transform the dimly lit interior of the existing 3 story, ±2,900 square foot house into a light-filled space by extending the footprint while maintaining the generous, private outdoor garden.  New construction will include an additional 4th story studio space with front and back roof-decks capturing the surrounding views of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

At The Grove today in Los Angeles, the first brick and mortar location for Elizabeth and James was unveiled.  Almost two years since The Row flagship opened it’s doors on Melrose Place, this marks another collaboration between the brand's designers and Montalba Architects. Custom modular fixtures and furniture, and the Client’s carefully curated selection of vintage pieces and artwork accent the white, airy material palette of the 1,500 square foot space.  The open floor plan and flexible elements allow for a truly versatile space from season to season and with each collection.

By combining the best of California design with Swiss materials and construction methods, this 1,400 square foot, luxury apartment serves as the perfect summer vacation home. With panoramic views of Lake Geneva ahead, floor-to-ceiling window walls separate the interior and exterior living areas and bathe the entire space in natural light. In contrast with traditional vacation homes, art walls and custom, concealed, built-ins create an open floor plan with minimal visual clutter.

Soho Little Beach House quietly opened its doors to the public over the holiday weekend. The former Nikita restaurant site adjacent to Nobu Malibu on the Pacific Coast Highway was reimagined to incorporate a casual, creative vibe that has become synonymous with the brand's other private locations.  The two-story property includes a mix of indoor/outdoor seating areas, an open kitchen and bar area as well as changing rooms to accommodate guests stepping in from the beach.

Located at 8372 West 3rd Street, Raquel Allegra's first retail location is a beautiful balance between sculpted light and earthy materials. The 1,300 square foot boutique is naturally lit through the north facade and two central skylight features on opposite ends of the space. Polished concrete floors and rough stucco walls encase the refined metal fixtures and glass dressing rooms.  A louvered wooden ceiling sits just below the roofline, mimicking the existing structural elements while concealing necessary conduit and electrical wiring.  A custom facade entryway ensures a continuous design vernacular and serves to position the brand from street-level. 

This week, Montalba Architects will be presented with two accolades at the annual AIA Convention in Philadelphia, PA.  Studio Dental - MDU will be recognized, yet again, for its achievement in the Small Projects category, 'small gesture big impact' while  Founding Principal, David Montalba, will be elevated into the College of Fellows at this years FAIA Investiture Ceremony at the University of Pennsylvania, Irvine Auditorium.  We are both honored and excited to spend a few days in the City of Brotherly Love.

With the recent launch of their accessories and shoe line, Monique Lhuillier commissioned Montalba Architects, Inc. to create a sleek, contemporary display wall at the existing Madison Avenue Flagship boutique.  The new plaster millwork wall holds polished chrome, floating shelves with integrated, dimmable LED puck lights.  The result is a seamless refresh, which helps incorporate the new product within the existing brand aesthetic and layout of the space.

On Saturday, April 16th, Montalba Architects participated in Heal The Bay's annual Sandcastle Competition, which brings attention to issues related to water consumption and protection of resources. This years theme "From Summit to Sea",  inspired designs that explored the idea of water conservation.  The team from MA took home the coveted Most Creative Interpretation award for the Sharknado-themed construction. 

The opening reception for the new Swiss office in Lausanne, took place on Wednesday, March 23. In honor of the inauguration, MA designers curated an exhibition highlighting the firm's six fundamental design values.  A mix of architects, creatives and Clients attended the event which was meant to introduce to the Swiss market, the new office space as well as the firm's culture and body of work.  In September, the exhibition will make it's way back to LA for a complementary event.

On Saturday, March 19, Montalba Architects attended the A.UD 50 Gala at the IDEAS campus in Playa Vista.  Celebrating the department's 50th anniversary, the event honored innovative designer Yves Behar, former co-chair of the UCLA Urban Design program Denise Scott Brown, and Palm Springs Modern Architecture Advocates.  In addition, distinguished AUD professors Thom Mayne, Greg Lynn, Dana Cuff and Neil Denari all spoke during the evening's program.

