Inside IA Interior Architects’ Los Angeles Office
IA Interior Architects took over a penthouse-level space in Los Angeles and transformed what was originally a mechanical room into an office with spectacular views, tall ceilings, and huge windows. The company’s LA office was completed in 2012 and spans 10,000 sqft.
When the Los Angeles office of a global interior design firm took over a penthouse-level space in a 21-story 1990s-era building, it scored more than spectacular panoramic views of the city, including the iconic Hollywood sign. The space was originally the mechanical room for the building. As mechanical needs shrunk down, the need for the space became unnecessary and was used for many years as a radio station (replete with an abundance of tiny rooms). Once the firm leased the two-level space, however, they ripped down all the walls and took advantage of what a former mechanical space offered: soaring ceilings and oversized 14-foot windows.
Key Design Features:
- The studio on the upper level is accessible by an internal staircase. The open office also includes an informal conference room and the library.
- A shelving system used throughout the space is not only used for storage, but also to delineate spaces. The only areas with walls are the glassed-in conference rooms, so these shelves have a dual function.
- The palette is intentionally spare; it does not compete with the stellar views and colors coming in from the exterior.
- Perforated metal along the ceiling plane creates a clean, creative office aesthetic while maintaining the ceiling height. Existing skylights that could not be removed for refurbishment were also clad in the perforated metal, and allow for natural daylight to pass through the ceiling.
- The space currently accommodates 25 people, but it can be readjusted to allow for 40.
Design: IA Interior Architects
Photography Eric Laignel
