Christian Robert & Shawn Gehle on 6000 Hollywood Blvd

Building LA

I sat down with Shawn Gehle and Christian Robert, Co-Founders and Principals of Office Untitled or "OU," to discuss the inner workings of their growing company and their exciting 6000 Hollywood development project. I've collaborated with Shawn and Christian since 2020 and can attest to their commitment to collaboration and taking on diverse projects. 6000 Hollywood is the type of project LA needs, and has the potential to redefine the eastern part of Hollywood. This podcast was recorded from the OU office in Culver City.

The 6000 Hollywood development is located on the 3.7-acre Toyota dealership along Hollywood Boulevard. They are in the early planning stages of this mixed-use endeavor, with intentions to include affordable housing, Class A office space, retail, and public outdoor spaces. Shawn and Christian unpack the project's design, the site's history, and OU's specific approach.

In our conversation, they reflect on architects they admire, the books that inspire them, and their role as mentors to young architects. They open up about the ups and downs when building their company and OU's view on the future of architecture. They also discuss their perspective on practicing architecture in LA, the cinematic nature of the city, and how they are actively trying to mitigate the housing crisis.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered:

• Shawn & Christian's journey in launching their own firm
• The give & take nature of teaching architecture
• The types of clients OU enjoys working with
• OU's connection to Burning Man
• How the firm got involved in the 6000 Hollywood project
• Breaking down the significance of the Hollywood Boulevard site
• The timeline and lengthy entitlement process for the project
• OU's approach to the housing crisis
• Los Angeles’ cinematic allure
• The organic growth of OU's design strategy

Guest Info:

• Connect with Christian on LinkedIn
• Connected with Shawn on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Office Untitled on www.officeuntitled.com

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