Hollywood Bowl Artist Lounge

Prior to taking center stage at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra members now have a quiet, comfortable, and creative place to relax. Cork floors and white-oak-paneled walls provide to a feeling of natural calm that contrasts with the high drama of the Hollywood Bowl stage. Built 15 years ago with the plan to replace it after one year, a renovation was long overdue. To make it feel like a private lounge instead of a multipurpose space, we raised the roof by adding a new steel structure, making the interior tall, day-lit, and airy. Clerestory windows allow views of the surrounding hillside and a series of acoustical felt panels on the underbelly of the exposed roof beams turn the ceiling into a sculptural piece that unifies the entire space. The panels’ changing curvature pays homage to the scalloped and layered shell of the stage, while also adding energy to the space. A decorative screen was added to the building’s exterior, amplifying the building’s presence.