Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Monti.
Daniel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up around the globe has played a big role in why I became an architect and how I approach design. My father’s work took my family to a new country, and often new continent, every two years. Having the opportunity to experience unique cultures, and see and interact with architecture in places as diverse as Argentina, Indonesia, Iran, France, and the United States have shaped how I design. Ever since I can remember, I have paid attention to spaces: how they’re shaped, how they’re built, what materials were used, and even how natural light affected the experience.
I learned about the profession of architecture was when I was about eleven and in cub scouts. We were visiting the “jobs” of various scout parents, one of which was an architect. We went to the architect’s own house, and I remember seeing the large drafting table with the mechanical pencils, straight edges, and electric erasers and him talking about what architecture was. I was instantly hooked, and knew immediately that I had found my future profession.
After undergraduate and graduate degrees in architecture, I moved to Los Angeles. I was drawn to a place that valued modern aesthetics, experimentation, and seemingly had endless possibilities for jobs. I worked for a well-known firm that specialized in both modern design and construction. Along with a second firm I worked briefly for I had a good introduction into Los Angeles and the tenacity required to get projects successfully completed, but I knew I wanted to have my own practice. In 2004 I opened Modal Design, named after a logics/mathematics term that refers to uncovering hidden properties or truths about a material or thing. It was important that my firm represented a process or a group; it’s not just about me.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The design profession is inherently full of obstacles and hurdles. They can deter even the most talented of people or stop projects in their tracks, but if you have a passion for design then it’s just what you deal with. As someone who has dreamed of being an architect since childhood I’ve known for a long time I wanted to make my mark on the profession and the built environment in my own way, so working for someone else under their design ethos wasn’t really a long-term option.
When I opened my firm, I was fortunate to land a number of commissions in the first couple of years that were significant in size and scale. It set the bar high for my practice and helped me establish my brand and hone my skills. I wish I could say that the work simply speaks for itself and projects have continued to just effortlessly flow in, but it’s not the case in today’s highly competitive world. Architecture is not an easily understood art and in Southern California it’s a luxury to spend money on the design of your living environment. Even for those with means, there’s a constant education for clients and even people within the trade on the value and process of good design. Our profession, and many other forms of design, are challenged by people trying to take the DIY approach or by thinking all things work like HGTV, but I appreciate that in many ways people are becoming more aware of the power of design. Living, working and just being in well-designed spaces makes a huge difference in your mood, your health, and ultimately in the memories you take away. I feel good knowing that our projects – big or small – make people happier and more fulfilled in small ways and big ones.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Modal Design – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Modal Design is a boutique architecture firm that focuses on creating quality residential and small-scale commercial projects. Not all of our designs are expensive, but they’re thoughtful and, I believe for our clients, possess an almost heirloom quality.
As a small firm, it’s hard to stand out from the crowd, especially in a crowded place like Los Angeles. We are not an office that just designs anything; we aren’t interested in French Provencial or faux Tuscan styling. What we excel at are contemporary and modern designs that show a truth to materials and are clear in their design purpose. Our designs tend to be driven by the needs of the client and the context, but with solutions that are unique to the people or the place.
I think we’re a different type of firm because we are thoughtful – about the design, about the client, about the process. We don’t have an arsenal of cookie-cutter looks that we drop on anyone’s site anywhere in America. If people look at our work they see a wide variety of looks, but a consistency in craft; in an emphasis on the way light is manipulated and directed; and in interesting uses of materials.
What role has luck (good luck or bad luck) played in your life and business?
I have a hard time accepting that life is about chance. I’m a big believer that hard work should be what gets you where you want to go, but at the same time I understand that luck plays a role. I am incredibly fortunate to have a great family who supports my interest and passion in design, and I was very lucky to have grown up in a circumstance that allowed me to travel the globe and live in some really far off / crazy places. I think it was my hard work that allowed me to open a firm and see the success I have, but I am blessed to live in a beautiful place with open-minded clients that trust in my talent and skills. I just hope that I can continue to work in this profession until the end of my days, realizing the type of projects that will make my clients feel lucky too!
Contact Info:
- Address: 5794 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90019
- Website: www.modal-design.com
- Phone: 323.592.3271
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modaldesign/
Image Credit:
Fotoworks
Benny Chan
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