Cool Headquarters

James Perse is the epitome of the sophisticated California surf culture he’s helped create in his 20 years in business. A business, whose start in selling t-shirts, has expanded to collections for men, women, and the home. His pursuit has been “to create the simplest interpretation” of his products, be it a t-shirt or table, and have that reflected in his boutiques and office space. This dream became a reality with the move of his headquarters from southeast Los Angeles to Marina del Rey.

Gutting a 1950’s warehouse with low ceilings presented a blank canvas to create an office space that is in line with the James Perse aesthetic. The beautiful bowstring-truss wood ceiling, previously hidden, is original to the building and defines the space. Adding skylights brought in abundant natural light and illuminated the central aisle. The same belgian-oak floors used in many of his boutiques were repeated here. Perfectly clean, stark white walls break to reveal cubic office space whose workers often meet at teak tables in the center corridor. There’s a stocked bar replacing the typical reception desk, a kitchen, lounge with ping pong tables and flat screens and even a garden with an outdoor hearth and bocce court. The idea was to have employees feel as if they’re working from home and enjoy coming to work. With the new office, the brand that epitomizes the ease of the California cool lifestyle comes full circle with products, boutiques and headquarters seamlessly linked.

James Perse

Photos: Roger Davies  |  Architectural Digest

(Good things worth repeating…this a repost from August 2015.)