Day Job Office by 22RE: A Residential-Inspired Creative Workspace in Los Angeles

Transforming a Former Art Studio into a Warm, Collaborative Creative Office

In Los Angeles’ eclectic Glassell Park neighborhood, design studio 22RE reimagines a former studio once occupied by artist Ed Ruscha into a refined creative headquarters for Day Job, a forward-thinking LA-based creative agency. The project reshapes 1,800 square feet into a warm, residentially inspired commercial interior that blends architecture, craft, and expressive spatial identity.

The office exterior establishes a confident, sculptural presence with its monolithic Douglas fir and stucco façade, grounding the building in local materiality while hinting at the crafted interior within.

A Sunken “Piazza” as the Social and Spatial Heart

Balancing restraint, geometry, and playful modernism

Central to the layout is a sunken piazza—a multifunctional social core that references Italian town squares and elements of Soviet modernist geometry. This lowered gathering zone responds to existing site constraints while transforming them into architectural opportunity.

Circular skylights filter natural daylight into the space, illuminating the open-plan environment and anchoring a series of casual meeting and lounge settings. Sculptural columns and varied seating encourage movement, conversation, and spontaneous collaboration throughout the workday.

Material Warmth and a Residential Design Language

22RE pairs cherry-wood wall paneling, green concrete flooring, and stainless steel surfaces to create a tactile palette that merges warmth with crisp precision. The kitchen brings a domestic composure with:

• Orange cement tiles
• Stainless-steel countertops (a signature 22RE detail)
• Heath Ceramics backsplash
• A central island that anchors the social function

Through layered materials, intentional lighting, and crafted furniture, the design blurs the boundaries between home comfort and creative office functionality.

Program and Flow: A Thoughtfully Composed Workspace

Distinct zones for collaboration, privacy, and creative production

The interior unfolds organically around the piazza, transitioning into dedicated work and meeting areas including:

• Private conference room with custom sculptural table
• Editing suite
• Kitchen and dining area
• Relaxed lounge space
• Two restrooms

Custom furniture by 22RE—including bespoke desks, lounge seating, dining set, sofa, and tables—reinforces the firm's comprehensive, integrated design approach.

Expressive Lighting and Californian Design Language

Lighting plays a curatorial role across the interior, integrating a mix of iconic and contemporary fixtures such as:

• Tekio Horizontal pendants above the piazza
• Sophus Fibonacci lamps in the lounge and conference spaces
• Motoko Ishii sconces adorning central columns
• Pivotante à Poser table lamps by Nemo Lending warmth and visual rhythm throughout

In palette and form, the space embraces a distinctly Californian sensibility, uniting natural textures, sculptural geometry, and vibrant tonal accents. The result is a workplace that balances focus and fluidity—where creativity feels immersive, grounded, and comfortable.

A New Standard for Creative Workplaces

Day Job Office by 22RE redefines the future of creative work environments in Los Angeles. By bridging residential comfort, hospitality-inspired details, sculptural forms, and collaborative energy, the project sets a new benchmark for studios that prioritize both emotional warmth and spatial innovation.

It is a workspace built not just for productivity—but for culture, connection, and creative exploration.

All photographs are works of  Yoshihiro Makino