Podcast Summary: Archispeak #381

Guest: Anthony Laney

Hosts: Evan Troxel & Cormac Phalen

Release Date: November 25, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Archispeak features architect Anthony Laney of Laney LA, discussing his firm's new monograph "Poetics of Essays and Spaces." The conversation explores Laney’s approach to architectural craft, the meaning of ‘home,’ studio culture, mentorship, the importance of teamwork, and the definition of beauty in design. The discussion provides insights not only into Laney’s design ethos but also broader philosophies relevant for practitioners, students, and clients alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The New Book: "Poetics of Essays and Spaces"

• [00:40–03:04] Anthony shares that the new monograph documents nine homes by Laney LA, representing their first major body of work after a decade of practice.
• Book is structured into five chapters: The Place of Home, The Sense of Home, The Rhetoric of Home, The Rhythm of Home, and The Authorship of Home, each introduced by short essays.
• The selection of projects is voice-driven, not dictated by marketing or arbitrary numbers.
• Anthony Laney: "The essays aren’t long... but they just distill some of the ideas that we find compelling, and hopefully others might as well." [02:07]

2. Studio Culture & Internal Workshopping

• [05:04–11:17] Laney describes a robust tradition of weekly team talks, originally for inspiration-sharing but now evolved into a platform for mentorship and developing communication skills, especially for junior staff.

• Workshopping sessions blend debates, book clubs, and critical conversation, instilling the value of detaching ego from criticism.

• The studio catalogs ideas into a shared ‘design ethos,’ connecting theory to active projects.

• Quote: “It’s just so fun to put in those reps, because at least in my little world, the quality of my service is judged based upon these 90 minute meetings with clients. That is, the success of the architecture hinges on their ability to perceive value.” – Anthony Laney [07:25]

3. Teamwork, Mentorship, and Collective Process

• [14:06–16:09] The “we, not me” philosophy is fundamental to Laney LA. Anthony stresses his preference for aligning team dynamics and human energy over being a solitary auteur.
• The collaborative culture is reflected even in how the monograph was created; all team members contributed.
• Emphasizes that architecture “is enriched by the voice of many, not just this kind of, like, solo effort.” [16:09]

4. Defining "Home": Place, Sense, Rhetoric

• [17:56–24:00]
  • Place: Detailed exploration of LA’s influence, the interplay between tabula rasa modernism and genius loci (spirit of place).
  • Sense: Design for “wholeness”—incorporating all senses, memory, and ritual beyond visual aesthetics.
  • Foreground vs. Background: Anthony uses these terms to guide clients in conceptualizing their spaces.
  • Rhetoric: Communicating value and meaning is not just marketing—it keeps ambitious projects alive.
• Quote: “We want homes to have a sense of wholeness, which includes the sounds, the smells, the touches, but also the way that a space connects to memory.” – Anthony Laney [20:20]

5. Beauty, Truth, and Goodness in Practice

• [25:38–31:00] Anthony discusses the intentional pursuit of beauty in architecture, which he connects not just to shallow aesthetics but to deeper ideas of truth and goodness (function).

• Example: The Scalloped Concrete House (“SC Residence”)—where structure, touch, and visual intrigue coincide.

• Quote: “We don’t aim directly at beauty because then I do think you might accidentally land on vanity. So we do aim at truth and goodness... but we also don’t apologize for wanting to make it truly beautiful.” – Anthony Laney [26:19]

6. Craft and Construction: Collaboration With Builders

• [35:05–38:33]
  • Execution of complex details requires close, long-term partnerships with builders and craftspeople, sometimes even neighbors.
  • The architect’s drawing alone does not deliver the project—it is a synergistic, iterative process.
• Quote: "It is such a gross oversimplification to say that the architect draws and the builder builds. At least in my world, the overlap and the synergy is so wonderfully intense." – Anthony Laney [36:31]

7. Relationship-Building and the Value of Trust

• [38:33–41:12]

  • Deep relationships accelerate project development, increase candor, and strengthen teams.
  • Safe, unguarded communication enables better outcomes and more meaningful innovation.

• Quote: "My feedback is going to be totally unfiltered because I know they have my back... in a one hour conversation, the number of ideas and revolutions... is going to run circles around me in a different context." – Anthony Laney [39:14]

8. California and the Authorship of Home

• [42:20–44:35]
  • The California "vibe" is part of Anthony’s DNA; clients both native and new to LA seek that character.
  • Each project’s diversity springs from inviting clients as active authors in the design process, embracing their intelligence and inspiration.

9. Respect and Client Relationship

• [45:01–47:57] Laney rejects the “patron” model; instead, he sees his clients as collaborative partners whose involvement is crucial, especially because these are homes.
• Mutual respect is core: “We do not ever subscribe to the model of, like, ‘Oh, the client’s making it worse or diluting the idea.’ It’s like, no, they’re helping to reveal the true objective." [46:45]

10. Lightning Round & The Gamble House Experience

• [50:08–53:05]

  • Anthony shares his experience living in Pasadena’s iconic Gamble House, which deeply influenced his appreciation for craftsmanship, detail, and the inexhaustible potential of designing “home.”
  • “Home” is a never-ending creative search, balancing inevitability and surprise.

• Notable Quote: "Suddenly I was convinced that there was no end to the creative pursuit of doing a home... there’s still more out there to create that can feel whole and inevitable, but it’s just not here yet." – Anthony Laney [52:25]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Teamwork:
  "I'm more of a thinker. And so I just have the good fortune of surrounding myself with incredible designers. And I truly think we are stronger together." – Anthony Laney [14:56]
• On Feedback and Growth:
  "We force people to argue opposite sides of their opinion just to practice what is an articulate argument... it's like, let the best idea win." – Anthony Laney [09:33]
• On Place:
  "For us as architects, it begins with place... the more that a building understands that and embodies that, the more effective it is." – Anthony Laney [17:54]
• On Craftsmanship:
  "There's something in just the care that goes into that that I think people can feel." (re: the SC Residence’s concrete details) – Anthony Laney [31:00]
• On the Client’s Role:
  "They’re helping to reveal the true objective. And we just haven’t found a design that fully gets there yet. But we’re going to find one." – Anthony Laney [46:45]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------|:--------------:| | Introduction & Book Overview | 00:09–03:04 | | Studio Culture & Mentorship | 05:04–11:17 | | Teamwork Philosophy | 14:06–16:09 | | Defining Home, Place, and Sense | 17:56–24:00 | | Beauty, Truth, and Goodness | 25:38–31:00 | | Craft, Collaboration, Builders | 35:05–38:33 | | Relationship Building | 38:33–41:12 | | California’s Influence & Authorship | 42:20–44:35 | | Client Respect & Collaboration | 45:01–47:57 | | Lightning Round & Gamble House | 50:08–53:05 |

Conclusion

This episode is a deep dive into the philosophy, practice, and lived experience of contemporary residential architecture, highlighting the essential interplay between craft, clarity, and collaboration. Anthony Laney’s reflections provide inspiration and lessons for students, practitioners, and anyone interested in the nature and making of home.

Book Mentioned:
Poetics of Essays and Spaces by Laney LA – Available on Amazon and the Laney LA website.

For more:
Visit archispeakpodcast.com or connect with Laney LA online.