HOUSING

PORTFOLIO

"To Mark Mack, architecture is not a question of style. Modernism represents to

him an attitude of life, a challenge for a procedural approach which includes both
the client as well as the skilled manual worker in the planning of the project."
(Peter Noever,1994)

Mark Macks reputation was established in the California Bay Area with
a series of villas designed with former partner Andrew Batey (Batey &
Mack) in the 1980s . Newsweek magazine placed this work among the
new wave of architecture that exhibits a blunt beauty and classical
dignity. Mark Mack established his own firm MACK Architect(s) in
San Francisco in 1984, and moved his practice to Venice, California in
1993.
Mark Macks typological approach to design is informed by his
academic interests and practice. He was Professor of Architecture at
the University of California, Berkeley, and since 1993, has been a
Professor of Architecture at the School of Architecture and Urban
Design at the University of California, Los Angeles. Additionally he has
been a member of the visiting design faculty at Harvard University,
Rice University, University of Chicago, and SCI-Arc. Mack was cofounder and editor of Archetype Magazine, and has contributed
numerous articles to such journals as the Harvard Architectural Review
and Progressive Architecture. His architecture has been published in
hundreds of national and international journals including Progressive
Architecture, Architectural Record, Global Architecture, Casa Vogue
and Abitare. He has also lectured widely in the United States and
Europe.

PHILOSOPHY
Mark Mack and his office are recognized for thoughtful, elegant architecture that emphasizes the integration of built
form and environment. Clarity of form, simplicity of construction and an appreciation of tradition, climate, and materiality gives Mack's architecture a quality of timelessness. Kurt W. Forster describes Mack's architecture as partaking, to
a degree, of the legerdemain exercised by Californian architects of his generation. He remains attached to a vision of
architecture as a craft, as an eminently physical construction whose solidity turns more splendid the more elementary
its forms.
With closely related academic and professional interests, Mack has completed numerous residences in urban and
rural contexts, museum interiors, restaurants, retail offices and showrooms. His projects carefully consider the
clients needs, the specifics of the site, and the wider, socio-cultural context. The result is work that is both inventive
and traditional, an expression of its age and place.
Built work ranges from residential and commercial to institutional. From national to international projects - a First
Prize entry for a 700 unit mixed-use urban design competition in Judenburg, Austria, 160 units of "green" housing in
Vienna, five urban villas in Salzburg, 13 artist-in-residences in Venice, California, an art gallery in Reno, Nevada and
a handful of residences in California and Nevada. Current projects range from housing, museum and institutional
buildings in the US, hospitality and mixed use complexes in the Middle East and housing projects in Austria and
Korea. Most Recently, Mack Architect(s) was awarded the Korea National Housing competition to develop a new
model of low-density residential and sustainable community living near Seoul, Korea.
Mack Architects provides traditional architectural and planning services and strives toward an architecture which is
uniquely functional and user-friendly while utilizing tactile and natural materials to celebrate the colorful spirit of the
Californian lifestyle.

PANGYO
HOUSING
South Korea

Green
Community
Mack Architect(s) was a finalist in the Korea National Housing competition
to develop a new model of low-density residential and sustainable
community living near Seoul, Korea. The program requires 102 units of
housing which includes two different types of housing-- multi-family
housing which is no more than two units per building and limited to 4
stories, and terrace housing in which each unit has a permeable garden
terrace in front of the unit.
Combined with retaining and enhancing existing site features the design
aims to create the smallest ecological footprint possible. The pedestrian
environment will reduce automobile traffic reducing the infrastructural
requirement. The majority of units have their own private gardens in
addition to the large shared green areas of the site which help keep
temperatures low in the summer while also providing a restful
environment for mental well being. Tall buildings block cold northern
winds, while southern exposure for all units provides free solar energy.
Buildings come equipped with natural ventilation, stack ventilation
systems (through stairways), radiant heat, efficient roof insulation and
extensive green roofs to contribute to the overall system of low energy
use.

