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Artifex10 was recently commissioned to study, design, and provide construction documentation for the renovation of the Lantana Office Building in Santa Monica, CA. With the introduction to a new Metro Transportation Authority light rail line and security fence directly adjacent to the building, the owners, tenants, building management, and design team were left with an 25’ wide service alley that spanned nearly 2000’ in length.  Together with RAC Design Build and Industry Partners, the Artifex10 team turned what could have been a cold, harsh alley into a fully serviceable garden and pedestrian amenity for building tenants and guests, complete with outdoor meeting rooms, café space, lounge seating, and dog runs. The design solution introduced a vegetated acoustic wall and a ‘transitional garden’ concept that incorporates movable garden pallets and planters that provide the capability to fully and continually transform the space for any number of uses and programs throughout the year.

Construction to commence 2011.

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Artifex 10 was commissioned to create an exterior vision for a wholesale re-branding of a 1970′s industrial park.  During the interior and architectural renovation process to increase benefit and needs for today’s potential tenants, RAC Design Build and the client Industry Partners, strategically salvaged much of the steel structure for reuse in the landscape.  Together with the design team, A10 created an exterior vision utilizing the salvaged materials in both sculptural and functional aesthetics.

This project is currently under construction.

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The Balcony…  In so many urban environments it is the one place where an owner or family can experience the outdoors in relative solitude, one piece of the ‘natural’ environment they can call their own and take ownership of, one place that’s not quite indoors but nowhere near the crowded public plaza.  But what do you do with it? Do you make it an extension of your home, an outdoor room? Or do you make it an escape, a natural place in a man-made surrounding? Why not both…or neither?

“Our concept is based on one simple principle. Your balcony becomes whatever you need it to be, any time of day, for any given occasion.“

By creating six movable panels constructed of living wall elements and simple, lightweight materials, the homeowner can move, expand, rotate, combine, and partition their balcony to whatever arrangement they deem necessary. The panels move forward and back, side to side, and a full 360 degrees. If the balcony truly is the one space that has to accommodate so many uses, is one simple furniture arrangement nearly enough? Imagine expanding the living room to introduce a garden element by turning all panels inward and pushed all the way out.  Create three separate garden rooms by combing sets of panels and placing them perpendicular to the balcony. Blur the boundary of inside and out by opening the wall completely, or just in a few sections. The flexibility this design offers is unparalleled. However, what makes it truly unique is its ability to integrate living space into the garden, while simultaneously bringing garden into the living space.

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Concept Design and computer simulations for a private residence in Paradise Valley, Arizona.  The intent of the simulations was to show site improvements to an unfinished exterior space.

Construction in progress.  See photos here.

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Design services for a Spanish revival estate at the base of Camelback Mountain.  Design included carved stone fountains, benches and walls and authentic period features such as potted citrus trees and decorative wrought iron.

Served as Landscape Architect for contemporary home in Paradise Valley, Arizona.  This design included creating an arrival courtyard and seating areas off the bedrooms.  The water cube was the central design move that inter-played with the clean architectural geometries.  Black granite accents were chosen to distinctly contrast the desert tan stucco.  The paving bands are concrete with integral color to match the stucco and granite and are encapsulated by 1/2″ stainless steel bands.

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Concept Design for High End Cabana with a Grotto waterfall pool entry.  Attached to the smooth clad limestone walls are Tropical Hardwood louvered plantation shutters that provide both privacy and air circulation.  Inside the Cabana are two deep cushioned built in lounges surrounding a raised glass spa.  The reflected ceiling plan is a tray ceiling dimly lit and also houses two drop down ceiling fans.  The back wall contains 3 pocket art niches.

Served as Landscape Architect for design and construction services for a 1 acre residence in Rancho Solano neighborhood in North Central Phoenix.  The design is centered around a central concept – the floating house.   The main pool is elevated to provide the focal illusion of the house floating.  At the end of the view across the pool is an iconic, glass mosaic tile water wall flanked by two specimen trees.  On cross axis with the water wall is a  Japanese grotto overlooking an organic water garden through Shijo doors.  This grotto is accessible through the pool by entering under a contemporary subtle sheet of water.

Estimated completion – 2011