Architecture driven by purpose.

This comes from our belief that architecture is more than visual.

We call it “Form Follows Purpose”.

It means looking below the surface to get at the heart of your project needs.

We do projects of all types and sizes. Here’s a select few.

Wholesome Bakery, San Francisco

Discovery Center, Gulfport

USFS Support Building, Lake Tahoe

Field Chapel, Southwest Germany

Clarington Offices, Los Angeles

USFS Event Pavilion, Lake Tahoe

Affordable Housing, Oakland

Workforce Housing, Alameda

Hospitality Building, Healdsburg

Student Housing, San Francisco

Senior Housing, Los Angeles

The Austin, San Francisco

Multifamily, Los Angeles

Chorus, San Francisco

Non-Profit HQ, Oakland

Hospitality Building, Sonoma

R&D Shell, Berkeley

Chorus, San Francisco

Let’s work together.

Santa Monica, California
Lewisville, Idaho
Dayton, Oregon

Meet the founder.

Seth Ellsworth

R.A., LEED AP BD+C, CDT

Seth holds a professional B.Arch degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology; and is licensed in California, Idaho, and Oregon.

Seth is passionate about designing architecture with purpose. His design approach goes beyond the function, and considers the other senses for a holistic user experience. He enjoys working on housing projects and using his skills to help address the housing affordability crisis.

Prior to studying architecture, Seth worked on the family farm, helped his dad in the metal shop, helped his uncle in the wood shop, and worked various construction job during high school. Throughout college, he worked part-time in a custom cabinetry shop and later in a custom stainless steel stairs and railings shop.

This significant understanding of construction allows Seth to design with a “builder’s brain”, to make things as simple as possible to build with the greatest chance of success.

Having practiced architecture in California for nearly 15 years, Seth understands how to leverage state housing laws, the California Building Code, and local zoning codes.

FAQs

  • We do all different types and sizes of projects. Residential work from 500 sq ft ADU conversions, to 500+ unit apartment towers. Commercial work from small tenant improvements, to 80,000 sq ft core & shell new builds with robotic parking. Site analysis and planning, code consulting, we’ll look at anything if it’s interesting.

  • We understand the zoning code, building code, and state laws really well. This allows us to make sure you get the most out of your project. Basically, we learn the useful loopholes.

    We are great at solving tricky sites, particularly steep topography, weird site shapes, and complicated code overlays.

    We come from various construction and fabrication backgrounds, so anything that requires critical coordination between trades is a specialty. We have a “builder’s brain” ability to design and predict issues.

  • That depends on the project details, but conversations are free.

  • We can add to our team from a pool of colleagues and collaborators to make projects happen more quickly when necessary.

  • We’re always testing new tools to see how they can enhance our workflow and fit into the design process. Most of it is absolute garbage, some of it is useful.

  • In 1919, during the earlier days of the Modern Art movement, an artist named Marcel Duchamp took a postcard of the Mona Lisa, drew a van dyke moustache on her, and wrote “L.H.O.O.Q.” underneath.

  • When the letters are said aloud in French, it sounds like the phrase “Elle a chaud au cul”, a vulgar compliment for her bottom.

  • LHOOQ stands for doing things differently. Questioning tradition, challenging established norms, considering new approaches or viewing from alternate perspectives.

    It’s about exploring unique inspiration for each project, not drawing from architectural imagery and Pinterest boards. It’s about having fun and not taking ourselves too seriously.