Warren Techentin Architecture

Warren Techentin Architecture stands as a distinguished representative of contemporary California architectural practice, founded by Warren Techentin, FAIA. Under the leadership of principal architect Warren Techentin and core team members Dana Lydon, Michaela Cho, Dylan Perkinson, Bryan Chen, and Can Derman, it has established a pioneering reputation in contemporary residential design, multi-family housing, and interdisciplinary design approach innovation. This Los Angeles-based practice redefines contemporary California architects' role in international design discourse through coordinated integration of design and technical precision.

Warren Techentin Architecture brings exceptional diversified design perspectives and deep understanding of emerging technology integration to architectural practice. The practice has garnered recognition for its commitment to harmoniously integrating projects with site context and client requirements, creating spatial experiences that transcend purely functional limitations. Its design methodology demonstrates sophisticated engagement with urbanism, performative infrastructures, and pop culture, believing these studies significantly influence architecture's form, space, color, sustainability, and participatory dimensions.

The firm's design philosophy emphasizes that architecture should transcend formal limitations, designed not merely to satisfy functional requirements but to organically merge with site conditions, community context, and environmental responsibility. Through deep attention to site-specific recognition and spatial continuity, working on innovative explorations of residential typologies, they believe the best architecture results from team-collaborative interventions through precise and thoughtful processes. Warren Techentin Architecture believes architecture should uncover latent site possibilities, creating atmospheric, site-specific, and surprising buildings and environments.

The firm's interdisciplinary method draws from and seeks new ways to integrate materials, construction techniques, and technology into architecture to provide freshness to form and space while simultaneously balancing immediate and future needs for energy, maintenance, and upgrades. Warren Techentin Architecture seeks connections between outside and inside—in visual, physical, and cultural terms—while also employing as primary architectural elements strategies for new methods of introducing natural ventilation and light alongside passive techniques of heating and cooling. The practice recognizes and promotes the interdependence of buildings within their expanded context and asks broader questions about their role in community life and long-term sustainability.

Principal architect Warren Techentin, born in Pasadena, California, is a licensed architect and Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. Warren's work is informed by his longstanding interest and study of urbanism, performative infrastructures, and pop culture. His design expertise includes single-family residences, multi-family housing, commercial/institutional spaces, and educational projects. Additionally, his design process seeks to integrate new technologies to create responsive environments, active and passive ventilation strategies, and sustainable systems. Warren holds a BA in Architecture from UC Berkeley, a Master of Architecture, and a Master of Architecture in Urban Design, both from Harvard University, and serves as Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Southern California, teaching multi-family design studios, degree project design studios, graduate comprehensive design studios, and lecturing on urbanism.

Core team member Dana Lydon received her Bachelor of Architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2010, with a year abroad at the Danish Institute for Study Abroad in 2008-2009. She previously worked for Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects, focusing on multifamily housing projects. Dana's passion and advocacy for strong design is an important factor at every level of her work. Michaela Cho received her Master in Design Research from the Southern California Institute of Architecture and Bachelor of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology, studying abroad for a year in Barcelona and developing her passion for art, culture, and urbanism. Dylan Perkinson received his Master of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture and Bachelor of Architecture from Clemson University with a minor in Fine Arts. Bryan Chen received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California in 2021, having studied abroad throughout Asia for a semester and developing particular interest in the transient nature and focus on craftsmanship prevalent in Japanese architecture. Can Derman received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California and has worked in architecture and design offices in Finland, France, and Turkey.

Beyond practice, through thoughtful application of material integration, new technology, passive environmental strategies, and sustainable systems, Warren Techentin Architecture has established itself as a significant contributor to contemporary California architectural discourse, creating architectural works that are both technically innovative and maintain architectural excellence. The firm has garnered significant recognition, including a 2024 Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize nomination for the Monterey Co-Living Apartments and multiple AIA honors at national, state, and local levels. Under the continued leadership of Warren Techentin and his team, the firm currently occupies a unique position within California's dynamic architectural landscape, focusing on creating spatial experiences that achieve architectural quality through material integration, spatial innovation, and contextual sensitivity.

Over the years, Warren Techentin Architecture has demonstrated remarkable versatility, with a portfolio encompassing single-family residences, multi-family housing, commercial/institutional spaces, and educational facilities. Each project reflects a commitment to craftsmanship and detail, emphasizing collaborative teamwork from project inception. Their notable works, including the Silver Lake Accessory Dwelling Unit, Monterey Co-Living Apartments, and Elysian Fields Apartments, exemplify their ability to balance contemporary architectural language with environmental responsibility, community needs, and site specificity, establishing their position as one of Los Angeles's most respected and innovative architectural practices.