We approach design in terms of big ideas that shape the project then begin to magnify the scope. The initial ideas remain the lens through which the project is continually viewed as the design is refined.
Design Values
As the breadth of our work and our client pool increases with each passing year, we consistently return to our core principals. Whether it's inspiration for a project in the preliminary stages or a point of resolution during the height of design, these principals define and explain our decisions. Our solutions are frequently inspired by the following values, which find physical expression in ways directly related to the particular client, program and design problem. These are the ideas which tie our projects together under the 'Montalba' umbrella. The presence of one or more of these elements is what defines our work.
Every project is unique in its surroundings. No matter how common the use - whether it is residential, hospitality or office - every project has a distinct mix of site influences: geography, history, landscape, urban. We find some of our greatest design inspiration in the context. By working back and forth between the design of the building and analysis of the site, a strong connection can be developed between the two.
If architecture is the statement, materials are the words and how we communicate our design. We choose materials based on their particular properties and rarely try to alter or conceal them. Materials can express the relationship of the project to the site, landscape or idea. Through materials we define the qualities of a space to suit a specific use.
As part of our keenness to connect each project to its surroundings, we work to blend interior and exterior spaces into a single, fluid experience. Whether it means opening rooms onto concealed courtyards or pulling the landscape into the home via folded gardens, we aim to infuse natural light, air and views throughout as much of the interior as possible.
We often seek to create a sense of space expanding beyond physical bounds. Overlapping functional zones can lead to open floor plans which provide opportunities not only for borrowed views, but also for flexibility that can transform spaces. We divide spaces with flexible constructions to conceal or reveal a variety of functions and allow possibilities of unity or compartmentalization within a single space.
A physical characteristic can connect the project to its site and contribute to its unique identity. On every project, we develop custom details inspired by the materials we use along with an analysis of the context, and performance. We see each detail as an opportunity to express our ingenuity as we seek the most direct and honest approach to a problem in pursuit of an elegant solution.
As the light changes so changes the experience of space and the design becomes a living thing. One of our most valued and powerful design resources is natural light as a means of directing focus, highlighting materials and creating experience. The power of light is both psychological and physical as light greatly influences both mood and well-being. We strive to incorporate multiple sources of natural light within every project to foster a richly varied experience.
2024
Anderson Towers
Los Angeles, California
Commercial
Corporate Office
Los Angeles, California
2024
Gryon Chalet
Gryon, Switzerland
Residential
Single Family Residence
Gryon, Switzerland
2023
Graoni Beach House
Malibu, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Malibu, California
2023
9720 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, California
Commercial
Corporate Office
Beverly Hills, California
2022
Alcima House
Pacific Palisades, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Pacific Palisades, California
2022
Canyon Terrace House
Santa Monica, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Santa Monica, California
2022
Carbon 3
Malibu, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Malibu, California
2022
Manhattan Beach House
Manhattan Beach, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Manhattan Beach, California
2022
Raiffeisen Bank
Morges, Switzerland
Commercial
Corporate Offices / Bank
Morges, Switzerland
2021
Canyon Beach House
Malibu, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Malibu, California
2024
Carla Ridge Residence
Beverly Hills, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Beverly Hills, California
2021
The Alley
Santa Monica, California
Urban / Other
Mixed-Use
Santa Monica, California
2020
2B Rooftop
Lausanne, Switzerland
Residential
Multi-Family Residence
Lausanne, Switzerland
2020
Bertola
Vaud, Switzerland
Commercial
Corporate Office
Vaud, Switzerland
2020
Byredo LA
West Hollywood, California
Retail
Retail Showroom
