pugh and scarpa architects: cherokee lofts

image by tara wujcik

located in los angeles, the cherokee lofts by pugh + scarpa architects is a mixed-use or market-rate multifamily building in southern california. the five storey building consists of 12 lofts located on floors 2 through 4. the first floor is a 2800 square feet retail space. there is also one underground level of parking and a rooftop deck / green roof.

what is unique about the structure is that the exterior presents itself as a perforated metal construction. however, this ‘screen’ has been designed to function as accordion shutters, allowing residents to open and close the façade of the building, creating a constantly changing building front, along with providing alternate views inside.

the development pays homage to the musical and hollywood history of cherokee recording studios, MGM studios before it, and those who recorded music on site from frank sinatra to david bowie to dave matthews. its architectural form and integrated function are an expression of the environmental and cultural context in which it is built.

cherokee lofts image by tara wujcik

image by tara wujcik

view of the façade’s perforated metal accordion shutters image by tara wujcik view of the façade’s perforated metal accordion shutters image by tara wujcik

detail image by tara wujcik

profile of the shutters image by tara wujcik

the façade’s flat front with all shutters closed image by tara wujcik

the lofts with some of the shutters open image by tara wujcik night view of the perforated metal when entirely shut image by tara wujcik

first scheme silver colored façadeimage by pugh + scarpa

first scheme silver colored façadeimage by pugh + scarpa

second scheme bronze colored façade image by pugh + scarpa

rendering of how the shutters could appear image by pugh + scarpa

image by pugh + scarpa

side view image by pugh + scarpa drawing of cherokee lofts