Liang Architecture Bureau

The streetside’s Aiso Street Parking egress was designed to have some seating for the 1st Street bus stop at Toriumi Plaza but was ultimately not installed because of the city’s concern that it could become a place for the homeless to loiter. Architecture is never apolitical. Urban politics will find their way into what we do as architects and can override good social intentions and the needs of the public. #architectureispolitical #urbanpolitics #publicgood... #socialneeds See more

Wishing all the happiest of holidays and a great start to a new decade.

Big excavator moved off the site, little Bobcat did the cleaning of the bench and the project is ready for soil nailing and then concrete work for the retaining walls. The reason we could make the large vertical cuts is because the site is all bedrock and it was deemed feasible by the geotech to do so. Getting exciting. Follow us for more construction photos. #chouse #labplusarch #labplus #hillsideconstruction #hillsidearchitecture #architecture

Wrapping up design for a condo project in Pasadena. More visuals forthcoming...

Last Friday our C House project cleared regulatory approvals and the project took one giant step closer to the start of construction. Still lots of work ahead but it is quite satisfying to have come this far in the architectural process.

When the massing of a project is largely predetermined through zoning requirements what's left in the form finding process is often relegated to the articulation of elevations. Inspired by Kahn's philosophy of light and a mastery of an architecture shaped by shadows we are exploring elevations for our Oakland Ave. project through the "treasury of shadows." As the great American poet Wallace Stevens asked Kahn, "What slice of sun does your building have?" How powerful is that?! Have a great weekend.

Sometimes finding the means to have a dialogue with the hidden implications of design ideas is the most elusive challenge of the creative process. Study models more often than not reveal to us what's wrong with the design rather than what's right. Design setbacks are considered integral to advancing the project. Back to the drawing board for our Oakland Ave. project but first a long weekend. Have a great 4th!

Reading about Foster's Prado Museum scheme prompted a look back at our entry to the original Prado Museum architecture competition. We proposed two public plazas as the new focal points in the urban context for the museum buildings. One with programs under it connecting the original museum to the proposed conservation lab / administrative building next to the San Jeronimo el Real church. The other plaza was the connective tissue between the Hall of Realms and the El Cason del Buen Retiro. Specific and delicate architecture interventions were proposed for the existing buildings respecting their historical significance in the city but the new admin and lab building had a contemporary language organized around a cloister and integrated the massing of the church with the proposed building.

That's a wrap for the week. It was a productive one and this #studymodel to clarify the #design for the C House is the highlight. Starting the #finalmodel next week but first a #longweekend. Have a great one! #architecture #archilovers #archilove #housedesign #testingideas #amazingarchitecture #archdaily #bluefoammodel #labplus_arch

Thanks Amazing Architecture for the post!

Thanks to Dwell for the mention!