West Hollywood, California
2020
EMS Bussigny
Bussigny, Switzerland
Urban / Other
Multi-Family Residence
Bussigny, Switzerland
2020
Retail
Retail Showroom
Shanghai, China
2019
ArtGeneve
Le Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland
Urban / Other
Installation
Le Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland
2019
Birdie G's
Santa Monica, California
Hospitality
Restaurant / Bar
Santa Monica, California
2019
BLDWN LA
Los Angeles, California
Retail
Boutique Retail
Los Angeles, California
2019
Byredo Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Retail
Boutique Retail
Dallas, Texas
2019
Dior Homme
Los Angeles, California
Retail
Boutique Retail
Los Angeles, California
2019
Disney Executive Offices
Los Angeles, California
Commercial
Corporate Office
Los Angeles, California
2019
GG15 House
Pully, Switzerland
Residential
Single-family residence
Pully, Switzerland
2019
Headspace SM Campus
Santa Monica, California
Commercial
Office Headquarters
Santa Monica, California
2019
Retail
Retail Showroom
New York, New York
2019
Riviera Loft
Vevey, Switzerland
Residential
Single Family Residence
Vevey, Switzerland
2019
Venice Beach House
Venice, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Venice, California
2018
Canyon Lodge
Mammoth Lakes, California
Commercial
Ski Lodge
Mammoth Lakes, California
2018
Carbon 38
Pacific Palisades, California
Retail
Retail Showroom
Pacific Palisades, California
2018
Carbon 38, Hamptons
Bridgehampton, New York
Retail
Boutique Retail
Bridgehampton, New York
2018
Commercial
Office Headquarters
Pully, Switzerland
2018
Dreifort Residence
Santa Monica, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Santa Monica, California
2018
Erewhon SM
Santa Monica, California
Commercial
Market and Cafe
Santa Monica, California
2018
Kress Penthouse
New York, New York
Residential
Single Family Residence
New York, New York
2018
LR2 House
Pasadena, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Pasadena, California
2018
Oxnard Beach House
Oxnard, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Oxnard, California
2018
Whitepod, Zen Suite
Les Cerniers, Monthey, Switzerland
Hospitality
Luxury Eco-Hotel
Les Cerniers, Monthey, Switzerland
2017
Bex & Arts
Bex, Switzerland
Urban / Other
Art Pavilion and Installation
Bex, Switzerland
2017
Carolina Herrera SFA
New York, New York
Retail
Retail Showroom
New York, New York
2017
E&J Offices
New York, New York
Commercial
Creative Offices
New York, New York
2017
Nobu Ryokan
Malibu, California
Hospitality
Boutique Hotel
Malibu, California
2017
Reformation Melrose
Los Angeles, California
Retail
Retail Showroom
Los Angeles, California
2017
Studio Dental II
San Francisco, California
Commercial
Dental Office
San Francisco, California
2017
SVB Mixed Use
Los Angeles, California
Urban / Other
Mixed-Use
Los Angeles, California
2017
Villa 70
Malibu, California
Hospitality
Boutique Hotel
Malibu, California
2016
Bellerive Residence
Lausanne, Switzerland
Residential
Single Family Residence
Lausanne, Switzerland
2016
Carolina Herrera
Beverly Hills, California
Retail
Retail Showroom
Beverly Hills, California
2016
Carolina Herrera 51
Doha, Qatar
Retail
Boutique Retail
Doha, Qatar
2016
Carolina Herrera Harrods
London, United Kingdom
Retail
Boutique Retail
London, United Kingdom
2016
East 49th Street
New York, New York
Residential
Townhouse
New York, New York
2016
Elizabeth & James
Los Angeles, California
Retail
Boutique Retail
Los Angeles, California
2016
Equinox Vancouver
Vancouver, British Columbia
Commercial
Athletic Club
Vancouver, British Columbia
2016
Grando
Aigle, Switzerland
Urban / Other
Event Space
Aigle, Switzerland
2016
Little Beach House
Malibu, California
Hospitality
Restaurant / Member's Club
Malibu, California
2016
Raquel Allegra
Los Angeles, California
Retail
Boutique Retail
Los Angeles, California
2016
The Webster
Los Angeles, California
Retail
Flagship Retail
Los Angeles, California
2016
Villa 64
Malibu, California
Hospitality
Boutique Hotel
Malibu, California
2015
AK Lofts
Venice, California
Urban / Other
Mixed-Use
Venice, California
2015
AT&T Center
Los Angeles, California
Hospitality
Restaurant / Bar
Los Angeles, California
2015
C of H Showroom
Los Angeles, California
Retail
Retail Showroom
Los Angeles, California
2015
Cassia
Santa Monica, California
Hospitality
Restaurant / Bar
Santa Monica, California
2015
COH Antwerp
Antwerp, Belgium
Retail
Retail Showroom
Antwerp, Belgium
2015
DFS Terminal 2 - LAX
Los Angeles, California
Commercial
Airport Terminal Interiors
Los Angeles, California
2015
DFS Terminal 6 - LAX
Los Angeles, California
Retail
Airport Terminal Interiors
Los Angeles, California
2015
Equinox HB
Huntington Beach, California
Commercial
Athletic Club
Huntington Beach, California
2015
LAX Terminal 6
