As one of the densest neighborhoods in the country, Los Angeles’ Koreatown is at the forefront of changing modes of contemporary urban living. LOHA’s design for Mariposa1038 plays with this burgeoning area’s density with a pure cube extruded to fit tight on its lot, and then formed to gesture back to the public street and surrounding context.
photography by © Paul Vu
To blur the distinction between the public and private sphere, LOHA pushed the cube inward on each of its sides, creating curves that grant relief from the sidewalk and return portions of the ground plane to the public realm.
Balconies and window frames project outward to recapture the space between the new geometry and the property edge. Due to the building’s curves, LOHA offers each balcony a unique depth and view. The white skin, reinforcing the purity of the structure’s form, is broken by a rhythm of select black treatment to the protruding boxes.
photography by © Matthew Brush
Throughout the day, the movement of dark shadows across the white and black facades activates the project with a dynamic sense of constant rearrangement. Internally, LOHA’s carved opening creates a central focal point for the building’s interior organization and lets natural light into the courtyard.
photography by © Paul Vu
The courtyard ribbon draws the eye upwards and creates continuity from floor to floor. Below the opening, a landscaped planter with integrated bench seating doubles as a rainwater collection system. All units have exterior access and can be cooled by holistic and sustainable methods of cross ventilation. A rooftop deck provides additional outdoor space and skyline views.
photography by © Paul Vu
Project Info :
Architects: Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects
Project Year: 2017
Project Area: 68000.0 ft2
Manufacturers: Milgard, Miracote
Principal Architect: Lorcan O’Herlihy
Project Location: Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Photographs: Paul Vu, Minh Tran, Matthew Brush, Lauren Randolf, Jessica Zollman
Design Team: Dana Lydon, Alex Anamos, Donnie Schmidt, Jessica Colangelo, Jennie Matusova
Sophie Tremblay is a Montreal-based architectural editor and designer with a focus on sustainable urban development. A McGill University architecture graduate, she began her career in adaptive reuse, blending modern design with historical structures. As a Project Editor at Arch2O, she curates stories that connect traditional practice with forward-thinking design. Her writing highlights architecture's role in community engagement and social impact. Sophie has contributed to Canadian Architect and continues to collaborate with local studios on community-driven projects throughout Quebec, maintaining a hands-on approach that informs both her design sensibility and editorial perspective.