# Peter Tolkin Architecture

Peter Tolkin + Sarah Lorenzen Architecture (TOLO), formerly Peter Tolkin Architecture, is an architectural firm based in Los Angeles, California, established in 1998.

## Overview

The practice's early work focused on the revitalization and redevelopment of buildings in Old Town Pasadena. In several adaptive reuse projects, Peter Tolkin developed an expertise in pedestrian-scaled urban commercial and retail projects. Peter Tolkin's experience in Old Pasadena led to work in other cities with downtown revitalization plans, such as Santa Monica and Long Beach.
Since then, the practice has completed several larger projects. In Merced, the office planned and designed a series of mixed-use buildings, in conjunction with a comprehensive downtown revitalization. For Claremont, the practice was responsible for the planning of the West Village Expansion, a project encompassing retail, movie theaters, hotel facilities, and a town square. The practice's winning proposal for the development of a two-city-block mixed-use project called Metlox in Manhattan Beach created a public space connecting the city's civic center with its main commercial street. The urban planning project includes a town square, boutique hotel, restaurants, retail shops, offices, and underground parking.
As a counterpart to these public projects, the practice has also designed a number of projects in the private realm, including the award-winning Saladang Song restaurant, Long Beach Promenade Lofts and Marmion Court Housing. Award-winning and published private residences include the Sherman Residence and Malibu Residence (Sunglass House), and the recently completed Branch House in Montecito and a house for the gallerist Susanne Vielmetter in Altadena.
Recognized as a Design Vanguard firm by Architectural Record, Peter Tolkin's work has been published in Domus, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Dwell, and Interior Design, among other international publications.
In 2018, Sarah Lorenzen joined Peter Tolkin Architecture as a principal and the practice became Peter Tolkin + Sarah Lorenzen Architecture (TOLO).

## Selected projects

* Sherman Residence- featured in Fracture (2007), and CSI: Miami
* Branch House- featured in Santa Barbara Independent
* Malibu Residence or the Sunglass House - featured in Interior Design (magazine) and Los Angeles Times
* Saladang Song Thai Restaurant-a Pasadena restaurant constructed out of laser-cut steel screens and slabs. The patio-style restaurant takes inspiration from the traditional Thai sala, or outdoor pavilion.
* Claremont Downtown- a re-design and expansion of Claremont's downtown
* Maison 140, in conjunction with Kelly Wearstler in Interior Design (magazine)
* Metlox- shopping district and town square, a large-scale mixed-use development in Manhattan Beach
* Bike Transit Center- a tunnel-like shelter for bike users across from the Metro L Line Memorial Park station in Old Town Pasadena. The structure uses photovoltaic and light polycarbonate material in its 5-foot modules.
* Red Carpet in C - featured in KCET Artbound.

## Awards

* Saladang Song was a finalist for the James Beard Foundation restaurant design awards, and it received a merit award from the Los Angeles AIA and an Honor award from the Pasadena & Foothill chapters of the American Institute of Architects.
* 2002 Peter Tolkin featured in Architectural Record as one of ten “vanguard” international firms.
* 2006 AIA Award—Pasadena Bike Transit Center
* 2007 AIA Award—Malibu Residence
* 2009 LA Architectural Award, Design Concept—Pasadena Bike Transit Center