Cherokee Loft, Los Angeles, California, USA

One of the best environmentally responsible buildings in the world – Cherokee Studios, was once a famous recording studio for such world-famous musicians as David Bowie, Warren Zevon, Dave Mathews. Cherokee was founded in 1972, by Robb Brothers (Dee, Joe and Bruce) and was first located in Chatsworth, LA. Though the brothers had a great success in opening a number of branch studios, Cherokee was closed in August 2007. The project was opened again in 2009, by the design of the architectural company Brooks + Scarpa Architects (formerly Pugh + Scarpa). Built in accordance with the peculiarities of the cultural heritage of the former studios, Cherokee is a symbolization of green design in the heart of a modern city. Taking into consideration the climate of California, the designers applied a system of passive cooling. The main contractor was JT Builders. Gross floor area of the building is 2072 square meters (32,000 square feet). The green building a (soon will achieve a LEED Platinum certification, 2013) features operable windows which maximize natural ventilation, and water-saving mechanisms, including usage of low-flow fixtures and rainwater management.

By Astghik Atabekyan, www.building.am