{{Infobox Architectural Practice
, image =
, caption =
, name = Peter Tolkin + Sarah Lorenzen Architecture (TOLO)
, architects = Peter Tolkin
Sarah Lorenzen
, city =
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. With an estimated 3,878,704 residents within the city ...
, founded = 1998
, dissolved =
, significant_buildings = Saladang Song Restaurant, Sunglass House in Malibu, Sherman Residence in Sherman Oaks, Branch House in Montecito
, significant_projects =
, significant_design =
, awards =
}
Peter Tolkin + Sarah Lorenzen Architecture (TOLO), formerly Peter Tolkin Architecture, is an
architectural
Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and construction, constructi ...
firm based in
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, established in 1998.
Overview
The practice's early work focused on the revitalization and redevelopment of buildings in
Old Town Pasadena
Old Pasadena, often referred to as Old Town Pasadena or simply Old Town, is the original commercial center of Pasadena, a city in California, United States, and had a latter-day revitalization after a period of decay.
Old Pasadena began as t ...
. In several
adaptive reuse
Adaptive reuse is the reuse of an existing building for a purpose other than that for which it was originally built or designed. It is also known as recycling and conversion. The adaptive reuse of buildings can be a viable alternative to new con ...
projects, Peter Tolkin developed an expertise in pedestrian-scaled urban commercial and retail projects. Peter Tolkin's experience in Old Pasadena led to work in other cities with downtown revitalization plans, such as
Santa Monica
Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...
and
Long Beach
Long Beach is a coastal city in southeastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is the list of United States cities by population, 44th-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 451,307 as of 2022. A charter ci ...
.
Since then, the practice has completed several larger projects. In
Merced
Merced (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Mercy") is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California, United States, in the San Joaquin Valley. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 86,333, up ...
, the office planned and designed a series of
mixed-use
Mixed use is a type of urban development, urban design, urban planning and/or a zoning classification that blends multiple uses, such as residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or entertainment, into one space, where those functions ...
buildings, in conjunction with a comprehensive downtown revitalization. For
Claremont Claremont may refer to:
Places Australia
*Claremont, Ipswich, a heritage-listed house in Queensland
* Claremont, Tasmania, a suburb of Hobart
* Claremont, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth
* Town of Claremont, Perth
* Claremont Airbase, an ...
, the practice was responsible for the planning of the West Village Expansion, a project encompassing retail, movie theaters, hotel facilities, and a town square. The practice's winning proposal for the development of a two-city-block
mixed-use
Mixed use is a type of urban development, urban design, urban planning and/or a zoning classification that blends multiple uses, such as residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or entertainment, into one space, where those functions ...
project called Metlox in Manhattan Beach created a public space connecting the city's
civic center
A civic center or civic centre is a prominent land area within a community that is constructed to be its focal point or center. It usually contains of one or more dominant public buildings, which may also include a government building. Recently, ...
with its main commercial street. The
urban planning
Urban planning (also called city planning in some contexts) is the process of developing and designing land use and the built environment, including air, water, and the infrastructure passing into and out of urban areas, such as transportatio ...
project includes a town square, boutique hotel, restaurants, retail shops, offices, and underground parking.
As a counterpart to these public projects, the practice has also designed a number of projects in the private realm, including the award-winning Saladang Song restaurant, Long Beach Promenade Lofts and Marmion Court Housing. Award-winning and published private residences include the Sherman Residence and Malibu Residence (Sunglass House), and the recently completed Branch House in Montecito and a house for the gallerist Susanne Vielmetter in Altadena.
Recognized as a ''Design Vanguard firm'' by ''
Architectural Record
''Architectural Record'' is a US-based monthly magazine dedicated to architecture and interior design. Its editor in chief is Josephine Minutillo. ''The Record'', as it is sometimes colloquially referred to, is widely-recognized as an important ...
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', ''
The Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper in the U.S. and the larges ...
'', '' Dwell'', and ''Interior Design'', among other international publications.
In 2018, Sarah Lorenzen joined Peter Tolkin Architecture as a principal and the practice became Peter Tolkin + Sarah Lorenzen Architecture (TOLO).
Selected projects
* Sherman Residence- featured in ''
Fracture
Fracture is the appearance of a crack or complete separation of an object or material into two or more pieces under the action of stress (mechanics), stress. The fracture of a solid usually occurs due to the development of certain displacemen ...
'' (2007), and '' CSI: Miami''
* Branch House- featured in ''
Santa Barbara Independent
The ''Santa Barbara Independent'' is a news, arts, and alternative newspaper published every Thursday in Santa Barbara, California, United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a ...
''
* Malibu Residence or the Sunglass House - featured in ''
Interior Design (magazine)
''Interior Design'' is an American interior design magazine, which has been in circulation since 1932.
History and profile
''Interior Design'' was founded by Harry V. Anderson in Manhattan in 1932. He was also the publisher and editor of the ...
'' and ''
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
''
* Saladang Song Thai Restaurant-a
Pasadena
Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial d ...
restaurant constructed out of laser-cut steel screens and slabs. The patio-style restaurant takes inspiration from the traditional Thaisala, or outdoor pavilion.
* Claremont Downtown- a re-design and expansion of Claremont's downtown
* Maison 140, in conjunction with
Kelly Wearstler
Kelly Wearstler (; born November 21, 1967) is an American designer. She founded her own design firm Kelly Wearstler Interior Design (or KWID) in the mid-1990s, serving mainly the hotel industry, and now designs across high-end residential, comme ...
in ''
Interior Design (magazine)
''Interior Design'' is an American interior design magazine, which has been in circulation since 1932.
History and profile
''Interior Design'' was founded by Harry V. Anderson in Manhattan in 1932. He was also the publisher and editor of the ...
''
* Metlox- shopping district and town square, a large-scale mixed-use development in Manhattan Beach
* Bike Transit Center- a tunnel-like shelter for bike users across from the Metro L LineMemorial Park station in
Old Town Pasadena
Old Pasadena, often referred to as Old Town Pasadena or simply Old Town, is the original commercial center of Pasadena, a city in California, United States, and had a latter-day revitalization after a period of decay.
Old Pasadena began as t ...
. The structure uses
photovoltaic
Photovoltaics (PV) is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon studied in physics, photochemistry, and electrochemistry. The photovoltaic effect is commercially ...
and light
polycarbonate
Polycarbonates (PC) are a group of thermoplastic polymers containing carbonate ester, carbonate groups in their chemical structures. Polycarbonates used in engineering are strong, toughness, tough materials, and some grades are optically transp ...
material in its 5-foot modules.
*Red Carpet in C - featured i KCET Artbound
Awards
*Saladang Song was a finalist for the
James Beard Foundation
The James Beard Foundation is an American non-profit culinary arts organization based in New York City. It was named after James Beard, a food writer, teacher, and cookbook author. Its programs include guest-chef dinners to scholarships for asp ...
restaurant design awards, and it received a merit award from the Los Angeles AIA and an Honor award from the Pasadena & Foothill chapters of the
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach progr ...
br> *2002 Peter Tolkin featured in ''
Architectural Record
''Architectural Record'' is a US-based monthly magazine dedicated to architecture and interior design. Its editor in chief is Josephine Minutillo. ''The Record'', as it is sometimes colloquially referred to, is widely-recognized as an important ...
'' as one of ten “vanguard” international firms.
*2006 AIA Award—Pasadena Bike Transit Cente *2007 AIA Award—Malibu Residence
*2009 LA Architectural Award, Design Concept—Pasadena Bike Transit Center