Studio

Formally trained in both architecture and landscape architecture, Mark sees the interrelationship of indoor and outdoor environments as vital to creating homes that exude comfort and increase livability. He founded his practice in 1985 with a singular vision: to imagine, design, and build complete environments. Mark works closely with clients to understand their lifestyle so that his designs are an extension of their owner’s sensibilities, tastes, and ways of living.

Sebastian’s strength as a designer stems from his ability to execute solidly articulated concepts through strong form creation and the sequencing of spaces and experiences. As a Creative Director, he is involved in every aspect of design, from the first site walk to completion. His wide range of experience enables him to excel in many areas — from solutions as conceptual as the initial design idea to those as specific as the furniture that completes the project.

Bob brings deep experience in planning and designing residential projects over his distinguished career. He fosters creative endeavors with his clients through an open and collaborative process, while simultaneously harnessing our team’s talent for creating beautiful places. The homes that he creates reflect their owner’s style and story, and have drawn interest from Interior Design, Architectural Record, and The New York Times.

Huay manages the client experience throughout the project, while orchestrating studio teams that elevate design excellence. Her confident presence on the construction site comes from her project experiences and an attitude that craftsmen and builders play an integral role in the fabrication of fine design. All her efforts focus on translating design ideas into exquisitely built forms and pursuing long-term relationships with talented craftspeople and artists to create great design with precision and detail.

Melanie brings an infectious enthusiasm for creativity to our residential practice. Her background includes architecture experience as well as architectural interiors, making her a holistic designer with a wide range of skills. Her past experience with prominent artists on site-specific installations as well as her diverse work experience shape her perspective on creating spaces for living.

Nate co-leads the landscape architecture practice with a focus on dynamic natural spaces that view design as a way of storytelling. His projects unearth stories of place as that serve as a backdrop for authentic living in the garden. His collective wisdom in global cultures and environmental topics contribute to inventive ways to make people comfortable in outdoor spaces across different climates.

Yan builds and maintains effective team relationships to drive productivity, creativity, and success. Originally from Burma in Southeast Asia, Yan’s global perspective brings a holistic design approach in architecture. His designs accentuate style and function by creatively combining design elements, such as natural light, orientation, space, and volume, to realize extraordinary solutions for his clients.

Peter co-leads the landscape practice at RIOS. He melds landscape and planning with architecture at all scales of design. Peter is a diligent and thoughtful designer whose curiosity leads to a deep understanding of his client’s needs and how to best solve for them. Peter finds balance in his work by working closely with clients and collaborators to create inspiring places for people to live, work, and play.

John is skilled at working closely with clients and stakeholders to achieve their vision. A horticultural expert with over 12 years of experience, John brings a wealth of social and cultural knowledge to every project he works on. As a Los Angeles native, John is particularly passionate about projects inspired by the local landscape.

Gabrielle’s work brings sophistication and detail to the design practice at both the macro and micro scales. She approaches projects with a bird’s eye view while also considering how people experience each space. She analyzes, researches, and solves problems to draw pictures of places that support habits, trends, and lifestyles.

Ben is dedicated to designing residential spaces that elevate contemporary living. He achieves design excellence by shaping experiences that unite comfort, intimacy, and usability with refined details. His quality of work is driven by his technical experience and relentless focus on our clients’ aspirations. His sensibility for materials, forms, and how the two come together strives to raise his residential work to an art form.

Krystal’s background allows her to wear many hats with experience across creative disciplines within our firm. She’s a firm believer in customizing before compromising, and she’s invigorated by a multi-disciplinary and collaborative design process.

With formal training and 15 years of experience in architecture, graphic design, and environmental and product design, Jenny’s success lies in her powerful design thinking across all scales and disciplines. Through this holistic design approach, Jenny inspires visionary thinking and innovative solutions, while never failing to zoom in to consider the significance of experience, materiality, and detail.

Raised in Rome, Simone’s technical expertise is complemented by his multi-layered cultural background and strong design sensibility. Fifteen years of experience in processes of architectural design, planning, and construction have honed his skills in strengthening the aesthetic and expressive language of architectural interventions, working across scales and typologies.

Jason has a refined ability to find innovative, elegant design solutions to complex and challenging issues. He brings his interest in sustainable urbanism and social and natural ecology to thoughtful, well-crafted designs that are rooted in each project’s context. His experience spans all stages, scales, and typologies.

In his career spanning more than 30 years, Jon has developed a wide range of skills and professional experience. His talent for design, quick grasp of complex systems, and voluminous memory has made him indispensable to our studio.

As Technical Director, Jessa leads and mentors project teams throughout all phases of design and construction. She solves complex problems with refined solutions, working collaboratively with clients and the community to navigate the various goals of different stakeholders.

Russell is responsible for technical oversight and execution of architectural projects. His depth of knowledge of systems integrations, construction methods, and multidisciplinary design techniques have made him an invaluable member of the design team.