The North Fairfax project is the conversion and addition of a former mechanic and auto-body shop to a mixed use retail and office space.
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Located in the West Hollywood/Fairfax neighborhood of Los Angeles, the site is just north of a transition from a smaller, two-lane pedestrian-friendly shopping district to a larger, four-lane driver-based thoroughfare with a central median.
The project aims to expand this commercial district by addressing this shift from pedestrian to commuter. Additionally, it had to reconcile the variety of immediate contexts; a former industrial building with a commercial program in a relatively residential context.
The new aluminum siding is a nod to the metal paneling of the garage, but is elevated with a jade green color, monolithic application, and minimal details that avoid standard flashing profiles or exposed drainage. The two scales of siding on the larger building shift at the transition from the existing volume to the new addition, while the perforated paneling surrounding the smaller structure maintains visibility of the existing masonry building.
The sloping rooflines acknowledge the scale the adjacent bungalows, many of which now serve as creative offices. Their shape also directs attention to the rear of the site, where a new courtyard has a shared garden for the tenants. The profile also conceals the mechanical equipment on the roof, maintaining a monolithic appearance .
The new storefronts reference the scale and location of the previous roll up garage doors, with windows on the second story that are more residential in intent. The upstairs tenant also has a large, covered outdoor patio with a skylight, which continues the roofline while avoided adding additional square footage to the project, which was at regulatory maximum.
Other interior finishes were kept minimal for individual tenant build-out. A mix of high and low characterizes the palette , with graphic linoleum flooring and bleached cork walls in the central stairwell.
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PROJECT: Fairfax Conversion
DESIGN: Part Office
ARCHITECT OF RECORD: Creative Space
LOCATION: West Hollywood, Los Angeles USA
YEAR: 2017
PHOTOS: Anna Beeke
