Bio:
The great architect, Gregory Williams principal at MASS Architecture & Design (located in Los Angeles), we believe that changes in conventional thinking about architecture can ultimately revolutionize the way we design and build buildings. Our work is known for its design quality, imagination and originality. Each project is developed uniquely from first sketch through construction, with an emphasis on conceptual clarity, formal rigor, economy of means and precise detailing and craftsmanship.

How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
I showed early talent drawing, building models, deconstructing household appliances, and helping my mother decorate the house. My mother imposed what I call an architecture of happiness in our home. My arch. aesthetic and ethic were born there.

What do you do?
I lead projects, that include residential, single-family, multi-family dwellings, and commercial restaurants. We also provide design/build services so I am able to combine my passion for design with an expertise to oversee construction.

What excites you in the work you do?
Designing projects from the inside out is what excites me. For ex. when a floor plan resonates with the client’s program & possesses a balance of light, texture, & rhythm that reveals the relationship between building massing & site planning.

Who or what inspires you professionally?
Those who create a sense of plenty and calm through sustainable design. Ex. FSY Architects designed the only zero-net-energy apartment complex in all of Los Angeles. Projects like this help me understand what intrinsically matters in people’s lives.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
Being part of a team that helps a business express its identity & thrive, or helps a family realize a home where they are safe, healthy, & happy. Dwelling well is my professional & ethical goal & I am proud to have helped my clients accomplish this.

Featured Project Name: 
Farmhouse Restaurant
 
Featured Project Location: 
Anaheim Packing District
 
Featured Project Completion Date: 
2018

Role in Featured Project: 
Architect
 
Featured Project Description:
The 2,222 SF restaurant sits in Farmers Park – one of the components to Anaheim Packing District’s adaptive reuse plan. The design provides users with a unique experience of the park by connecting the outdoor dining area of an upscale food court to the Packard Showroom. Vernacular cues taken from gabled farm buildings manifest into a structure of glass and steel with a standing-seam metal roof, sliding glass doors, and louvers that open up to a green stretch of the Park.

Photography Credit:
Gregory Williams