Winter Is Coming

a modern chalet

There is a romance and an abstract beauty to cold weather… especially for a design studio based in LA! So when we got to work on this ‘chalet’ in the Lemont neighborhood of Chicago, where the weather is known by long, freezing and windy winters, we jumped at the idea of creating a modern apparition veiled in snow. Working with existing architecture we redesigned this residential exterior to respond to the beauty of cold weather of the Great Lake region. We kept the dominant lines of the facade with the scaling sloped roof and the glass block vertical beacon and added horizontal slits to manipulate the proportions of the window openings. The result is a streamlined facade with minimal visual clutter. Yeh, that’s a Tesla truck in the driveway ;)

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snowflake

It was also important to us to create an effect of lightness for such an enormous house and have the house instead recede into its natural setting. There is something silently heroic in the way this building responds to the very harsh conditions of its surroundings. The siting and the way the structure integrates into the slopes, its fluttering, slanted roof planes almost make it seem as if the ice wrinkled and produced a shelter there. Winter teaches us a vigilance, rigor and resilience like no other season. Winter invites contemplation and a search for meaning and growth.

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home office

working smarter

How productive are you at your home office desk? Is your space isolated from all the other activities in your home? Do you have access to natural light? Is your chair comfy? All these little details play an important role in the way you work from home… In this home office we used system furniture to streamline the desk surfaces and minimize distractions. Diffused natural light coming from the glass block wall feature floods and energizes the space. An elevated loft serves as a cozy escape for reading and inspiration… OK great, now let’s get back to work!!!

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let’s go

Some tunes to help with the flow!

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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.

material girl

a poised palette

When selecting materials for a project we often start with the mood we would like to evoke. In this case we wanted this office building lobby to feel modern, light and warm. Whenever possible we used natural materials and synthetic materials when not. When using the latter we always convey the true nature of the material - for instance, vinyl will never be wood so why does it have to pretend (like in many LVT products)? The materials always need to work with each other and end up forming a family. Paint colors respond to the warmth, saturation and contrast of the other materials in a room for example. Echoes of one material find their way from one area to the next. Scale and light are also important…

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let’s get physical

When we work with materials, we often not only work with samples and textures but often request mockups of major building elements and custom features. Architecture occupies physical space, as do we in spite of technology, and it is important to test certain features ahead of time for their overall appearance, relationship with other building elements, longevity, etc. When was the last time you were impressed by a stone when you touched the counter at a bank, the particular way the sun hit a building facade making it sparkle or the tactile nature of draperies in a theater? Let this be an invitation to experience and lean into our environments, their materiality and enjoy…

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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.

minimalist homes

the concept

What happens when a client asks for a minimalist design and has a specific vision about the space being predominantly bare? Most people cringe at the thought of cold and empty spaces and are familiar with minimalism yet are somehow not at ease with it. When we think of places where we live we want them to be warm and inviting and we want to surround ourselves with things, objects and memories that remind us of our experiences or represent something about us. But what if this absence of content is an invitation to open up to new possibilities, to breathe and to think without distractions, to relax and recharge in a space as light and luminous as possible.

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the project

This Great Lake retreat was conceived for a young entrepreneur that values moments of stillness amidst a very dynamic career life. The original residence was updated with strategic strokes to open up spaces, update finishes and simplify and streamline spatial and functional aspects of the home. Minimal furnishings support the idea of ‘less is more’ and ample built in storage allows for books and other objects to be at hand while out of sight.

Now some Chicago jazz to set the mood…

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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.

sweet dreams

… are made of this

When designing a perfect master bedroom retreat, there are a few key aspects for this room to remain a personal getaway and safe-haven. This special place is an expression of ones personality, hopes and dreams and is an intimate oasis. Simple yet sophisticated and furnished with only what’s most needed. No clutter! With plenty of storage, the right elegant furniture and a cozy reading or lounge area such as a modern fireplace with a comfortable chair to unwind from a busy day… What more could one ask for? Well, maybe a soundtrack…

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bodies of water

In the hot days of summer what can be better than making a splash! Water cools, cleanses and provides instant relaxation and stress relief. It perhaps reminds us of our primordial home, the ocean. It is life giving, transformative. We are mostly water. It erodes rock gently over millennia and cuts it forcefully in a laser beam at the stoneyard. It is nourishing and healing and can destroy entire cities instantly in a tsunami or by sinking it over centuries like Venice. It is elusive and will run through your fingers. It will wipe you out is you are a surfer. You can float on it endlessly.

Water has many effects - it flows, glistens, murmurs and glows when illuminated from within and is one of the most abundant resources in nature. Many cultures give it special meaning and use it as a symbol. In dreams water can stand for emotion itself. We’re getting metaphysical here…

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When used as a design element water has a tremendous impact on our wellbeing. In our Encino Hills project we used water to separate an art pavilion from the rest of an internal private court. In doing so we used water as a special boundary to another realm of creativity, play and contemplation. Water features integrated into the pool and spa provide pleasant white noise suitable for relaxation. LEDs illuminate the pool from within added color therapy and party effects. Simple materials such as smooth plaster, concrete pavers, stone and white gravel and native plants integrated into the surrounding hillside create an oasis and retreat from the Los Angeles bustle.

terrific TIs

meeting our clients’ needs

It’s a challenge to meet and understand the demands of today’s office space users, who are multitasking and collaborating, while also trying to stay focused on their individual work and privacy. As architects and designers, it is our goal to create office spaces that can enhance and stimulate both, making them user-centered, flexible, private and BEAUTIFUL.

