This is the first interview recorded live at Postopolis! LA at the rooftop of The Standard. This time we present Yo-ichiro Hakomori from whY Architecture.

whY Architecture (Workshop Hakomori Yantrasast) is a LA based architecture practice, directed by partners Kulapat Yantrasast, Yo-ichiro Hakomori and Richard Stoner. Kulapat received his Master of Architecture degree and Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo. Yo-ichiro received his Master of Architecture degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his Doctorate from the University of Tokyo. Richard received his Bachelor of Arts from Rhode Island School of Design and Master of Architecture from the University of California, Los Angeles.

On ArchDaily we have featured some of their recent works, such as the Grand Rapids Art Museum (first new art museum in the world to receive LEED certification), the Royal/T project (an art gallery/cafe/retail shop in Culver City, highly recommended), Casa Wasaka (concrete patio house in Osaka, Japan) and their project for Hollywood House (a folded strip generating different open/enclosed spaces).

As of now, they are also working on the design for the new Tyler Museum of Art, Texas, and in the process of renovating the galleries at the Art Institute of Chicago (Kulapat has also served on the Artist Committee for American for the Arts, the nation’s oldest organization for the support of art in society). Community projects include the renovation of the historic Venice Jail into the Social & Public Art Resource Center in Venice, California and the Art Bridge at the Los Angeles River. Recent projects also include Private residences, Art Galleries, Boutique retail, and Day Spas.

whY Architecture was also selected as one of the 13 young practices that presented their work at the closing session (Focus on Contemporary Architecture: Critical and New Opinions) at the AIA Convention 2009.