1546 7th St

A four story infill structure near the central business district of downtown Santa Monica, this project looked to explore both the aesthetic and physical relationships posed by the intersection of concrete and steel building materials. Sculpted forms and elements combined with a simple yet unique organizational ‘bridge-driven’ scheme to respond to the mild beach-side climate. Two floors of office space sit above two floors of parking (one subterranean). Circulation is isolated and pulled away from the south face in order to maximize the light and view potential via a continuous storefront system. A translucent ‘Kalwall’ vault spans the upper footprint of the building to emit a consistent, filtered light throughout the day. A cast-in-place concrete frame becomes a ‘brei-soleil’ that fronts the street and shades east & west facing glazing. A steel shear frame, highlighted in yellow, provides a distinct character and scale for the exposed circulation components. Cross ventilation vents allow seaside breezes to flow through the office spaces. A sculpted concrete fountain introduces a continuous sound element that masks some of the street noise below.