Hodgetts + Fung

Hodgetts + Fung. Hodgetts + Fung is an architectural and design firm based in Los Angeles, founded in 1984 by partners Craig Hodgetts and Ming Fung. The practice is renowned for its innovative, technologically forward, and culturally resonant projects that often blend sculptural form with pragmatic function. Their work spans a diverse range of typologies, including cultural institutions, academic buildings, commercial spaces, and exhibition design, earning them a distinguished place in contemporary architecture.

History

The partnership was established in the vibrant architectural milieu of 1980s Los Angeles, a period marked by experimentation and the rise of the Los Angeles School. Their early recognition came with winning the competition for the Temporary Contemporary (now the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA) in 1983, a transformative adaptive reuse of a warehouse in Little Tokyo for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. This project set a precedent for their approach to existing structures and flexible cultural spaces. Throughout the following decades, the firm expanded its portfolio with significant commissions, including the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, New York, and the Caltrans District 7 Headquarters in Downtown Los Angeles, the latter developed in collaboration with Morphosis.

Notable projects

The firm's built work is characterized by its conceptual clarity and material innovation. Key projects include the Temporary Contemporary, which utilized industrial materials like chain-link fence and corrugated metal to create a raw, expansive gallery environment. The Caltrans District 7 Headquarters, with its iconic, energy-efficient double-skin facade, became a landmark of sustainable civic architecture. Other significant works encompass the Palm Springs Art Museum expansion, the Windhover Contemplative Center at Stanford University, and the Korean American National Museum design. Their exhibition designs, such as the NASA-sponsored Space exhibition and installations for the Smithsonian Institution, further demonstrate their interdisciplinary reach.

Design philosophy

Hodgetts + Fung's design philosophy is rooted in a synthesis of high-tech sensibilities, narrative storytelling, and contextual responsiveness. They often employ advanced fabrication techniques and unconventional materials, drawing inspiration from aerospace engineering, cinema, and pop art. Their work frequently investigates themes of mobility, transparency, and adaptability, creating buildings that serve as dynamic vessels for public activity and cultural exchange. This approach is evident in projects like the Tocho-mae Station redevelopment in Tokyo and the Hollywood-inspired Egyptian Theatre renovation, where historical layers are integrated with contemporary insertions.

Awards and recognition

The practice has received extensive acclaim from the architectural community and cultural institutions. Their honors include the American Institute of Architects AIA National Honor Award, the Progressive Architecture Award, and the Los Angeles AIA Gold Medal. The Caltrans District 7 Headquarters project earned the AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Project award. Their work has been widely published in major periodicals like Architectural Record and A+U, and is held in the permanent collections of institutions such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Key personnel

The firm's creative vision is driven by its founding principals. Craig Hodgetts, a graduate of Yale University and the University of California, Berkeley, brought early experience with Buckminster Fuller and a background in theater and industrial design. Ming Fung, an alumna of Wellesley College and the Harvard Graduate School of Design, contributes a rigorous approach to urbanism and programmatic organization. Their partnership merges diverse intellectual and artistic pursuits, fostering a collaborative studio environment that has nurtured numerous architects who have gone on to establish significant practices of their own. Category:Architecture firms based in Los Angeles Category:American architectural firms Category:Design companies established in 1984