AN [ARCHITECT] IS A KIND OF IDEA AND TASTE MACHINE; A [BUILDING] IS A SERIES OF CREATIVE AND TECHNICAL DECISIONS, AND IT’S THE [ARCHITECT’S] JOB TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS AS FREQUENTLY AS POSSIBLE -borrowing a Stanley Kubrick quote
After years of drafting and design experience, Jon graduated from UC Berkeley and from Columbia University. His work experience began in Berkeley for Stanley Saitowitz, then in New York, for the prestigious firms of SOM and then for Gwathmey/Siegel Architects, where he was the Project Architect on a 10,000 sq. ft. house. He then was employed by Harry Wolf Architect in Los Angeles, on several published projects, including a 70-storey office building, the Disney parking garage, a mixed-use development in San Francisco, and student housing for UC Santa Barbara. Then for Richard Meier and Partners, Architects, on the Getty Center, California, where he was responsible for the design of the interiors of the Getty Research Institute. Once the project was completed, he set up his own practice in Los Angeles. His first commission was an exhibition on the work of El Lissitzky, at the Getty Research Institute.
Jon Frishman has maintained an architectural practice since 2000. The purchase of a piece of property in Laurel Canyon developed into the design and construction of a refined modernist house that has been reviewed in the Los Angeles Times and many other publications. From this “case study” his practice developed — providing quality and highly detailed design.
Today the architecture practice of Jon Frishman, Architect, focuses on the design of single-family residences, both locally and internationally.
Creating a beautiful home begins with the functional requirements of the client, then, taking the site into consideration to determine the best locations for all of the functions. A house, like a movie, requires a narrative and a celebration of all of the functional elements, brought together to make a complete picture. To start, considering the entry, as a procession that leads in, arrival, as a place to wait and contemplate and anticipation to explore further, perhaps something grand or perhaps something humble, the client’s desires are brought into play.
Then once inside, to open up with a sense of visual flow, a simple idea of direction, a further desire to go forward, to see more, as a visitor or, a sense of relief for the owner, arrival at home.
Then the flow, the movement up or horizontally into the semi-public and or private rooms, the interplay of daylight or created light at night, which works to lead forward to bring the quality of nature to each adjacency, to each space, to each room.
The communal spaces, living/kitchen/dining, as the hearth, to gather, bringing people together, visually, creating a sense of interest and quality to provide comfort, a sense of home.
Creating these spaces together with the attributes of the site require an architect with a firm sensibility of nature with a pure understanding of form and structure, having the capacity to express the visions and design ideas clearly, simply, with drawings that explain everything so that the final product is exactly what is desired by the client.
In addition to form and composition, is having a sense of detail and understanding the nature of materials and their application through a mastery of drawing, explaining how components go together with craft and simplicity. The lines flow, the construction is coherent, resolved, and well understood from the first drawings to the final built components. The contractor can build with a clear understanding of the design and intent generated through an organized methodical practice a synthesis of design/structure/mechanical systems. A construction, unified, a seamless process, from design and client collaboration to city approvals and construction, a team, serving the client, where the resources from each specialist enhances the end product, turnkey, serving as the clients’ representative from start to finish for an intelligent house of timeless beauty and quality.