A Domestic Sensibility – Century City Law Office by And And And Studio

Texturally forward and featuring a palette of deep and sophisticated hues, Century City Law Office is an evocative albeit pragmatic response to workplace design. Located in the Los Angeles neighbourhood and business district of Century City, the layered mix of materials and tones eschews the typical one-size-fits-all approach to workplaces, making way for an office that tilts towards the domestic and curated.

And And And Studio was engaged by the client – a top entertainment law firm – to completely reimagine the existing space and account for more private offices as well as generous communal areas. This involved stripping back the interior, redesigning the floor plan and introducing afresh palette throughout. It also demanded deft spatial planning and an intelligent reworking of volumes to cater to the client’s nuanced briefing requirements. The resulting interiority is a pleasing blend of modernist design ideals, 1970s Hollywood style and culture and contemporary architectural principles. Grounded in this curious yet balanced mix, each room is heavily accented; however, And And And Studio’s knack for pairing the eclectic with the refined means that a certain minimalist approach prevails.

The resulting interiority is a pleasing blend of modernist design ideals, 1970s Hollywood style and culture and contemporary architectural principles.

The materiality does a lot of the heavy lifting in this pursuit; there’s mustard velour upholstery, timber wall and ceiling panelling, in-built sofas, green-painted joinery and brick-coloured tiles. It seems busy, and yet, it’s cultivated. Pleasingly, a calming energy ensues. Also, loose furniture, lighting and artwork punctuate the various nooks.

The vintage-inspired shapes and slightly patinated surfaces bring an elevated and lived-in feel; for instance, in the reception area, BassamFellows Sling Club Chairs in dark leather and a dining table carved from a block of marble greet clients and create an arrival sequence. Further into the space, acoustic panels upholstered in a subtly speckled Raf Simons bouclé fabric line the walls, and a custom green marble kitchen is a gravitational point for staff.

Annie Ritz and Daniel Rabin of And And And Studio describe their work as “original, playful, sophisticated and unconventional,” balanced by an “open-minded, ever-evolving curiosity and ambitious nature.”

Annie Ritz and Daniel Rabin of And And And Studio describe their work as “original, playful, sophisticated and unconventional,” balanced by an “open-minded, ever-evolving curiosity and ambitious nature.” Many of these attributes are reflected in this project – there’s the intuitive and intelligent response to colour and materiality, the wonderful mishmash of objects and curios that decorate the walls and fill the shelves, not to mention the finesse with which the various spaces have been designed, detailed and finished. The result is a space that, put simply, feels good – an essential component to workplace design that’s rarely achieved.

This office could easily be deemed too good looking or too hospitable in its offering; it expresses a level of familiarity akin to that of a thoughtfully crafted residence or hotel. However, in line with the philosophy that well-designed and considered spaces create better working conditions and, in turn, happier humans, Century City Law Office should be considered a feather in And And And Studio’s cap.