Last night at the historic Majestic Theater in downtown LA, the Los Angeles Business Journal hosted their annual Commercial Real Estate Awards dinner.  The evening included a wide range of honorees including our very own Cassia restaurant, for exceptional hospitality design.  The project team included the Client, the Rustic Canyon restaurant group, along with Sarlan Builders and Pacshore Partners.  Cassia opened to the public in June 2015 and has since been featured in several publications including Architectural Digest and Wallpaper magazine.

Last week, The College of Fellows of The American Institute of Architects announced it's new 2016 members.  Included in the prestigous group of designers was MA Founding Principal and former AIA LA board member, David Montalba.  The College will bestow honoree medals during the Investiture of Fellows Ceremony at the AIA National Convention 2016, on May 20th in Phildadelphia, PA.  

This year, Montalba Architects is proud to present the 2015 Marvin Rand Scholarship to Andrew Sieger.  A designer at the office for many years, Andrew has recently gone on to pursue a graduate degree in architecture. The annual endowment is bestowed upon an employee or affiliate who has demonstrated a commitment to continued personal and professional growth. The Marvin Rand Scholarship is dedicated in honor of the late Marvin Rand, Honorary AIA (1924 - 2009).  Congratulations Andrew, and thank you from all of us at MA!

Thanks to everyone for the continued support.  We can't wait to see what 2016 will bring!

Yesterday, at Sky Garden in London, UK, the winners of the 2015 World Interiors News Awards were announced.  The Row Flagship boutique on Melrose Place received an award for the Best Retail Interior, less than 200 square meters.  Completed in 2014, the ±4,400 sf space is the first for the brand and includes a large, central courtyard with a water feature that is visible from all of the individual retail salons.  Fully operable glazing blends the interior and exterior footprint to create a site that is open to the elements and welcomes the surrounding context into the building.  

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, MA is joining forces with the Westside Food Bank to collect non-perishable food items for donation.  The WSFB is a non-profit group that provides food to low-income people throughout the Westside of Los Angeles, enabling them to stay in their homes, thereby reducing the problem of homelessness. Approximately half of the food provided is acquired through donations; therefore, we hope to make a small impact through our collective efforts at the office.

Construction has begun on a new ±4,000 sf ground-up residence in the hills of Pasadena, CA.  35-foot deep steel cage piles are being embedded to create the footing for the home. The three story residence will include a screening room and a series of large, indoor/outdoor living terraces.  The living spaces are expanded by creating flexible environments throughout the footprint that can be both interior and exterior.  Anticipated completion for the project is December 2016. 

Last week, Montalba Architects presented The Row flagship boutique at the World Architecture Festival in Singapore.  Nathaniel Kean, Associate Principal and Project Manager, explained the concept and design approach to a panel of esteemed architectural critics in the category of Completed Retail Space.  Highlights of the trip included the urban/architecture tours, panel discussions and lectures and the Marina Bay Sands Infinity Pool, 57 stories above street level.  For a complete event recap including photos, videos and the list of winners, visit the official WAF website.

On Thursday, November 5th, Equinox Huntington Beach will officially open its doors to the public after a six-month construction phase.  The luxury fitness club features floor-to-ceiling windows with 270-degree, panoramic views of the adjacent waterfront.  The skylight in the main atrium above the stair core filters an abundance of natural light throughout the space.  The private fitness rooms, located at the center of the club, are enclosed with glazing on two sides, allowing an equal exposure to the elements across the footprint of the facility.

Early facade renderings for a ground-floor dental office in the Golden Gate Theatre building on Taylor Street in San Francisco, CA show the ±2,000 sf space within the context of the rapidly expanding neighborhood.  Located around the corner from Twitter and Uber headquarters, the area has become a hub for young businesses and entrepreneurs alike.  Choosing to honor the bones of the existing building has inspired the designers to create a bright, modern space that feels more like a gallery than a doctor’s office.

