Los Angeles-based architecture studio 22RE has completed a striking office renovation for creative agency Day Job, transforming the former studio space of renowned artist Ed Ruscha in the Glassell Park neighborhood. The 1,800-square-foot (167-square-meter) building features a monolithic Douglas fir and stucco-clad exterior that reflects the distinctive architectural character of California.
The centerpiece of the office design is a sunken "piazza" that forms the heart of the workspace, where central workstations are positioned on vibrant green carpeting against sleek stainless steel panels. This lowered central area was created to address structural constraints of the building, but 22RE turned this challenge into an opportunity, drawing inspiration from Italian town squares and playful forms of Soviet modernism to create a unique gathering space for informal meetings.
The interior design embraces what 22RE describes as a "distinctly Californian palette and sensibility," offering a residential feel through carefully layered materials and textures. Cherry wood appears throughout the space, from bespoke desks in the central piazza to floor-to-ceiling kitchen cabinetry. Orange cement floor tiles cover the grade-level areas, creating a warm contrast with the green carpet below and the stainless steel elements that reflect the colors throughout the space.
The office includes multiple functional areas designed for both focused work and collaboration. A custom-designed lounge features sofas, armchairs, and coffee tables created specifically for the space by 22RE. The dining area showcases a stainless steel-framed table and chairs, while large glass panels can pivot open to connect the interior space with a gravel patio featuring outdoor seating surrounded by lush plantings.
The kitchen serves as another highlight of the design, featuring the signature cherry wood millwork paired with an oxblood-red tile backsplash by Heath Ceramics. Stainless steel countertops, chrome-finish faucets, and rounded cabinet handles add retro-futuristic touches to the otherwise residential aesthetic. A central island provides additional workspace while maintaining the cohesive material palette.
Lighting design plays a crucial role throughout the office, with carefully selected fixtures including Nemo table lamps positioned on desks and Santa Cole's Tekio cylindrical pendants suspended overhead. The conference and lounge areas feature Fibonacci Lamps by Sophus Frandsen, while sconces by Motoko Ishii for Staff Leucheten provide ambient lighting. Circular skylights above the central piazza bring natural light into the heart of the workspace.
Attention to detail is evident in custom elements such as internal wooden doors leading to the editing studio, conference room, and restrooms. Each door features six small circular cutouts filled with yellow glass and metal handles that maintain consistent proportions throughout the design. These thoughtful details contribute to the overall cohesive aesthetic while adding functional wayfinding elements.
22RE, founded in 2021 by Dean Levin, has established a reputation for creating distinctive workplace environments. The studio's previous projects include offices for a creative music agency featuring 1970s-influenced meeting spaces, as well as multiple retail locations for golf apparel brand Malbon, including a Miami location lined with pale-green stucco and a Carmel-by-the-Sea store with scalloped walls and tiled floors.
According to 22RE, the Day Job offices demonstrate their approach of "layering natural elements with texture, form and rich materiality" to create "a tailored, expressive environment that balances focus, connection and creative exploration in equal measure." The project showcases how adaptive reuse of artist studios can create inspiring contemporary workspaces while honoring the creative legacy of their previous occupants.
