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 façade
image by pugh + scarpa


first scheme silver colored façade
image 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