This Venice Beach second unit sits neatly between an alley and the Spanish Bungalow main unit on a corner lot. The two story building incorporates a three car garage off the alley that serves both buildings on the lot. The entry fronts the side street and flows into a flex space that can be used as an office, guest room or living room and has its own yard. A bright green stained wood stair enclosure with ebony plywood stairs connects to the second level whose floors have the same finish.
At the top of the stairs, the kitchen, living and dining share a single open room with flat white finishes, natural finish birch and balcony guards, an upward folding roof that crosses diagonally through the space and a custom corner window with a single-slide panel that projects from the building on sliding rails. The living area and the adjacent similarly finished master suite open to a common Ipe wood deck that connect the tow spaces while remaining private.
The exterior of the building has an olive green plaster body with gold uv-protected wood veneered resin panels and weathered steel accents and a bare zincalume standing seam metal roof. Efficiently designed and built using arketype’s eco-friendly trademark methods, the building was constructed for $113 a square foot.
David Ferrin President and Principal Architect: A southern California native with over 30 years of practical experience in design and construction has blended his academic excellence and architectural education with the passion for environmental preservation and design. He provides his clientele with architectural solutions that incorporate environmentally sustainable design. His projects consist of residential renovations, new homes, multi-family residential, mixed use, and small commercial including hillside developments. As so many artisans before us have established legacies that were reflections of the social and economic conditions in which they lived, David desires to make a positive impact in his practice. With his experience working in historic contexts, and appreciation of architectural history, he is proficient in many genres. David values design that acknowledges the needs of our era such as the conservation of natural resources, providing affordable housing, and appropriate density with mixed uses in our cities to create safe and beautiful environments.
Outside of his work David’s activism and creativity to solve problems has gained him a good reputation in the community. He has been successful in addressing community and agency issues in ways that are beneficial. His efforts in environment preservation have gained him the respect of many, including the Ventura Chamber of Commerce who presented him with the Environmental Excellence Poinsettia award in 2005, and the City of Ojai honor for Outstanding New Mixed-Use Building Design in 2006.
David’s long-standing concern for sustainability led him to become an active member of the Midtown Ventura Community Council (MVCC) since 2002, including four years as Chair. David’s multiple accomplishments include the MVCC Environmental Design Checklist, a method for the community council to evaluate proposed projects and give community feedback to the city and applicant; and landscape projects at community public schools utilizing conservation, permeability, and retention practices using regional native plants. Under David’s leadership the MVCC achieved the County of Ventura 2015 Earth Day Award.
David has served as a member of the “View Protection & Solar Access Task Force” and has been a part of City of Ventura Artist selection panels for selection of public artwork. In 2011 David was appointed to the City of Ventura Planning Commission and the Design Review Committee by City Council. He has served as Chair and Vice Chair on these committees. David is an environmental activist, a longtime resident and business owner in Midtown Ventura. His concern for others and the willingness to give back to the community has gained him the trust of clients, community members and stake holders.
1998 Woodbury University, Bachelor of Architecture, Cum Laude
2001 California Architects License C28599
2010 David Ferrin General Contractor, California License 960462