Montalba Architects, Inc. completes the schematic design for a new ±50,000 sf multi-family, mixed-use building in West LA.  The project includes luxury, ground-floor retail and restaurant space plus four floors of private residences.  Discrete outdoor space is worked into each individual unit in addition to the larger, rooftop communal green-space.  A pedestrian walkway bisects the plan, allowing for natural light and air to flow across the footprint of the site.

We have been carefully planning our second office for the last several years, with varying thoughts about location and timing.  Alas, we are returning to our roots in Lausanne, Switzerland.  With a ‘soft-opening’ October 1, the 1,400 square foot office is located on rue Central in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, only three hours from Paris and Milan. Two former designers from the LA office will lead the MA satellite branch on the ground, Guillaume Benier and Alix Schir.  Alongside Founding Principal David Montalba and other key LA staff, MA Sarl will be working with our international Clients in Switzerland and beyond.  With plans to focus on competition work at first, the Swiss team will work to develop a greater presence for MA in the overseas market.  Stay tuned for further details and upcoming projects.  We are very excited and you should be too!

Renderings for a new ±5,000 sf restaurant space in Downtown Los Angeles reveal dramatic 19-foot ceilings and an operable glass facade.  In an area with a rapidly developing hospitality sector, the location is distinguished by its size and large outdoor real estate.  In order to create more intimate, private seating alcoves throughout the restaurant without obstructing views or closing off sections of the floor plan, floor-to-ceiling, penetrable screens were used as partitions. Custom light fixtures and furnishings reference the industrial building shell while maintaining a polished, minimalist aesthetic.

Images of the recently completed stone tile feature wall in a new 30,000 square foot Equinox fitness club in Huntington Beach, reveal a notion of movement and texture through the tactile, multi-dimensional surface.  We were inspired both by the surrounding beach-side community and the patterns of the natural landscape.  The custom cnc panels are approximately 2’x4’ and 2” inches thick.  Construction will be wrapping up in the next month and the club is expected to open it’s doors in late 2015. 

World Interiors News (WIN) has just announced the shortlist for their 2015 awards program and The Row flagship store has advanced, along with three other projects, to final judging for best Retail Interiors.  Two MA projects were longlisted this year including Cafe Rockenwagner for best Restaurant.  The awards ceremony will take place at the Sky Garden in London on December 02, 2015. Of the four finalists under consideration, Montalba Architects, Inc. and The Row flagship boutique are the only US-based firm and project.

The AIA, California Council has announced the recipients for the 2015 Design Awards and MA has been honored not once, but twice, with a Merit Award for The Row Flagship Store and an Honor Award for Studio Dental, MDU.  Of those recognized, MA was one of only two California architecture firms that were honored for multiple projects.  "These awards are very meaningful for us because we know the other firms and the caliber of work that is up for condsideration, this type of acknowledgement is exceptionally humbling," says David Montalba, AIA, Founding Principal.

Studio Dental, Mobile Dental Unit is featured on Dezeen today with quotes from founding principal, David Montalba, AIA, regarding the challenges of designing a fully functional dental office in a 230 sf trailer. Why a mobile office one might ask? The average patient takes 3 hours out of the work day to visit the doctor's office, between driving, patient care and follow-up.  With MDU, this time is more than halved by bringing the doctor directly to the workplace.  Most patients are in and out within the hour and everything from the check-in to the follow-up is done digitally, further expediting the process. 

Jury comments for MDU, the winner of the Innovations in Planning and Design Research category of the 2015 AIA Healthcare awards included the following : At a time when the healthcare industry is re-evaluating methods of delivery, this project re-visions the concept of the mobile healthcare trailer with a design that could breathe new life into the typology. The trailer's unassuming and utilitarian exterior conceals a sophisticated and inviting interior with a warm and welcoming palette of materials.

In Chicago this past weekend, the American College of Healthcare Architects and The American Institute of Architects Academy of Architecture for Health, held their annual Summer Leadership Summit where Studio Dental, MDU was honored with the award for Innovation in Planning and Design Research, 2015. Representing Montalba Architects, Inc. was Jen Loesche, the project manager on MDU, who attended the summit and presented the process behind the design of such a non-traditional medical office to a diverse group of industry leaders and professionals.

