drawing a line

beyond words

Architectural ideas unlike concepts from other disciplines can’t be described through words and writing alone, and as much as we think that verbal descriptions and persuasion, interpretive dance and handwaving at job-sites might help it is the drawing that describes the architect’s vision. For architects, to speak is to draw. A drawing is a recipe, a set of instructions, ‘the Bible’ around which everything revolves in order to conjure, plan and construct a building and a vision. Our language is visual. Every line, word and dimension carries meaning but as a whole a drawing must be visually clear and balanced. A drawing has a logic, a rhythm and a its own conventions and is in itself a crafted object, an objet d’art. It is this business of drawings that defines us as architects. An architect draws every day. It is the strongest tool in our arsenal to express ourselves the rest of the world. That and an occasional dance routine ;)

3_1.jpg

pluralists. problem solvers. people people.

Plāna is a Los Angeles based architecture studio rooted in design, ecological and social sustainability and effective project management. We want our end product to be a catalyst for positive personal, social and environmental change and be a source of inspiration and joy. Our aesthetic is timeless and streamlined. We develop solutions come from a deep understanding of our clients needs. And we stay around until they are implemented. We enjoy and celebrate the diversity of our clients that include schools, landowners and developers, private individuals and public institutions.

 

urban delight

dreaming of public spaces

It seems that under the current circumstances of continued self isolation, the public domain remains an idealized apparition as we delve deeper into the privacy of our dwellings. The experience of public space in urban centers, meeting a friend in a city square, walking across a public plaza, visiting a museum or gallery, sipping a coffee in a cafe, seem to be a long lost pastime as another wave of lockdowns ensue. The silver lining? With glimpses and memories of public space still alive in our minds and imaginations, we recall sunnier days and the outdoor spaces as they used to be or could be giving form to new visions.

2a.jpg
MASTER PLAN FOR WEBSITE.jpg

small gestures on grand scales

An early Plana study of the public space uniting Drew University and the MLK medical campus incorporates an open architectural typology with surrounds outdoors spaces through intricate walkways and farmscapes. A departure from the existing campus axis allows for better connectivity and community engagement. Serendipitous encounters between students, medical staff and members of the community, moments of bliss in a wild flower garden, a neighborhood festival with food trucks and music… Buildings themselves extend from these experiences into halls and classrooms, clinics and a completely open commissary and food hall.

14_MayaLin.jpg

pluralists. problem solvers. people people.

Plāna is a Los Angeles based architecture studio rooted in design, ecological and social sustainability and effective project management. We want our end product to be a catalyst for positive personal, social and environmental change and be a source of inspiration and joy. Our aesthetic is timeless and streamlined. We develop solutions come from a deep understanding of our clients needs. And we stay around until they are implemented. We enjoy and celebrate the diversity of our clients that include schools, landowners and developers, private individuals and public institutions.

 

well by design

11a.jpg

#healthCARE

May 15th is mental health awareness day. Wellness has grown from a vaguely understood trend focusing mostly on physical parameters to a widespread phenomenon in its own right and now includes a heightened awareness of metal health as well. We look to incorporate wellness principles not just in clinics and hospitals but also in offices and homes. At the office for example, with more time being spent at work, it was natural to start incorporating live-work balance and even live-work blurring to make the employees’ time there more comfortable, enjoyable and ultimately more productive. How we feel at work is greatly attributed to how we perceive our office culture emotionally just as much our physical environment.

5_1222.JPG

the project

When we started working on a Foster Care Clinic within the Los Angeles County system, it was clear from the start that those typical small waiting rooms with no daylight, dark colored therapy rooms and uncomfortable crammed work offices won’t do anymore… On the contrary, the project was all about transparency, light and optimism. We specifically selected light pastel colors that would appeal to children and took that theme through the open plan administrative offices as well. It was about having the chance to put a smile on people’s faces, to encourage encounters and collaboration, and provide comfort through the use use warm materials and textures. To be a place that lifts spirits and boosts energy.

pluralists. problem solvers. people people.

Plāna is a Los Angeles based architecture studio rooted in design, ecological and social sustainability and effective project management. We want our end product to be a catalyst for positive personal, social and environmental change and be a source of inspiration and joy. Our aesthetic is timeless and streamlined. We develop solutions come from a deep understanding of our clients needs. And we stay around until they are implemented. We enjoy and celebrate the diversity of our clients that include schools, landowners and developers, private individuals and public institutions.