Venice Lofts by Subtila + Kor Projects – Contemporary Coastal Live-Work Apartments in Los Angeles

Venice Lofts is an innovative renovation project that transforms two existing condominium buildings into twelve versatile live-work units, perfectly positioned along the iconic Venice Beach boardwalk. Developed by Subtila and Kor Projects in collaboration with Cactus Store, the project embodies a modern interpretation of coastal living, completed in its first phase in 2021.

The design strategy focused on creating a calm, flexible environment that captures a nostalgic coastal experience, contrasting the bold, trend-driven aesthetic often found in startup-oriented developments. Each unit was carefully conceived with neutrality and adaptability in mind, allowing future tenants to personalize their spaces while embracing natural sunlight, ocean breezes, and coastal views.

Thoughtful Spatial Planning for Live-Work Flexibility

Each unit is arranged with a lower residential floor, an upper working loft, and a roof deck, achieving a balanced division of 50/50 residential and workspace areas. The lower floors feature compact kitchens, private meeting rooms, restrooms, and adjustable spaces separated by accordion doors with porthole windows. Double-height ceilings enhance openness, with slender structural columns subtly suggesting potential divisions. Modular furnishings support flexible work arrangements adjacent to panoramic beach vistas. Upper lofts remain open-plan, with floor patterns subtly indicating distinct areas without fixed barriers.

The design preserved the building envelope due to structural and code limitations, while reimagining live-work units for a post-pandemic world where contemporary office environments increasingly blend with residential comforts.

Materiality and Finishes Inspired by Coastal Context

A restrained material palette of oak, concrete, steel, and tile was employed to highlight texture and craftsmanship. Oak surfaces received a multi-phase lime wash for a weathered, beach-inspired look, while steel elements were finished with off-white, high-gloss powder coating to reflect light and surroundings. Guardrails were meticulously detailed with fine mesh to resemble window screens, visually connecting interiors to the beachscape. Elements such as concealed passage doors or exaggerated overlaps create visual planes that direct focus toward exterior views.

Custom furnishings complement the architectural language. Modular desks with angular steel bases and lime-washed ash tops offer flexibility for both residential and commercial use, while landscape interventions by Cactus Store evoke windswept coastal environments. Breezeways are adorned with vibrant orange glazed tiles by artist Sofia Londono, marking unit entrances and reinforcing the dialogue between interior and exterior spaces.

Venice Lofts: A Modern Coastal Icon

Venice Lofts exemplifies a harmonious balance between work and living, rooted in thoughtful materiality, flexible design, and sensitivity to site context. The project celebrates Venice Beach’s unique lifestyle, offering adaptable, sunlit, and breezy units that embrace the intersection of residential comfort and contemporary workspace design.

All Photographs are works of Taiyo Watanabe