Inspired by the unique design of exterior spaces, the text focuses on terraces, balconies, roof decks, courtyards, pocket gardens and other small outdoor spaces.  The 8-page spread on the Westridge Residence covers the extensive renovation and second floor addition completed by Montalba Architects, Inc. in 2010.  By opening up the interior spaces to one another and the surrounding site, the once dark, single-story residence was transformed into a light-filled hilltop abode.  The second story addition added incredible, sculpted views of Downtown Los Angeles while creating private outdoor space for the Client.

Construction will begin shortly as demo is wrapping up on the extensive renovation and addition to this waterfront residence in Oxnard, CA.  Comprised of three stories, this vacation home works for the various generations of family by allowing each tier to operate as a nearly independent living space.  This home is tied together by the significant stair core design which filters natural light into the core of the home while also creating privacy between each floor.

This past weekend patrons gathered for the annual Architecture + Design Museum fundraiser at their newly opened space in downtown Los Angeles.  Founding principal, David Montalba, in the past an active museum board member for many years, was proud to sponsor the event again this year and celebrate its new home.  The museum's inaugural exhibition will feature select designers and their reinterpretation of the notion of 'shelter' in an urban context.

Finalists for the WAF Awards 2015 were just announced and MA is honored to be a part of the shortlist for completed retail work.  Other notable firms with acknowledged work this year, include Foster + Partners and OMA. MA's project for The Row was the only US project nominated in the group of six retail finalists as it continues to garner design accolades both nationally and internationally.  The WAF/ World Architecture Festival 2015 will be held in Singapore November 4-6th and is expected to draw in thousands of architects and designers from around the world.

Originally built by A. Quincy Jones in 1956, Montalba Architects is overseeing a multi-phase renovation and restoration of the historical parish located in the hills of Malibu. Over the last several years, administrators have organized a handful of fundraisers to renovate and preserve the mid-century design.  Having raised enough to begin construction, phase 1 of the development is officially underway.

The 4,000 sf penthouse loft showroom in downtown LA's fashion district underwent a dramatic transformation which was focused on transforming the once dark, heavily clad space into a clean white-box gallery.  Floating canvases hang off of the painted brick walls and allow for merchandise display in silhouette.  Custom fixtures including brushed stainless steel display racks can be moved and removed altogether.

Just a stone's throw away from Lake Geneva in Lausanne, construction is underway on the base building of a new five-story apartment complex.  Nestled into the steep hillside slope with panoramic views of the lake ahead, Montalba Architects is designing the luxury 1,400 sf second floor unit for a repeat residential Client.  Anticipated completion is early Spring 2016.

At next month's awards luncheon and presentation, the Los Angeles Business Council will honor The Row store on Melrose Place for best retail design, 2015.  Joining the designers and also receiving an award for the project is the builders' team from Shawmut Design and Construction.  Completed in early 2014, the flagship boutique combines the idea of a private residence with a highly curated retail gallery.

The 16-room, discrete, beachfront hotel remains on schedule to open by early 2016.  The most recent renderings show the landscaping and private interior courtyard ambiance at dusk.  Adjacent Nobu on the PCH, we are sure the sunsets will be as much of a draw for guests as the private, luxury accomodations.  The interior material palette mirrors that of its neighbor with warm teak-lined rooms and calcutta marble fixtures. 

Studio Dental's mobile dental unit (MDU) was honored last week with an AIA, San Francisco 2015 Design Citation award. The 230 sf racecar trailer turned fully functional medical office houses several patient operatories, a waiting area and all of the equipment typically found in a traditional brick and mortar medical office.  MA custom designed every feature and fixture within the trailer in order to accomodate the unique scale and dimensions of the space. 