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making space personal

For our El Camino TI project we looked to provide a specific number of private offices for an attorney office while providing multiple flexible areas, a speak easy bar conference room, basement theater and gaming amenities, art gallery space and convertible conference and event spaces. A rooftop deck features plenty of outdoor areas for events, fundraisers or simply to soak up the sun.

studio city creative

the creative workplace

Long gone are the times of shoulder-to-shoulder “cubicles” as we evolved to open office concepts that are supporting creative thinking, collaborative working and innovation. Employees nowadays are looking for something more than just a job behind a desk. Companies are recognizing the need to support their employees need for inspiring spaces which nurture their mental and physical well-being on every level in order to optimize productivity and support the bottom line.

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tujunga creative office repositioning

The Studio City Creative Hub started as a dilapidated warehouse and became a dynamic open office space, but more than anything - a place where ideas are born. The concept for this project had a different, organic approach, where flexible office layouts had more space for group work, forums with screens for larger group presentations as well as greenery, designer furniture and accessories for a more artful and home-y vibe. Private offices and enclosed conference rooms are set on the borders and are completely transparent. This way, all activities are integrated, connected, visible and accessible, which leads to improved organization and productivity.

why the world needs more architects

#agreatercause

Architects solve complex technical issues on a daily basis, reach consensus amongst diverse teams and stakeholder groups over long periods of time a project might take to complete, envision, create and deliver buildings and edifices that have never existed before and that remain useful and relevant for generations to come. With aging buildings and infrastructure, the housing crisis and other social and economic issues, there needs to be more of the kind of thinking that architects employ for these issues to be resolved. 

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Our work on the Martin Luther King Community Medical Campus and the Family Wellness Center gave us the opportunity to make a difference. We worked on developing interior spaces for the Family Justice Center, Foster Care Clinic and the Special Needs Network all of which focus their efforts on providing care and resources to some of the most disadvantaged and at risk youth and children. The MLK Family Wellness Center is currently under construction and is about to open in early 2021.

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More than ever we need people who want the world to be a better place and have the capacity to envision and then realize it. What are your thoughts? Drop us a line…

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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.

landscape design

#subtletransitions

How does one blur the boundary between nature and architecture especially when nature can be so challenging with its ruggedness, slopes and grades and architecture strives for its clean lines, order and organization? In negotiating this transition we often set clear limits for where one begins and the other end but what if these limits were less defined and more playful. What if this transitional landscape is both wild and structured?

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#naturesbest

This is something we explored in this residential project situated in the Santa Monica mountains.

In this project, it was all about connecting and adapting to the existing topography and landscape. By paying attention to the sloped underutilized areas, the surrounding natural materials and wide range of indigenous plants, our design team found it challenging to domesticate those parts into the unobtrusive patio. It all led to implementing simple sculptural elements, gradually fading into the nature, forming a perfect oasis.

How would you use this kind of space? Would it be for morning meditation? Or maybe for some afternoon reading? Let us know!

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the interstitial space

in-between

Ma (間) is a Japanese concept which can be roughly translated as ‘gap’, ‘space’, ‘pause’ or ‘the space between parts’. This negative space is often unplanned and is left unoccupied and barren, an afterthought without content or meaning. The absence of content is an invitation to the imagination and inspiration...

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the concept

In the heart of Beverly Hills, just between historical office building and monotonous parking structure, it was our task to redesign the 10 feet gap among two building volumes. We veiled the existing parking structure with mesh paneling in order to create more dynamic and vibrant space. The contrast in color and texture provided a backdrop for a dynamic art sculpture. A new trellis structure provides cover and interest. We then added furniture, landscaping, and lighting to complete our ‘ma’ space. Now it is an uplifting space to walk through, take a private call or a spin on a ‘spun’ chair. What in-between spaces do you have ideas for?

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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.

constantly learning

growing-evolving

“Don’t just be who you are and what you are. Move, evolve, change and become better each day.” When it comes to personal and professional development, we must constantly evolve. We must grow and share what we learn along the way.

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knowledge is power

At Plāna Architects we are constantly learning through our work. Not just about architecture but about the world at large. Sharing our knowledge and experience is very important to us, both within our team and our clients and collaborators. Through our practice we look to connect with people by both asking and answering the right questions on various topics. Hearing diverse opinions and points of view helps us add depth and quality to the level of design and service we provide.

Since it’s original publication on LinkedIn Learning, Branka’s course ‘Understanding the Architectural Design Process’ received accolades from both architects and those looking to enter the field. Through this course, Branka discusses and shares her own experience on various topics including the changing role of architects, the value and skills architects bring to the table, the various design phases and project delivery methods, and much more.

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Branka is currently in the process of developing two more courses on LinkedIn Learning, so stay tuned! In the meantime’ let’s keep the conversation going. We would love to hear from you. Drop us a line with any topics, themes or areas of interest that are important for you, that you might find to be challenging or would like to learn more about.