DATE: 2006-2007
CLIENT: Korea National Housing
Corporation
PROGRAM: 102 units of housing
AREA: 19000 sq m

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

TYPICAL FLOOR PLANS

Judenburg West
Judenburg, Austria

Pre-fab Design
Judenburg,Frauengasse is the first four-story wood structure in
Austria, taking advantage of innovative new technology,
including panelized construction and pre-fabricated laminated
balconies. The structure provides 24 apartments ranging in size
from 800-950 sq. ft., retail space at ground level, and an underground garage. This housing type is part of a new urban structure
which was designed by MACK Architect(s) after winning an
invited international competition. The design provides an open
and flexible infrastructure by combining groups of dwellings,
public and private open spaces, and walk streets. A series of
allotment gardens runs through the middle of the development,
connecting the site to its immediate past - the farmland just
outside the city.

DATE: 1999
CLIENT: DI Feix,Gemeinnuetzige
Wohn-und Siedlungsgenossenschaft
Ennstal
PROGRAM: Housing -24 Apartments
AREA: 22,000 sf
COST: $3.3 million

N
A

TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN

0

10

20m

N
A

GROUND FLOOR
0

10

20m

Breitenleerstrasse
Housing
Vienna, Austria

SITE PLAN

Colorful
Collaboration
Drawing upon the urban context of the site, the following
strategies were adopted: the shape and form of the eastern
building block acts as a border between the existing, heterogeneous developments of suburbia to the west and the park to the
east, creating a differentiation from the old village core of
Breitenlee.

As part of the state sponsored housing program the average unit

size of 750 sf contain studies, lofts and traditional multi-bedroom
units. The program calls for housing with one to four room
apartments to be built under the financial conditions of the state
housing program. Nine smaller, loosely located apartment
buildings contrast the rigid four story building in scale, materials
and siting. The smaller buildings create a variety of open spaces.
The western access road takes into consideration its role as a
multiple living street with market stands, play areas and other
public spaces for the adjoining apartments.

The site's public spaces, playgrounds, bike trails, water surfaces

and roof terraces ensure the basis for social integration and the
fulfillment of different family living requirements.

DATE: 1997
CLIENT: OSW
PROGRAM: 124 units
AREA: 73,902 sf
COST: $7 million

SECOND FLOOR

THIRD FLOOR

GROUND FLOOR
SECTION

Fukuoka II Housing
Kyushu, Japan

Blending
Traditions
The demand for larger, individual single-family homes has diminished with smaller families
and as children grow up and move out. Smaller families mean smaller houses; as a result, the
elderly have now been able to become more mobile and more independent without the
burden of being in a larger home. Integration of the elderly into the mainstream of housing
choices and the attempt to offer a truly mixed community is a natural and established
tradition in countries where the elderly have always been an integral part of the society.
The housing model which supports these conflicting goals is the integrated aggregate
housing, which allows a mix of larger family apartments with studios and one bedroom
apartments. These apartments can be annexed or connected to each other and yet retain
their own privacy. Other amenities such as community rooms, gardens, playgrounds and
commercial venues may be added to the whole complex to offer a complete and livable
environment for all its inhabitants.
This layout offers both highly introverted and extroverted units. A ring of perimeter buildings surrounds the diagonal streets, which are oriented to receive optimal sun exposure.
Well defined streets with garages reinforce the unique character of an almost suburban
environment. The low-rise arrangement has the flexibility of entry from two sides of the row
houses. Circulation and commercial activities take place where the interior streets intersect
the perimeter building.

DATE: 1995
CLIENT: Conegliano Iniziative
Immobiliari
PROGRAM: Residential and
Commercial Units, Public Park
AREA: 163,000 sm
COST: $7 million

TYPICAL FLOOR PLANS

Bay Cities Laundry Lofts

Venice, CA

Building
Community
PHASE I
Located in the Abbot Kinney artist district in Venice, the Bay Cities Artist-in-Residences occupy
nine adjacent lots on the site of the former Bay Cities Laundry. An adaptation of the artist loft
is a desirable typology, creating large open spaces which adapt and blend living and working
environments.
The narrowness of these lots and designation as artist-in-residence allowed for more leniant
setbacks, creating long narrow buildings, easily dividable between residential and commercial
areas. Our project is really nine separate live/work lofts on adjacent lots which through a
common palette of forms, colors, and materials create a varied yet architecturally consistent
language.