Los Angeles, California
Commercial
Terminal Interiors
Los Angeles, California
2015
Renens
Renens, Switzerland
Urban / Other
School
Renens, Switzerland
2014
Cafe Rockenwagner
Los Angeles, California
Hospitality
Bakery / Cafe
Los Angeles, California
2014
Studio Dental
San Francisco, California
Commercial
Mobile Dental Office
San Francisco, California
2014
The Row
Los Angeles, California
Retail
Flagship Retail Store
Los Angeles, California
2013
LAX TBIT - Restaurants
Los Angeles, California
Hospitality
Restaurant
Los Angeles, California
2013
Nikita
Malibu, California
Hospitality
Restaurant
Malibu, California
2012
Ayara Thai
Los Angeles, California
Hospitality
Restaurant / Bar
Los Angeles, California
2012
Barbara Bui
Costa Mesa, California
Retail
Boutique Retail
Costa Mesa, California
2012
Briarbluff
Malibu, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Malibu, California
2012
Duty Free Shops LAX
Los Angeles, California
Retail
Airport Terminal Interiors
Los Angeles, California
2012
Isabel Marant
Los Angeles, California
Retail
Boutique Retail
Los Angeles, California
2012
LA Metro Canopy
Los Angeles, California
Urban / Other
Transportation
Los Angeles, California
2012
Commercial
Airport Terminal Interiors
Los Angeles, California
2012
Nobu Malibu
Malibu, California
Hospitality
Flagship Restaurant
Malibu, California
2011
École du Censuy
Renens, Switzerland
Urban / Other
Campus Master Plan
Renens, Switzerland
2011
Head Start
Santa Fe Springs, California
Urban / Other
Resource Library
Santa Fe Springs, California
2011
Milo + Olive
Santa Monica, California
Hospitality
Bakery / Cafe
Santa Monica, California
2011
Westridge House
Los Angeles, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Los Angeles, California
2010
Beverly Park
Beverly Hills, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Beverly Hills, California
2010
Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Residential
Single Family Residence
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
2010
Mandeville House
Los Angeles, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Los Angeles, California
2010
Ridgeline House
Pasadena, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Pasadena, California
2010
WS Park Dental
San Francisco, California
Commercial
Dental Office
San Francisco, California
2009
Bethusy
Lausanne, Switzerland
Urban / Other
Campus Master Plan
Lausanne, Switzerland
2009
Ouverture
Echandens, Switzerland
Urban / Other
Mixed-Use
Echandens, Switzerland
2008
Huckleberry
Santa Monica, California
Hospitality
Bakery / Cafe
Santa Monica, California
2008
Ports 1961
Los Angeles, California
Retail
Boutique Retail
Los Angeles, California
2007
Bottega Veneta
Costa Mesa, California
Retail
Boutique Retail
Costa Mesa, California
2007
Brooktree
Pacific Palisades, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Pacific Palisades, California
2007
Carouge
Geneva, Switzerland
Urban / Other
Multi-Family Residence
Geneva, Switzerland
2007
IMG World
Century City, California
Commercial
Corporate Office
Century City, California
2007
Rising Glen House
Los Angeles, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Los Angeles, California
2006
Coastline
Malibu, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Malibu, California
2006
Coldwater
Beverly Hills, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Beverly Hills, California
2006
Muse
Culver City, California
Urban / Other
Multi-Family Residence
Culver City, California
2006
New Blood : Next Gen
Los Angeles, California
Urban / Other
Exhibition
Los Angeles, California
2006
Richwood
Brentwood, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Brentwood, California
2006
Swiss Pavilion
Zaragoza, Spain
Urban / Other
Exhibition
Zaragoza, Spain
2005
2x8 Exhibit
Los Angeles, California
Urban / Other
Installation
Los Angeles, California
2005
IDC
San Francisco, California
Hospitality
Bakery
San Francisco, California
2005
Octavia Lofts
San Francisco, California
Urban / Other
Multi-Family Residence
San Francisco, California
2005
Troxell
Pacific Palisades, California
Residential
Single Family Residence
Pacific Palisades, California
2005
Venice Properties
Venice, California
Commercial
Corporate Office
Venice, California
2004
Cold Open
Venice, California
Commercial
Corporate Office
Venice, California
2004
Monique L'Huillier - ED
Edina, Minnesota
Retail
Retail Showroom
Edina, Minnesota
2003
Hazen Pool House
Bel Air, California
Residential
Pool Pavilion
Bel Air, California
2003
South Beach
Jupiter Island, Florida
Residential
Single Family Residence
Jupiter Island, Florida
2002
Isle Ridge
Jupiter Island, Florida
Residential
Single Family Residence
Jupiter Island, Florida
2001
Gomez Road House
Jupiter Island, Florida
Residential
Single Family Residence
Jupiter Island, Florida