Art Share LA

PrizeHonorable Mention in Architectural Design /
Firm LocationLos Angeles, United States
CompanyLorcan O'Herlihy Architects
Design Team Lorcan O’Herlihy (Principal), Ian Dickenson (PD), Maria Galustian, Jonathan Gayomali
Project Videohttp://

To support the longevity of Art Share L.A.'s mission, LOHA was engaged to rethink the layout and sequencing of this 28,000 SF former textile-recycling factory to better serve both the existing and envisioned programming, prioritizing flexibility, openness, and connectivity. LOHA’s approach is a process of addition by subtraction, clearing away the fragmented build-up of previous renovations to unveil the beauty and character of the original spaces and reimagine a new use. Several traces of the building’s manufacturing past are found in the brick walls, freight doors, and old train tracks embedded in the concrete floors. By stripping away redundant walls and circulation spaces, LOHA reveals the inherent flexibility and multifunctionality of these spaces, capturing back thirty percent of the project’s available square footage. Within this newly exposed interior, LOHA reconfigures and expands the exhibition, performance, and administrative spaces along a series of programmatic bands, tied together through a cross-grain circulation pattern. This design promotes fluidity across the non- profit’s various programs and increases the flexibility and efficiency of these spaces - particularly important for Art Share L.A.’s regularly evolving curatorial needs. By prioritizing social exchange and versatility, LOHA's approach adds coherence and relates the programming back to the surrounding community and urban context.