Peter Tolkin Architecture

Peter Tolkin + Sarah Lorenzen Architecture (TOLO)
Practice information
Key architects	Peter Tolkin Sarah Lorenzen
Founded	1998
Location	Los Angeles, CA
Significant works and honors
Buildings	Saladang Song Restaurant, Sunglass House in Malibu, Sherman Residence in Sherman Oaks, Branch House in Montecito

Peter Tolkin + Sarah Lorenzen Architecture (TOLO), formerly Peter Tolkin Architecture, is an architectural firm based in Los Angeles, California, established in 1998.

Overview

The practice's early work focused on the revitalization and redevelopment of buildings in Old Town Pasadena. In several adaptive reuse projects, Peter Tolkin developed an expertise in pedestrian-scaled urban commercial and retail projects. Peter Tolkin's experience in Old Pasadena led to work in other cities with downtown revitalization plans, such as Santa Monica and Long Beach.

Since then, the practice has completed several larger projects. In Merced, the office planned and designed a series of mixed-use buildings, in conjunction with a comprehensive downtown revitalization. For Claremont, the practice was responsible for the planning of the West Village Expansion, a project encompassing retail, movie theaters, hotel facilities, and a town square. The practice's winning proposal for the development of a two-city-block mixed-use project called Metlox in Manhattan Beach created a public space connecting the city's civic center with its main commercial street. The urban planning project includes a town square, boutique hotel, restaurants, retail shops, offices, and underground parking.

As a counterpart to these public projects, the practice has also designed a number of projects in the private realm, including the award-winning Saladang Song restaurant, Long Beach Promenade Lofts and Marmion Court Housing. Award-winning and published private residences include the Sherman Residence and Malibu Residence (Sunglass House), and the recently completed Branch House in Montecito and a house for the gallerist Susanne Vielmetter in Altadena.

Recognized as a Design Vanguard firm by Architectural Record[1], Peter Tolkin's work has been published in Domus, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Dwell, and Interior Design, among other international publications.

In 2018, Sarah Lorenzen joined Peter Tolkin Architecture as a principal and the practice became Peter Tolkin + Sarah Lorenzen Architecture (TOLO).

Selected projects

• Sherman Residence- featured in Fracture (2007), and CSI: Miami
• Branch House- featured in Santa Barbara Independent
• Malibu Residence or the Sunglass House - featured in Interior Design (magazine) and Los Angeles Times
• Saladang Song Thai Restaurant-a Pasadena restaurant constructed out of laser-cut steel screens and slabs. The patio-style restaurant takes inspiration from the traditional Thai sala, or outdoor pavilion.
• Claremont Downtown- a re-design and expansion of Claremont's downtown
• Maison 140, in conjunction with Kelly Wearstler in Interior Design (magazine)
• Metlox- shopping district and town square, a large-scale mixed-use development in Manhattan Beach
• Bike Transit Center- a tunnel-like shelter for bike users across from the Metro L Line Memorial Park station in Old Town Pasadena. The structure uses photovoltaic and light polycarbonate material in its 5-foot modules.
• Red Carpet in C - featured in KCET Artbound.

Awards

• Saladang Song was a finalist for the James Beard Foundation restaurant design awards, and it received a merit award from the Los Angeles AIA and an Honor award from the Pasadena & Foothill chapters of the American Institute of Architects.[2]
• 2002 Peter Tolkin featured in Architectural Record as one of ten “vanguard” international firms.
• 2006 AIA Award—Pasadena Bike Transit Center [3]
• 2007 AIA Award—Malibu Residence
• 2009 LA Architectural Award, Design Concept—Pasadena Bike Transit Center

References

1. Architectural Record Vanguard 2002
2. James Beard Foundation Awards 2001
3. AIA Pasadena & Foothills Design Awards - Bike Transit Center
4. Interior Design Magazine, Peter Tolkin and Deborah Goldstein Design A Contemporary Malibu Pad
5. Sunglass House in the LA Times
6. Tour of Sunglass House
7. Interview with Sarah Lorenzen and Peter Tolkin on Archinect
8. New owners of Sherman Residence in LA Times
9. Charles Gaines proposal for the High Line
10. Review of Santa Monica Yacht CLub Restaurant
11. Peter Tolkin in Places Journal
12. Peter Tolkin in Planetizen
13. Scenes from Ghana by Peter Tolkin and Mabel Wilson
14. Sherman House in the Movies
15. Article on the Branch House in Montecito in the Santa Barbara Independent

External links

• Official website
• Houzz website