nonzero \ architecture

06/05/2026

This writing and mixing studio is the fourth studio project completed by nz\a for a highly accomplished film composer, spanning over more
than a decade. Complementing his main studio in a commercial building, this home project studio occupies an existing guest house and illustrates
how even a minimal intervention can lead to high-performing space. The quiet location required only minimal soundproofing, while the room
acoustics were addressed with a ceiling cloud below the cathedral ceiling and with drapes along the windows. Side surround speakers were
suspended with custom-designed steel brackets to allow for their ideal positioning. A partial raised wood platform serves as a cable management
device over the existing ceramic tile flooring. An adjacent room serves as a recording space and a walk-in closet was converted to a machine room;
both are connected with concealed wiring to the writing room.

Taking advantage of the inherent efficiencies of the architect-led design-build process, construction was completed by the licensed in-house contractor Greeniron Constructs.

05/05/2026

Not all projects get built - sometimes, due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, designs get canceled and remain in the virtual world. Here is a recent example of a nice personal writing and recording studio that unfortunately will remain unrealized.

12/19/2025

Happy Holidays, Wishing you a Peaceful 2026 •

• Case Study 2.0 Pacific Palisades Wildfire Rebuild Model home

09/22/2025

Thank you Architect’s Newspaper for sharing this story!

David Lynch's LA compound, featuring his studio remodeled by nonzero\architecture and a Lloyd Wright-designed residence, is now up for sale for $15 million. The property includes a Brutalist studio, screening room, and spaces for Lynch's creative work.

https://ow.ly/ckgF50WZ3wp

09/18/2025

In 1997 studio bau:ton, now nonzero\architecture, completed an addition and remodel for film director and artist David Lynch. Following David Lynch’s passing away in January of this year, the estate has been put up for sale. The compound includes the studio building building, with a screening room and painting studio, the site of many of Mr. Lynch’s creative efforts, visual, sound and music, for almost three decades.

02/18/2025

Following up on our post about houses lost in the fires - several personal recording studios we had designed and built were also among the fire victims. Notably, Gregg Wells’ studio, finished just recently, vanished along with the family home it was attached to.

Another studio, built for composer Murielle Hamilton three decades ago and having been taken over by Erik Kraber for the last twenty years burned down too, as did the neighboring house with a studio we consulted on for Starr Parodi and Jeff Fair.

At least three other studios and media rooms we had worked on over the years are also among the structures that are now gone. Another studio at the top of Paseo Miramar seems to have survived, but the houses it was a part of have been destroyed.

02/18/2025

Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating fires in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades last month. The lost homes and businesses have impacted many thousands of Angelinos, and each individual loss is an unimaginable tragedy.

But we also believe in the resilience of Los Angeles and hope to be part of the road to recovery, building back a city that is stronger and better than ever before.

As we are getting ready to leverage our expertise to rebuild the city and to help people put their lives back together, we remember some of the lost buildings we had a hand in designing.

The Freedman Residence, designed by Richard Neutra and built in 1949, was destroyed in the Palisades fire. We worked on it for more than ten years for two different owners and during that time were able to add a second story and to renovate it inside and out. Sadly it no longer exists.

Another Neutra house, the Hees Residence, for which we added a small intervention as well, was destroyed too.

10/19/2023

Serious throwback - we are very excited to hear that Island Sound Studios, first designed and built by studio bau:ton in 1999 as TK Disk Studios, is re-opening. The ultimate destination and resort studio, it features both a stunning location and a high-end facility with unmatched rooms and equipment.

https://www.mixonline.com/recording/facilities/hawaiis-island-sound-studios-to-reopen?utm_term=C453BDD0-2361-4BD3-B9A0-C10244FD0327&lrh=ecb3e26c46312479e5f1baba466328978fbe492ba3460189433c438e4e22ea1c&utm_campaign=EA6969C3-2D84-4B78-9A81-8EEFA23885EA&utm_medium=email&utm_content=7217DF79-5057-4678-8489-5873DD1A1E7C&utm_source=SmartBrief

https://www.nonzeroarch.com/portfolio_page/tk-disc-studios/

https://www.islandsoundstudios.com

The concept of a resort studio, where musicians can work undisturbed, away from city stress, is an especially alluring one. To make a great record, and relax in a beautiful, exotic locale while doing so, is a tempting proposition. For all that, however, there are not too many examples of successful....

10/16/2023

Mix Magazine and mixonline recently published this nice article on the relocated Hitchcock theater we were thrilled to complete at NBCUniversal Studios:

By Steve Harvey. The legendary re-recording stage has been reimagined, rebuilt and re-opened as the showpiece of NBCUniversal’s lot makeover.

07/20/2023

Picture day