The Plan Awards have announced the 2015 shortlist and The Row flagship boutique by Montalba Architects, Inc. has been included in the finalists for Retail Project 2015 while Studio Dental, MDU is a finalist in the Special Projects Category. The winners will be announced at the end of the month as part of the International Architecture Forum Perspective 2015 - Mico, Milan.  The awards are intended to 'disseminate knowledge of and improve the quality of the work done by designers, academics, critics and students in the architecture, design and city planning fields, thereby promoting debate on topical design and planning themes.'

Demolition begins in early June on a ground-up residence in the Pasadena Hills.  Downslope from the family's main home which was extensively renovated and added on to by Montalba Architects, Inc. in 2010, the new residence will accomodate visiting guests and provide the Client with a seperate space for work and entertaining.  The four-story 'matchbox' design concept allows the second and third stories equal exposure to light and views.

Too soon for summer cocktails? No such thing at Cassia, a collaboration between Bryan Ng of Spice Table and the Rustic Canyon Group. This newest addition to the group is located at 1314 7th Street, Santa Monica, CA. The Vietnamese / French inspired bistro is anticipated to open in mid June with a week of friends and family menu tastings. We cannot wait...

The LA Canstruction event took place at the Farmers & Merchants Bank Building this morning.  Founding principal, David Montalba, judged the entries alongside noteworthy local chef Ray Garcia and Mary Melton, editor-in-cheif of Los Angeles Magazine. Winners will be announced this weekend and all building materials will be donated to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

MA gets a bird's-eye view perspective thanks to a 25-foot extender pole and action camera that was used to scout possible roof deck views in Holmby Hills. The lot was recently demoed to make way for a new ground-up 4,000 sf single family residence, expected to begin construction in August of this year.  The rooftop living space is guaranteed to have an excellent view.

The black, galvanized steel sign goes up as the final touches are completed on Mainland Poke Shop, the 600 sf limited in-house dining restaurant on 3rd street. The light wood and steel palette of the interior is complimented throughout by the Hawaiin inspired topographic designs. All of the branding graphics from the menu to the walls were designed in-house by the MA team. 

Final details on the MA facade renovation of an existing Koning Eizenberg building at Venice and Abbot Kinney Boulevard are wrapping up this week.  The louvered wood and blackened steel awnings above the ground-floor retail tenancies are in place and the facade lighting has been incorporated to highlight the corner structure at night.

If you haven't already done so, head over to the newly expanded Milo+Olive space. Although only just revealing the new addition to the public after months of renovation to expand both the dining area and the kitchen, the neighborhood favorite casual dining spot is already back at capacity and a table during prime lunch hours remains hard to come by. 

The bold entryway facade renovation of this two story club creates strong brand awareness within the city.  Inside, the retail spaces are situated adjacent the large, glazed street-front elements. Cool bright stones, natural light and blackened steel fixtures tie the space back to the history of the city while also creating a sophisticated, neutral palette for housing the culture and identity of the Equinox lifestyle.

MA is proud to sponsor POWERFUL: Women Leading Design, a one day symposium at the Annenberg Space for Photography.  The agenda for today's event is to highlight leadership roles for women in the industry, their impact and their importance.  Two MA designers attended the conference to contribute and engage with the rhetoric and return to share their experiences with the office.

Feature ceiling fins which visually guide passengers throughout LAX Terminal 6 designed by Montalba Architects, Inc. for Westfield, were mocked up by Arktura this past week. Double-layered stainless steel mesh with integrated LED lights were arranged to articulate direction and suggest circulation through a terminal which is currently disconnected by numerous past additions.

Second story deck framing wraps up on the PCH hotel project still expected to open early summer 2015.  Can you spot the steel to concrete connection at the center of the image?

May it be the best year yet for you and your loved ones.

Final design iterations for a 5,000 SF showroom in downtown LA's fashion district have been completed.  The penthouse loft is defined by a large linear skylight that runs through the center of the space.  The natural light and location have inspired the industrial, heritage aesthetic of exposed ceiling and brick walls.  Warmth is retained by the use of wood tables, canvas blocks and leather seating areas.

