Part Office creates minimalist live/work space in heart of Venice Beach
Los Angeles architects Part Office transformed a former residential building into Venice Lofts, a minimalist live/work space
Venice Lofts, a new, minimalist live/work space created by Part Office, in fact started life as a conventional residential building. Set directly on Venice Beach, California, the complex consists of two former condominium buildings, which have been artfully redesigned and restored into 12 live/work units. Created in collaboration with landscape studio Cactus Store, the project is now a contemporary, all-mod-cons space inside and out, wrapped in a unified, pared-down aesthetic and minimalist architecture that emphasises light, clean surfaces and an uncluttered feel.
In order to make clear that this is not your typical office building – and also contains a residential offering – while adhering to local planning codes, the team at Part Office tackled the design in a holistic way that highlights the space’s domestic qualities. ‘Due to code and structural limitations, the envelope of the existing units was preserved, and a 50/50 division of ‘live’ and ‘work’ spaces was required. With the projected tenants being small offices, this division served as a starting point to consider a more residential atmosphere of contemporary workspaces, especially in light of how the pandemic shifted our understanding of the formal office space,' the architects explain.
The material palette is consistent throughout the building and comprises oak, concrete, steel, and tile. Detailing and finishes were treated with care to ensure the result feels seamless and of high-quality construction. However, this doesn’t mean that everything is super-polished; rather, it’s that strategic design gestures guided the internal arrangements. ‘Elements were detailed either very precisely, such as the routing at wood walls to conceal passage doors, or with exaggerated separations and overlaps to create a series of individual planes that direct views towards the exterior,’ the team say.
The minimalist live/work space at Venice Lofts is organised with the residential elements at the base of the building and workspaces on top. All units include kitchen and bathroom, as well as some open-plan and some individual, smaller rooms or meeting areas. Double-height spaces within some units celebrate the building's sense of space. Meanwhile, outside nature and landscaping by Cactus Store refers to windswept coastal environments, and custom orange-glazed tiles by artist Sofia Londoño make for a calming but characterful environment for tenants to enjoy.
INFORMATION
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
A new limited-edition Rhodes piano and Gibson doubleneck guitar aim for the stars
The new Rhodes Mk8 Earth Edition piano and Gibson Jimmy Page EDS-1275 Doubleneck guitar revisit classic instruments at a price
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The new interior design trends we spotted at Salone del Mobile 2024
These are the interior design trends to look out for in 2024 and beyond, from soft upholstery to conversation pits and low dining
By Rosa Bertoli Published
-
Tiffany & Co nods to its theatrical history with a surreal new campaign
Tiffany & Co campaign ‘With Love, Since 1837’ sees Dan Tobin Smith and set designer Rachel Thomas create an offbeat set
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Shigeru Ban’s mini Paper Log House welcomed at The Glass House
'Shigeru Ban: The Paper Log House' is shown at The Glass House in New Canaan, USA as the house museum of American architect Philip Johnson plays host to the Japanese architect’s model temporary home concept
By Adrian Madlener Published
-
Ray Phoenix to rise in Arizona
Ray Phoenix housing project launches, designed by Johnston Marklee, who worked with Lamar Johnson Collaborative, for property experts Ray and Vela
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
A low-energy farmhouse provides a rural escape in North Carolina
This low-energy farmhouse is a net zero architectural re-set for a Californian client, an East Coast relocation for a more engaged and low-key lifestyle
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
A Petra Island house rises from Frank Lloyd Wright's original drawings
Based on Frank Lloyd Wright drawings, the cantilevering Petra Island Massaro House, located in New York’s Hudson Valley, is now open to visitors
By Craig Kellogg Published
-
An Upper West Side apartment by General Assembly nods to its history
An Upper West Side apartment in New York, born out of the reimagining of two neighbouring units, is refreshed by General Assembly for a young family
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
New York's Leica store echoes the brand's blend of heritage and innovation
Leica store throws open its doors in New York's Meatpacking District, courtesy of Brooklyn based Format Architecture Office
By Adrian Madlener Published
-
Hudson Valley Residence is a low-lying retreat that seamlessly blends into the horizon
Designed by HGX Design, Hudson Valley Residence is a scenic home offering unobstructed views across the Catskill Mountains in Upstate New York
By Tianna Williams Published
-
Boise Passive House’s bold gestures support an environmentally friendly design
Boise Passive House by Haas Architecture combines sleek, contemporary design and environmental efficiency
By Ellie Stathaki Published