Arch Tour Fest: Stairway to the Stars

Image credit: Art Gray

Arch Tour Fest: Stairway to the Stars

Sunday, November 13 @ 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM PST

Additional information regarding the tour and check-in process will be emailed directly to registrants 24 hours before the event.

Located in sunny Los Angeles, Minarc presents the Wasatch Residence. The intended vision for this design was inspired by the unique light and colors of its prime location. This residence has a beautifully unobstructed view from the moment one enters the 3×16 ft wood entry door to the exquisitely expansive backyard with full open glass door access for maximum flow of indoor vs outdoor worlds and the merging of both.

Although it portrays a feeling of transparency throughout, it is also perfectly private from the street and the public. This exclusive tour will focus on the design objectives and goals we set to maximize the opportunities of California-style living through expansive studies on the importance of indoor and outdoor spaces, visible and present throughout both interior and exteriors alike.

With a deep understanding of our client’s desires for their home, we were able to execute this in a way which takes full advantage of and a strong consideration of their natural surroundings. The staircase showcased on the facade offers a poetic meaning as well: “A stairway to the stars.” Leading up to an open rooftop with 360 views of downtown Los Angeles and facing the Pacific Ocean, the purpose of this was to inspire our clients and their guests to stay fully present, to take full advantage of their current environment and surroundings, while enjoying the settings created to achieve this.

Minarc’s principles of effective site orientation and the usage of raw materials in natural elements will be discussed, as well as an understanding of why certain design decisions are determined. Always focused on the overall longevity and sustainability standards within each aspect of every project we take on. Consistently seeking to further explore new ways and adapt to the ever-evolving sustainability measures we, as designers, have a responsibility of following, we continue to expand our knowledge and adapt accordingly, which keeps us endlessly inspired and eager to take on new challenges.

We look forward to welcoming you to Stairway to the Stars and hope to encourage a conversation on ways in which we as industry leaders can continue changing the ways we take on this new world. We hope to protect what matters most, our earth and the natural environments we surround ourselves in day after day. The future of building depends on what we implement now.

Building Credits:

Architect: Minarc
General Contractor: PD Construction Inc.
Structural Engineer: Paniagua Structural Engineering
Landscape Architect: Gustavo Ramirez Landscape Design
Interior Designer: Minarc

Tour Led By:

Minarc | Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir and Tryggvi Thorsteinsson, Assoc. AIA

Minarc is an award winning design studio recognized internationally for its unique approach, one which embraces contemporary design and employs innovative materials and technology. Ranging from small-scale renovations and new construction to in-residential spaces, commercial and public settings, Minarc is a full service design studio that not only creates beautiful spaces, but puts sustainability at the forefront of their mission.

Founders and co-principals, Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir and Tryggvi Thorsteinsson, Assoc. AIA and IIDA, derive inspiration from the unassuming, almost austere beauty and otherworldly natural features of their native Iceland, the land of fire and ice. An appreciation for the absence of barriers and respect for open and integrated living spaces have become key elements of each project. Throughout their career they have shown a continuous dedication to improving the environment and our community by bringing innovative ideas forward in clear connection to sustainability.

Prior to settling in Southern California, Erla and Tryggvi grew up surrounded by the striking beauty and distinct realities of the Icelandic countryside. This upbringing fostered within their deep-seated love and profound respect for nature coupled with a highly-focused and beautifully pragmatic approach to their life’s work: Always do better.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will learn about the focus on and consistency in the application of raw materials and forms as a means to produce order or legibility throughout a residence.
2. Participants will learn how to identify techniques for internalizing interior vs. exterior spaces with respect to courtyards, layered site lines, the use of glass, landscaping, ground patterns, and circulation. The key element of California style living.
3. Participants will learn how to analyze residential floor plans in terms of the activation of spaces, modulation of privacy, convenience, internal and external interconnection, scale, movement and repose.
4. Participants will learn how to describe how, in addition to design decisions, new technologies and advances have the potential to save time and reduce waste during construction.