Day Job office
Multidisciplinary practice 22RE has designed an expressive, residential-inspired workplace for Los Angeles creative agency Day Job.
Housed in a 167-square-metre building in Glassell Park, which was once the studio of artist Ed Ruscha, the new design balances boldness and restraint, with a dynamic interior that carries a distinctly Californian sensibility.
“They wanted something playful and reflective of their creative agency, while maintaining functionality and warmth.”
Led by founding principal Dean Levin, 22RE is known for its approach to form and materiality, drawing from global historical influences while maintaining a deep respect for craft and traditionalism. With Day Job, the brief was to create a cost-conscious yet distinctive space. “The building was essentially a teardown when the Day Job team bought it,” says Levin. “They wanted something playful and reflective of their creative agency, while maintaining functionality and warmth. They trusted us to lead most of the design decisions, so it became a really natural and fluid collaboration.”
Behind its austere and monolithic exterior – clad in locally sourced Douglas fir and stucco – the interior unfolds as a welcoming, tactile counterpoint. The plan centres on the main workspace, which 22RE refers to as the sunken piazza: a lower area framed by stairs, with a ramp leading to upper-level zones that include a lounge, kitchen, conference room, editing suite and restrooms.
Inspired by Italian town squares and Soviet modernism, the sunken piazza serves as a gathering spot and a solution to the building’s structural constraints. Circular skylights and sculptural columns further reinforce this sense of gathering, defining areas for casual meetings and quiet retreat. “While the layout offers flexibility for focused individual work, we wanted to maintain strong opportunities for the team to connect and collaborate,” explains Levin.
The material palette is expressive yet grounded throughout. Green concrete flooring – an early design decision – anchors the space and is offset by orange cement tiles, a Heath Ceramics splashback, stainless-steel countertops and cherry-wood panelling. “We wanted to bring in a residential quality to blend the comfort of working from home with the functionality of a newly renovated office. It was a conscious choice to make the environment feel personal and lived-in.”
Lighting plays an important role, featuring Pivotante à Poser lamps by Nemo, Tekio Horizontal pendants in the piazza, Fibonacci fixtures by Sophus and Motoko Ishii sconces for Staff on the central columns, all working to unify the space through tone and geometry. Residential cues appear throughout, including a kitchen island, varied floor elevations and lounge seating, bridging domestic comfort with studio functionality. Beyond the piazza, custom furnishings by 22RE, including bespoke desks, a sculptural conference table and a complete dining set, underscore the firm’s integrated approach.
Distinctly Californian in palette and sensibility, the Day Job office is a bold embrace of colour and geometry, where warmth and domesticity are integral to the concept.
