Day Job’s new 22RE-designed workspace centers on a sunken piazza and warm material palette
The conversion of a former Ed Ruscha studio into the new Day Job headquarters presents a precise exercise in atmosphere, material character and spatial calibration.
Los Angeles-based practice 22RE positions the 1,800-square-foot Glassell Park site as a setting where measured geometry and warm tactility support the daily rhythm of a contemporary creative office.
The exterior maintains an austere presence through Douglas fir and stucco, establishing a quiet frontage that heightens the experience upon entry.
Inside, an immediate shift occurs as daylight concentrates around the sunken central piazza. Lowered to respond to existing structural limits, the room forms a sculptural interior terrain influenced by Italian civic spaces and the playful massing seen in certain Soviet-era works.
Circular skylights create a steady overhead glow, while the surrounding columns provide a sense of cadence that helps define movement and informal gathering. The result is an interior landscape that supports conversation, solitary focus and fluid circulation.
Surfaces throughout the project communicate material clarity. Cherry-wood paneling introduces a steady warmth that contrasts with green concrete flooring, giving the interior a grounded presence.
Stainless steel counters—an established element within 22RE’s vocabulary—bring a cool precision to the kitchen, where orange cement tiles and a Heath Ceramics backsplash add tonal richness without overwhelming the composition.
Residential references appear through varied floor levels, a kitchen island and soft seating arrangements, helping the workspace feel approachable while retaining its professional function.
The floor plan extends outward from the piazza into clearly defined zones. A conference room with a custom sculptural table by 22RE offers a private setting for focused discussion.
Nearby, an editing suite, lounge, kitchen and restrooms form a compact network of programs connected through sightlines and deliberate transitions.
Custom furniture, including desks, a dining ensemble and lounge pieces, reinforces the studio’s integrated approach, ensuring a consistent language across architecture, interiors and objects.
Lighting works as an architectural instrument. Pivotante à Poser table lamps by Nemo sit on work surfaces, Tekio Horizontal pendants animate the piazza, and Fibonacci lamps by Sophus define the conference and lounge areas.
Motoko Ishii sconces highlight the central columns, creating a coherent visual tempo that interacts with the structural framework.
The project signals a confident step for 22RE, showing greater chromatic intensity and geometric articulation while staying aligned with the studio’s commitment to natural materials and refined craftsmanship.
Through careful composition, the environment supports concentration, connection and creative production while maintaining a distinctly Californian sensibility.
Photography by Yoshihiro Makino, with courtesy of 22RE
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