PHASE II
Adjacent to the Bay Cities Artist-in-Residences, the site of the old Bay Cities Laundry will house
seven new Artist-in-Residences, including 5 units in the original laundry building (built in 1925)
as well as two new individual units.
The two new units are situated around the perimeter of this challenging triangular-shaped lot,
allowing a shared common space between them, the existing laundry bulding, and the nine
artist's lofts on the adjacent lot. The street facing facades of the laundry building will be left
alone, while the back facades will include 2-story glass garage doors opening up into private
yards.

DATE: 2001
CLIENT: The Lee Group
PHASE I:
PROGRAM: 9 Artist-in-Residences
AREA: 27,000 sf
COST: $4 million
PHASE I I:
PROGRAM: 9 Artist-in-Residences
AREA: 19,600 sf
COST: $2.9 million

GARDEN

GARDEN

UNIT A

UNIT B

GARDEN

GARDEN

UNIT C

UNIT E
STUDIO

STUDIO

STUDIO

STUDIO
BATH

LAUN.

KITCHEN
UTIL.

KITCHEN

KITCHEN

STUDIO

KITCHEN

GARAGE
(UNIT D)

STUDIO
LAUN.

LAUN.

LAUN.
F

BATH

BATH

UTIL.

BATH

KITCHEN
UTIL.

UTIL.

UTIL.

LAUN.

BATH

GARDEN
STUDIO
STUDIO

STUDIO

STUDIO

UNIT D

GROUND FLOOR

PHASE II- LAUNDRY LOFTS

GROUND FLOOR

PHASE I- 9 LOFTS
GROUND FLOOR

2'

4'

8'

Abbot Kinney
Lofts
Abbot Kinney Blvd.

Venice, CA

Live/Work
Lofts
Abbot Kinney in Venice is quickly developing into an artist
district. Each year the number of artists, designers and small

grow, creating a vital and diverse community. This new culture

of working professionals are also choosing to forego traditional
and formal boundaries between living and working and are
opting for informal and casual environments reflecting their
lifestyles.

An adaptation of the artist loft is becoming the typology of

choice. This project works within this typology by creating large
open spaces which adapt and blend living and working
environments. Our project is really three separate live/work lofts
on adjacent lots which through a common palette of forms,
colors, and materials create the appearance of one building.

multi-media companies choosing to relocate here continues to

10

20

SITE PLAN

DATE: 1997
CLIENT: Robert Douroux,
Elaine Spierer
PROGRAM: Three
Artist-in-Residences
AREA: 10,2000 sf
COST: $1.2 million

7
6

10
4
9

10

9
7

10

10

10

10

8
9

SECOND FLOOR

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

10

GARAGE
MECHANICAL
UTILITY
ARTIST STUDIO
KITCHEN
FAMILY ROOM
TERRACE
BEDROOM
BATHROOM
STORAGE

4
7

GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

Suter II

Maisprach, Switzerland

Building
Landscape
In this second project for a semi-rural area in northern Switzerland, the challenge was
to create a building which conforms creatively to the context and the site while being
hemmed in by very strict formal and building code requirements.
The required roof form in this area is the saddle roof and housing is essentially one
story with the attic built out, doubling as additional living/bedroom area. The design
represents an attempt to draw out the greatest expressive possibility from the local
limitations - shifting and turning the saddle roof so that it becomes a hip roof, and
stepping the units down the hill with bold accents of red, purple or orange stucco
against the basic pale yellow of the structures and the green of the hills. The
detached garages double as terraces and each townhouse also has a private patio
carved into the hill.
As with the California houses, privacy and individuality is maximized through orientation and color, and by shifting views away from the roadway to panoramas of the
surrounding landscape.

DATE: 1998
CLIENT: Robert E. Suter
PROGRAM: 3 Houses
AREA: 750 sm
COST: $2 M

FIRST FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

2343 Eastern Court

Venice, CA 90291

310-822 0094 T
310-822 0019 F

office@markmack.com
www.markmack.com