New renderings for a 4,000 SF single family home in Santa Monica Canyon are revealed. Conceptually, the house is split into two distinct volumes with a landscaped, transparent strip between.  The vertical atrium space that feeds light through each of the three floors, including the basement, provides views straight to the backyard, and above and below.  A folding garden feature sees the backyard greenery work its way subtly into the footprint.  Coupled with fully operable glazing and indoor/outdoor interstitial spaces, the home feels occupied from anywhere on the lot.

Montalba Architects is pleased to announce the promotions of three key staff members: Greg Stutheit, RA to Associate, and Alex Kith and Amanda Webber to Senior Designer. Together they have over 10 years of experience at MA. "Each of them has made substantial strides in leadership in our office and have contributed in various ways to our success and achievement. We are excited to be promoting them into further roles of influence within the team" said David Montalba, Founding Principal. Congratulations!

In addition to the three day office excursion to Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, Montalba Architects hosted an alumni dinner in Lausanne City Centre on the 15th of November.  Past interns and employees as well as current affiliates caught up at L'éléphant Blanc in honor of the MA ten year celebration.

New 600 SF fast-casual poke restaurant at 3rd and Fairfax is set to begin construction next month. The sober material palette supports the laminated-plywood and resin contour relief wall. A blackened steel outdoor seating bar is perfectly positioned for catching some quality vitamin d or watching the neighborhood stories unfold.

First render image from a 4,400 sf urban commercial space in Highland Park. The scheme calls for two tenants that share a central, defining courtyard, functioning as a border that breaks the lot into separate programmable spaces. The current facade material palette calls for a permeated metal mesh membrane that incorporates the street front elements into the space.  The open store-front as aperture includes patron seating and defines a viewing threshold that reads from either direction as an extension of the neighborhood. Curbed LA recently sited the project in an article about the gentrification of Highland Park.

These full scale screen mockups were created by one of our trusted fabricators for a shopping center renovation in Malibu’s Carbon Beach area. The composite wood louvers are reinforced with bronzed painted aluminum angles, creating the appearance of a shadow line, and set within a painted 6-inch deep painted aluminum frame. Louver spacing varies to maintain both shade and views across the nearly 18-foot panels. 

Home Renovation Trends features the whole house renovation of 2011’s Westridge, which began life as a nondescript, single story bungalow. The dramatic cantilevering rooflines frame spectacular views, while the material palette, including French white oak floors, teak millwork, and polished white stone fireplaces, reflect the “urban beach house” sensibility, which Principal David Montalba describes in the accompanying article.

We’re excited to host an upcoming ARkidECTURE workshop with the A+D Museum, here at Bergamot Station, on Saturday, January 25. MA staff, along with a group of future architects (we hope!), will be reimagining the City of LA along the I-10 corridor in Santa Monica. Tickets can be reserved on A+D’s website.

The latest, MA-designed addition to the empire, Café Röckenwagner, will officially open in about a week, but MA was delighted to take part in the opening celebration this weekend. Blackened steel frames puncture the faceted Heath Ceramics tile-covered kitchen wall to create windows into the kitchen and display opportunities for baked goods. Raw materials are used to refined effect-- such as concrete light fixtures and rift-sawn white oak bar counter-- in what Eater describes as a "bright and welcoming" interior.

Milo + Olive, completed in 2011, is featured in the first issue of World Interiors News’ INSIDE newsletter. “A combination of rustic and refined gestures,” the article notes, “create a chic, yet casual, environment.” The “raw, honest materials” throughout highlight the restrained and highly functional dual-purpose program, including display shelving and the entry ramp bar, which “cleverly transforms a formerly ‘dead space’ into an additional income-generating area.”

Montalba Architects is pleased to announce the promotions of two key staff members: Akiko Suzuki to Associate Principal and Lori Marmolejo to Senior Designer. “We’re proud to reward the wide-ranging contributions and unflappable commitment to the office of Akiko and Lori, as well as embracing an opportunity to diversify MA’s leadership team,” says Founding Principal David Montalba. Congratulations!

Looking forward to a spectacular 2014!