Max Pittman's Portfolio

FRONT ELEVATION

Max Pittman

Design Portfolio

About Me

Hi, I’m Max. I’m an architect-in-training interested in occupantcentered design.

Before starting in architecture, I completed a bachelor’s and master’s degree in environmental psychology. My research centered around the relationship between person and space, with a focus on education and work environments.

I believe that architecture has the power to improve well-being, and my intention is to bring principles of environmental psychology into design.

Courtyard House

Laney LA Architecture and Design

Location: Manhattan Beach, CA

Sq foot: 6,000

“Removed from standard ocean views and hidden behind a discreet hedge, this Manhattan Beach residence chooses to reveal itself slowly. It is discovered only through intentional approach. Organized around a massive courtyard, the interior floor plan layers indoor and outdoor spaces to accomplish the sensation of being surrounded by nature. With views toward downtown Los Angeles, the courtyard bleeds into a hardscape, outdoor room and terminates in an infinity pool. The resultant architecture creates its own context and a new type of architecture for its neighborhood.”

- Laney LA

This conceptual project was a collaboration between myself and studio director Tony Schonhardt.

Conceptual rendering, by Igor Nominov

Palisades Cottage

Tim Barber Architects

Location: Pacific Palisades, CA

Scope: 450 square foot addition and kitchen remodel/ expansion

Role: kitchen interior architecture; general drafting

I was mesmerized by this charming, immaculatelyrestored 1930’s cottage, and was initially brought on board as a drafter. I was gradually given more responsibility, and ultimately helped design the expansion and remodel of the kitchen with two teammates.

What made this project challenging and fascinating was the space limitation. Our task was to optimize the size and layout of the kitchen for a family of five who never use a microwave. Ultimatley, we settled on this design.

Hand-drawn interior sketch

Brentwood Palazzo

Tim Barber Architects

Location: Pacific Palisades, CA

Scope: 6,500 square foot remodel

Role: selecting exterior finishes; general drafting

I was given a ‘stretch assignment’ of selecting color options for the stucco facade. After a successful client presentation, my task expanded to creating the exterior color and finish palette for the cast stone and stuc pierre.

I subsequently designed the garage doors as well, based off the asthetic interest of the clients and ‘northern Italian palazzo’-design goal of the project.

Rough Facade Renders

Pallette Options

Pasadena Craftsman

Tim

Barber Architects

Location: Pacific Palisades, CA

Scope: 6,800 square foot remodel

Role: Selecting exterior finishes; drafting

The owners of this historic craftsman hired TBA to restore and renovate the property. Previous renovations had left an anachronistic mark on the interior architecture and exterior finishes, so our goal was to restore it to it’s craftsman origins while adding a fresh take.

I was tasked with creating palette options for the exterior finishes, with guidance from my project manager. The final palette we landed on coheres with the surrounding landscape architecture and craftsman asthetic.

Alta Dena Ranch

Tim Barber Architects

Location: Pacific Plisades, CA

Scope: 3,700 square foot remodel

Role: selecting exterior finishes; drafting

The owners of this California ranch home purchased the property for its tranquil and verdant setting, but the home needed an overhaul. Much of the property hadn’t been updated since its construction in the 1950’s, so our team designed a full renovation and new ADU.

The clients wanted an exterior finish that fit the home’s core style, but without feeling dated. In collaboration with my project manager, I created a darker-toned paint palette contrasted against a whitewashed brick watertable.

Reservoir & Learning Center

Spring 2021

Instructor: Narineh Mizraen

This project deploys ground as an equalizer, to thread infrastructure, building, and site together into a water reservoir-learning center hybrid optimized for civic engagement.

The concept was approached with two factors in mind: first, that the site is adjacent to Griffith park, the LA river, and across the freeway from residential neighborhoods, making it prime real estate for public access. Second, that this reservoir can be a powerful visual and symbolic proxy for the population density and water demands of LA county, leveraging the reservoir as a learning tool itself.

Above: exterior render. The reservoir rooftop is bermed over with walkable, drought-friendly terrain

Below: section through reservoir and learning center

Axonometric plan. Visitor and employee space diverges after entry. Lower levels are dedicated to the learning center, while upper levels are LADWP workspaces.

Interior ceiling render

Transformer House

Winter 2022

Instructor: Ben Freyinger

Location: Westwood, Los Angeles

Size: 7,000 Sq Ft

This project reimagines Rudolph Schindler’s Tischler house as a coliving space for Los Angeles artists.

The studio began with an exploration of the Tischler house as a simple machine, and in this case, a space-making one. The Schindler’s themselves viewed their own home on Kings Road as a backdrop for arts, able to transform to accomodate the needs of itinerant occupants. With this in mind, I expanded the footprint of the Tischler home to its site extents, and created an unfolding top mass to serve as living, shared, and performance space for the resident artists.

Massing logic. Top level unfolds into a performance space

The flexible arrangement of the top floor accommodates varying programmatic needs

The gabled wall and roof fold down to create a theater space

Longitudiinal section A-A’

Affordable Housing Complex

Fall 2020

Instructor: Garrett Ricciardi

Location: Marlton Square, Los Angeles

Size: 183,000 sq ft

This residential and community services project explores the balance of interconnectness and independence.

The core design drivers were access to greenspace, social connection, and resident autonomy. The circulation through the complex is external, which serves two purposes: separating public circulation from private units, and capitalizing on LA’s sunny climate.

Exterior renders

Stacking logic

Joint Aggregate

Fall 2019

Instructor: Julia Koerner

Project partners: Emily Sherman, Gibson Bastar, Marina Archangelli

In this project we were tasked with designing an aggregate joinery system. At the root of the structure are two self-contained joints that merge into an orthagonal, multidirectional aggregation comprised of diagonal and vetical units.

The cross-shaped joint enables stacking the components in x or y directions.

Anti-Racism, Equity and Diversity Center

Winter 2021

Instructor: Narineh Mizraeian

Project partners: Tiffany Orozco, Wesley Lin

Located on north campus, this project creates a physical footprint for UCLA’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiative. Sandwiched between three adjacent buildings, we began our design with a diagrid, to break away from the rectilinear pedestrian experience and mitigate visual congestion.

We aimed to embody AEDI’s central ethos, namely inclusivity, openness, and accessibility. This manifested in a central ADA-accessible ramp connecting the first three levels, serving as a community hub and exhibition space for local artists and events. Adjacent to the walkway are programs accommodating flexible workspace, administrative services, and a theater.

The bris soleil façade draws inspiration from the Tongva tribe hut, serving as both as a territory acknowledgement, and tactical solar envelope.

Right: Southeast section illustrating ramp walkway system

Below: South elevation

Eco Resort 3-Week Challenge

Instructor: Georgina Huljich

Location: Gaucin, Andalusia Spain

The design hybridizes the simple geometries found in the neighboring town of Gaucin with ruinous architecture, in which nature reclaims the built environment. Completed in three weeks, our proposal orients it’s simple forms towards the forest, providing each unit autonomous unobstructed views into the surrounding nature.

The units are clustered together radially. They share a common plaza, but branch outwards to create a private, immersive experience for each guest.

Exterior nighttime view

Split-Level Unit

Exterior daytime view of unit