Artifice Press Releases Montalba Architects’ First 'Conceptual Book' “Place and Space”

[Los Angeles and London, July 12, 2022] Artifice Press announces the forthcoming release of Place and Space, a conceptual book showcasing international firm Montalba Architects’ scale and breadth of work since its foundation almost two decades ago. Place and Space explores the duality of Montalba’s approach to design, which combines the radical experimentation of 1970s and 1980s California - from the historic volte-face of post-modernism to the controlled architectural chaos of Deconstructivism - with the calm precision of Swiss practice.

Founded in 2004 by Swiss-American architect David Montalba, the book showcases many of the firm’s hero projects ranging from residential to commercial, hospitality, institutional and retail while following Montalba’s strict motto of “paring down” by reducing stylistic elements to their fundamental essence.

Featuring a foreword by revered architect and Montalba’s mentor, Larry Scarpa, alongside an expansive introductory essay by design and architecture journalist Jonathan Bell, Place and Space includes in-depth conversations with notable creatives and thought leaders, including film director Zack Snyder, entrepreneurs David Allemann and Rich Pierson, landscape designer Andrea Cochran and artist Andy Denzler, that cross-examine different approaches to design through the unique values of the studio. It explores some of the firm’s signature projects, as well as Montalba’s background, influences and architectural philosophies. Attracted to the duality of Montalba’s modernist approach and the quality and breadth of their work, Artifice Press saw an exciting opportunity to bring to life the story of a singular practice taking on solution-based projects grounded in enduring design principles.

Through the incorporation of drawings, floorplans and finished photography by photographers including Kevin Scott, Dominique Verllion and Delphine Burtin, each project’s story is presented in relation to the firm’s philosophies. These design values include Sculpted Light, Material Integrity, Volumetric Landscapes, Transitional Space and Pure Spatial Volumes. Each value is further supported by the interspersed, thought-provoking conversations.

“Collaborating on this book was such a privilege and positive experience for our team. We often think that creating a book employs similar components to that of creating a building: structure, research of materials, sequencing, rhythm and balance. We believe Place and Space in its physical form truly reflects the style, design aesthetic and craftsmanship of Montalba Architects.” – Anna Danby, Publishing Director, Artifice Press

“Montalba Architects produces both impactful and aesthetically progressive places. It is Artifice Press’ pleasure to contribute to a project that emphasizes the importance of experience in architecture.” – Anton Jacques, Art Director

'Although Montalba Architects belong to the long-running tradition of American modernism, the studio's work has a far more European influence than that of many of its peers. David Montalba's own journey and influences makes itself known in these meticulously designed projects, encompassing homes, stores, and places of work.' – Jonathan Bell, long-standing contributor to Wallpaper* and author featured in the book.

Based in Santa Monica, California, David Montalba’s history includes over 26 years of professional practice with architectural firms in the United States and Europe before founding his eponymous studio in 2004. As told throughout the pages of Place and Space, Montalba Architects has since firmly established itself as a leading international firm, supported by a team of architects, designers and professionals across two offices in Los Angeles, California and Lausanne, Switzerland. Their award-winning projects span residential, retail, commercial, hospitality and urban design on a global scale including their longstanding partnership with the Nobu the multi-award-winning Santa Monica Headquarters for Headspace, The Row’s iconic retail flagship on Melrose Place and innovative residential projects like 2020’s Vertical Courtyard House, which recently won an AIA Residential Design Award.

Place and Space will be released August 30, 2022 and is currently available for preorder from Artifice and Amazon, and will be available at select retail locations in the US and Europe. There will be a special release event happening in London, UK on Thursday, September 15, 2022. See details below. Space is limited, please RSVP to montalbaarchitects@camronpr.com.

What: Place and Space: In Conversation with David Montalba and Special Guest at Frieze Gallery

When: Thursday, September 15, 2022 from 6-8pm

Where: No. 9 Cork Street, London

***

About Montalba Architects

Founding Principal David Montalba, FAIA, SIA, started Montalba Architects in 2004 and is the driving force of leadership and design within the firm. Montalba Architects is a diverse architecture and design studio of more than 60 designers based in Santa Monica, CA and Lausanne, Switzerland. The award-winning practice is engaged in retail, residential, hospitality, and other select commercial projects in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Believing that architecture and one’s environment can truly improve quality of life, Montalba's approach is humanistic in nature, which often leads to solutions that are discrete, contextual, yet conceptual in their intent, effect, and appeal. Montalba Architects’ original Santa Monica studio is located within Bergamot Station, a creative hub and arts district at 2525 Michigan Ave., Bldg. T4, Santa Monica, CA. Montalba Architects, Sàrl is located at Rue Centrale 6, 4 eme stage, Lausanne, CH-1003, Switzerland. 

About Jonathan Bell

Jonathan Bell writes about all aspects of contemporary design, focusing on transport, architecture, and technology. He is the author, co-author and editor of ten books, including The 21st Century House, The New Modern House: Redefining Functionalism, The Contemporary House and Todd Saunders: Architecture in Northern Landscapes. Jonathan is a long-standing contributor to Wallpaper* magazine and currently their Transport & Technology Editor. He has contributed to numerous other magazines, including Conde Nast Traveller, Wired, and Esquire.

About Artifice Press

Artifice Press propels new thinking in architecture, urbanism and design. We work with an international selection of independent studios, larger firms, scholars and institutions within a start-to-finish collaborative module to produce high-quality books that transcend disciplinary constraints to address 21st-century architecture’s most topical concerns, including urbanism and the landscape, the environment and ecology, the arts and culture, as well as science, education and technology.

--

Rebecca Enright-Schur, Camron PR // Rebecca.EnrightSchur@camronpr.com // +1 973.572.2494