Photographer Marc Goodwin has taken his tour of architecture studios around the world to the US, kicking off with 15 workspaces in Los Angeles that are packed with models and photographs.
Goodwin, who runs the photography studio Archmospheres, took the photoset of LA architecture studios as part of his series that has so far included the Netherlands, Paris, London and Barcelona.
However, offices in the Californian city particularly stood out from the other locations for the photographer, because of the work on show.
His images capture stacks of models, a pink staircase and boldly coloured drawings in the space used by Bureau Spectacular – named Emerging Architect of the Year at the 2018 Dezeen Awards – and textural, layered plans at the Standard Architecture/Design studio.
"I have never seen so many inspiring projects proudly displayed in models and photographs," Goodwin told Dezeen.
Four of the workspaces made it to the photographer's top 10 of all the series. These included Marmol Radziner's studio featuring exposed wooden trusses and large windows, Morphosis' bright white space, and Edward Ogosta Architecture's home in a converted old bread factory.
Goodwin also praised the vistas available from CO Architects' building, which was built in the mid-20th century as the headquarters and restaurant for the Carnation Company.
"Marmol Radziner, Morphosis and Eric Owen Moss Architects have made my top 10 list of favourite studios and CO has some of the best views I have ever seen," he said.
Along with displays of maquettes, a highlight for Goodwin was the architectural imagery on show, including works by prolific 20th-century American photographer Julius Shulman.
"It was rewarding to see such appreciation for architectural photography in nearly every space I visited," he added. "In particular, Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects stood out for their almost gallery-like studio filled with amazing photographs, including two signed prints by none other than Julius Shulman."
While enjoying his studio visits, Goodwin said that his trip to Los Angeles was particularly tiring in comparison to the others, due to the city's infamous traffic problems.
"It's a dull truism – I know, no news to anyone – but it was staggering to see how it really could take an hour and a half to travel 15 miles from Santa Monica to Downtown LA in the middle of the day, never mind during rush hour," he said.
"And this comes after working in Dubai, Beijing and Shanghai, which are not exactly free of traffic challenges, either," Goodwin added. "LA stands in evidence of the fact that cars alone do not provide freedom or convenience."
Take a look inside all 15 Los Angeles architecture studios:
Michael Maltzan Architecture, Inc
In this space since: 1997
Number of employees: 30
Building's former use: bath house
Marmol Radziner
In this space since: 2001
Number of employees: 220
Building's former use: post-production studio
In this space since: 2011
Number of employees: 60
Building's former use: n/a; new construction
Eric Owen Moss Architects
In this space since: 1988
Number of employees: 20
Building's former use: industrial/manufacturing
Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects
In this space since: 1999
Number of employees: 39 (including San Francisco)
Building's former use: originally the Culver City dance hall (built 1917) and then a mortuary
In this space since: October 2018
Number of employees: 15-20
Building's former use: auto repair shop
In this space since: August 2017
Number of employees: fluctuates between 0-5
Building's former use: sewing shop
CO Architects
In this space since: 1992
Number of employees: 110
Building's former use: originally built in 1949 as the headquarters and restaurant for the Carnation Company
Standard Architecture/Design
In the building since: 2011
Number of employees: 17
Building's former use: furniture finisher and a duplex (mixed)
In the building since: 2010
Number of employees: 5
Building's former use: office
SPF:architects
In this space since: 2007
Number of employees: 25
Building's former use: ground up construction (designed and developed by SPF:a)
Charlap Hyman & Herrero
In this space since: 2018
Number of employees: Four in Los Angeles, Four in New York, Eight total
Building's former use: a speakeasy during the prohibition era, also rumoured to have been a brothel at one point.
ANX / Aaron Neubert Architects
In this space since: 2006
Number of employees: 10
Building's former use: office
Blitz
In this space since: March 2018
Number of employees: 5
Building's former use: unknown
In this space since: 2018
Number of employees: 2-3
Building's former use: bread factory/bakery