archemy.LA Design & Build

Above L to R: Gillian Watanabe, Carlos Menjivar, Asia Zdziarska, Pavlina Williams, Alvin Juen

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Describe the featured project.

Nestled quietly at the foot of the San Jacinto Mountains on the outskirts of Palm Springs, this new take on mid-century modern architecture stands as a testament to harmonious living with nature. Its design is a dance between tranquility and entertainment—a sanctuary for the soul in the heart of a desert canvas adorned with majestic boulders. Every element in this carefully considered abode whispers reverence for its surroundings. The materials mirror the rugged elegance of the desert, with warm hues that echo the sun-kissed sands and cool tones reflecting the stoic mountains. The marriage of indoors and outdoors is seamless, blurring boundaries as if inviting nature’s beauty to be a part of daily life.

Tell us about your business.

We are an architect-led design-build firm based in Manhattan Beach. Our mission is to blend thoughtful design with impeccable construction, delivering seamless, high-quality residential projects. We offer a full spectrum of architectural, interior design and construction services, including new builds, additions and remodels.

Collaboration is fundamental to our approach. Our clients are essential members of our team, with whom we foster relationships built on mutual trust. We take the time to truly understand them—because we’re not just building houses, we’re building homes.

How do you approach the challenge of merging aesthetics with functionality?

That’s a great question and so fundamentally important in what we do. Our homes shape our daily experiences, influencing our mood and well-being. Because we spend so much of our lives in these spaces, not only should they be awe-inspiring, they should also seamlessly support our everyday needs.

However, a beautiful space should never compromise functionality, and functionality should never be sacrificed for aesthetics. A successfully designed home finds harmony between the two. Thoughtful layouts and intentional material choices all work together to create environments that feel effortless yet deeply considered. Crafting elegant homes where every detail has purpose is what we do best.

What type of projects do you primarily focus on?

Early in the formation of our business, we knew that homes were what we wanted to build—not just houses, but homes. Building a home for a family requires a deeper level of understanding. We take our time getting to know each family well so we can build them a home that is unique to their needs. We love this part of what we do, and it is this focus that drives our design, our construction process and our business.

Team photographed by Fabien & Laura Castro | Project photographed by Kirill Vil