We caught up with the brilliant and insightful David Bruce Lee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

David Bruce, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

What we do as architects and how long it takes to design and build a home are widely misunderstood by the general public. Most people think the value the architect offers is mostly on the technical side of construction and building permitting when in reality, those are only one part of what we do. Many also think that we are responsible for the engineering of the home when that is not the case (that is done by the structural engineer).

When I first started my office, I had numerous clients reach out to us and ask, “Are you an architect or a designer?” This question completely confused me because all architects are trained to not only understand the technical aspects of building but, first and foremost, how to design a building’s exteriors and interiors. In the past 10-15 years it has become more common for architecture and interiors to be divided – for architects to design the exterior only and interior designers to design the interiors only. This approach often results in homes that feel clunky.

After being asked this same question by many people, I’ve shaped my answer to state that our office does both architecture and interior design and that we specialize in creating holistic living environments. It stems from a larger philosophy that a home, or any building, is felt as and should be designed as one spatial experience.

David Bruce, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My initial area of interest was industrial design, however, when I was a junior in high school, I attended an architecture summer camp at the University of Southern California. Within the first few days of the camp, I was hooked on architecture and I knew that is what I would study and pursue as a career. I then acquired a bachelor of architecture from Cal Pol San Luis Obispo.

The first portion of my career was spent in New York City designing and collaborating on many different types of buildings ranging from large homes in the Hamptons to towers, campus plans, art installations, and interiors. NYC was a great place to learn a lot and sleep little.

After moving back to California, I launched my own architecture and interior design office in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The office is co-led by my partner, French architect Marina Bourderonnet, and specializes in high-end modern homes.

We are distinguished by our backgrounds and work ethic. Folks in California might not like hearing this, but architecture and design offices on the east coast, generally, hold themselves to a higher standard. The documents are better and the design work is taken more seriously. In this regard, I would describe ourselves as a New York office located on the West Coast. I also believe that our diverse experience gives us a wider toolset and design palette to work with, which is critical to creating homes unique and custom for our clients.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I believe architecture, in the largest sense, is an expression of the individual and the society they are a part of. Every building, even if it is a private home, is a mark that we leave on the world. What motivates me is to create architecture that questions norms and honestly expresses an artistic statement beyond function and utility.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

About 8 years ago, my partner and I decided to start a podcast about architecture and design. It is titled, “The Second Studio”. The show, which has grown to be a top-ten design podcast, has always served as a space for us to explore architectural ideas and have conversations with industry leaders. The podcast has evolved over the years and since launching our practice, we have made sure to release episodes providing useful tips and information for clients. We consistently publish and episode a week and receive questions from listeners very often. I am very grateful that it has proven helpful to clients and fellow architects.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.famearchitects.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fame_architects/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/famearchitects/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fame-architecture-interior-design/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjLfSZ7t_nGco7GlcT6X41w
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TVq5fuaZPSzlD84bk3Oqj

Image Credits

Exterior images: FAME Architecture & Design
Interior images: Joe Fletcher (photographer)