Architects Designing Furniture: The Crossover of Craft & Space

FOUR SEASONS THE SURFCLUB – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HOSPITALITY

Image Courtesy of Tribù

EVENT DETAILS

Join AIA | LA Interior Architecture Committee and Tribù for an evening exploring the creative crossover between architecture, interiors, and furniture design—and how thinking at the scale of an object can transform the way we shape space.

Hosted inside the beautifully curated Tribù showroom, this program features Marc Merckx, William Hefner, and Cory Grosser —practitioners who move fluidly between room and object and bring real-world insights on process, craft, culture, and collaboration.

Together, the panel will explore how designers translate spatial thinking into furniture (and back again), what shifts in materiality and detailing across scales, and how teams navigate constraints like performance, ergonomics, and production—without losing the original design intent. Grounded in built work, the conversation will also consider how thoughtful design shapes daily experience and creative culture, and how interdisciplinary collaboration strengthens both the work and the communities it serves.

Rather than a free-form panel, the evening is designed as a guided, MC’d conversation led by Daniel Glaser and Pearse Lumb of Tribù, with clear themes to keep the pace strong—plus built-in moments to bring the audience in. Expect a lively discussion, practical takeaways, and time to connect over food and drinks among the collections.

SPEAKERS

Marc Merckx

Marc Merckx is an architect and furniture designer whose work bridges the disciplines of architecture, interiors, and product design. He designed the Tribù showroom and is also a designer of Tribù furniture collections, bringing a rare perspective on how spatial concepts translate into objects—and how objects, in turn, shape the experience of a space. His work is defined by a commitment to craft, materiality, and the thoughtful relationship between form, comfort, and environment.

William Hefner

William Hefner is a fifth-generation Californian and the founder of the architecture and design firm Studio William Hefner. Established in 1989 in Los Angeles, the practice encompasses new and restoration architecture, interior and furniture design, and landscape architecture and design, with a focus on luxury homes for modern living. Known for his versatility in both traditional and modernist architecture, William has created landmark estates in a range of styles that share a devotion to craft and detail. His interest in environmental building has led to the application of sustainable practices throughout his portfolio. His work has been widely published in design books and magazines in the United States and abroad, including Architectural Digest, Wall Street Journal, and beyond. William is the author of three books, California Homes, California Homes II, and Chateau des Fleurs, with a fourth set to be released in Spring 2027 with Rizzoli. He and his family split their time between Los Angeles and Montecito.

Cory Grosser

Cory Grosser is an American product designer, interior architect, and art director. He is known for Happy Minimalism™, a design philosophy centered on clarity, reduction, and optimism. A professor at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Grosser’s work focuses on how design decisions shape human behavior, understanding, and trust.

LOCATION

Tribù Flagship Store LA

8935 Beverly Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90048

PARKING

Plenty of parking is available in the Tribù parking lot.

TICKET PURCHASE INSTRUCTIONS & SUPPORT

*Note to all registrants: When purchasing a ticket, please double check that the address + zip code that you provide matches the billing information on the card you are using.*

To purchase a ticket, please select the quantity of tickets you want next to the proper ticket tier using the + sign, and then select “Get Tickets.”

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!