One of the most essential aspects of interior design is lighting – an element that can make or break an interior space of any size or material. Yet good lighting can be especially important for smaller or more crowded spaces, making them feel larger and more open even when their literal dimensions haven’t changed. In turn, larger spaces with poor lighting may feel smaller and less welcoming than they have the potential to be. To make interiors feel aptly large and well lit, designers can rely on several tried and true methods that make the most of a space, from using the right shades and types of lights to placing them in the best locations to integrating other elements that best complement existing lighting. These strategies, as well as several examples of their application, are listed below.
Santa Monica Courtyard Houses / Inaba Williams Architects
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Architects: Inaba Williams Architects
- Area: 3900 ft²
- Year: 2022
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Professionals: Title 24 Guys, Obando & Associates, studio H2o, Gouvis
West Coast Modernism: LA's New Class of Single Family Homes
Los Angeles is a city of dreams. Known across the United States and the world, L.A. embodies both freedom and experimentation, defined as much by its freeways as its diversity. It is also a city of houses. Single-family homes cover almost half of Los Angeles, and as the city continues to evolve, architects have explored new ideas on modernity and daily life through the single-family typology.
Around 10 million people live in L.A. County, and Los Angeles itself has become one of the world's most ethnically diverse cities. The built environment reflects the nature of its residents, home to some of the most iconic residential and cultural architecture in the world. Los Angeles has its own dose of Lautner, Schindler, Wright, and Neutra. It's a city that has long embodied multiplicity and progressive forms, from the Eames House and Gehry's Residence to the iconic Stahl House. Through the lens of photographer Julius Shulman, many homes came to represent not only new residential styles but also the postwar culture of Southern California.
RtA Soho Store / Dan Brunn Architecture
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Architects: Dan Brunn Architecture
- Area: 1800 ft²
- Year: 2022
California House / Gluck+
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Architects: GLUCK+
- Area: 7500 ft²
- Year: 2019
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Professionals: Kimberlina Whettam and Associates
Centered Home / aanda + HYCArch
- Area: 2200 ft²
- Year: 2022
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Manufacturers: Dinesen, Dornbracht, OTIIMA, Alape, Artemide, +4
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Professionals: GHBW, Ibarra / Marco Ibarra
Accessory Dwelling Unit Re-Think / Yeh-Yeh-Yeh Architects
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Architects: Yeh-Yeh-Yeh Architects
- Area: 1000 ft²
- Year: 2020
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Manufacturers: Fisher & Paykel, ADM Bathroom, American Standard, Brizo Kitchen and Bath, Emtek, +3
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Professionals: Yeh-Yeh-Yeh Architects
Positively Negative House / Dan Brunn Architecture
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Architects: Dan Brunn Architecture
- Area: 2520 m²
- Year: 2021
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Manufacturers: Atlas Concorde, Mosa, Miele, Caesarstone, Cambridge Elevating, +4
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Professionals: Obando and Associates, RJC Builders, Franceschi Engineering, One Button
In Praise of Tokyo: in Conversation With Junya Ishigami
In this short video by Louisiana Channel, Junya Ishigami talks about Tokyo and what he sees as the defining traits of the vibrant and diverse metropole. Discussing what he likes about the city, the renowned Japanese architect underlines Tokyo’s polycentrism and explains how being made up of different small town allows the city to preserve its very local characteristics.
Bridge House LA / Dan Brunn Architecture
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Architects: Dan Brunn Architecture
- Area: 4500 ft²
- Year: 2019
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Manufacturers: Bridger Steel, esthec
#9 Dream / Dan Brunn Architecture
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Architects: Dan Brunn Architecture
- Area: 2 m²
- Year: 2014
Road to Awe / Dan Brunn Architecture
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Architects: Dan Brunn Architecture
- Area: 1200 ft²
- Year: 2016
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Professionals: MODAA Construction, Perfect Design
Hide Out / Dan Brunn Architecture
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Architects: Dan Brunn Architecture
- Area: 3600 ft²
- Year: 2016
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Professionals: Salas Design Company, Kaisei‐en, RealcoCreations
Zig-Zag House / Dan Brunn Architecture
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Architects: Dan Brunn Architecture
- Area: 450 m²
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Manufacturers: Danze
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Professionals: Obando and Associates, RJC Builders, The Office of Gordon L. Polon
When Biology Inspires Architecture: An Interview with Doris Kim Sung
Material Minds, presented by ArchDaily Materials, is our new series of short interviews with architects, designers, scientists, and others who use architectural materials in innovative ways. Enjoy!
Before attending Columbia University for her Masters in Architecture, Los Angeles-based architect Doris Kim Sung took a fairly non-traditional approach to becoming an architect: she was a biologist. Naturally then, Sung’s architectural work tends to take inspiration from the biological world, particularly in the way she experiments and innovates with materials. Much of her work involves thermal bimetals, a material that expands and contracts with temperature swings; it can even act as a sun shade and ventilation system, without the need for electricity.
So where does a biologist-turned-architect draw inspiration from? We interviewed Ms. Sung to find out for ourselves -- the responses, like her work at dO|Su Architecture, are simply fascinating.
Flip Flop House / Dan Brunn Architecture
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Architects: Dan Brunn Architecture
- Area: 5700 ft²
- Year: 2013
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Manufacturers: Dornbracht, Bega, Duravit, Miele, Baldwin, +8
Hayvenhurst House / Dan Brunn Architecture
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Architects: Dan Brunn Architecture
- Area: 2000 ft²
- Year: 2010