The design proposal for the Painted Brain’s home is to be in the creative Arts District in downtown Los Angeles. The future magazine will need a start of the art identity that can lyrically announce a contemporary public voice. The future spaces shall interweave art direction, magazine management, media-design, editors, patrons, and publication production. The Painted Brain, located on 1335 Willow Street, Los Angeles, CA, is a non-profit organization that runs their magazine, holds meetings, and offers a space for young adults experiencing mental illnesses to come and express themselves creatively through art, poetry, music, and photography. Recognizing the importance of all the related activities going on in this one space, this embryological design suggests a way to reprogram the existing interior by increasing The Painted Brain’s square footage by an additional second level. The flexible, translucent “synaptic “membrane façade and sliding doors are emerged into an ever-present active coding device that reinstates the serial involvements of back stage hidden movements. Where there was no conjunctive facade before, the new entry threshold inscribes a visual separation and registration between the Painted Brain and their neighbors. The trans-formative apparatus allows natural sunlight harvesting into a secure space while incorporating the necessary control over their privacy.

1. The PAINTED BRAIN
DESIGN MODEL: AD (ARTS DISTRICT)
Lydia Chan / Rob Mothershed
PURPOSE
The design proposal for the Painted
Brain’s home is to be in the creative Arts
District in downtown Los Angeles. The fu-
ture magazine will need a start of the
art identity that can lyrically announce
a contemporary public voice. The future
spaces shall interweave art direction,
magazine management, media-design, edi-
tors, patrons, and publication production.
The Painted Brain, located on 1335 Willow
Street, Los Angeles, CA, is a non-profit
organization that runs their magazine,
holds meetings, and offers a space for
young adults experiencing mental ill-
nesses to come and express themselves
creatively through art, poetry, music, and
The PAINTED BRAIN photography. Recognizing the importance
of all the related activities going on in
this one space, this embryological design
DESIGN MODEL: AD (ARTS DISTRICT) suggests a way to reprogram the existing
interior by increasing The Painted Brain’s
square footage by an additional second
Lydia Chan / Rob Mothershed level. The flexible, translucent “synap-
tic “membrane façade and sliding doors
are emerged into an ever-present active
coding device that reinstates the serial
involvements of back stage hidden move-
ments. Where there was no conjunctive
facade before, the new entry threshold
inscribes a visual separation and registra-
tion between the Painted Brain and their
neighbors. The trans-formative apparatus
allows natural sunlight harvesting into a
secure space while incorporating the nec-
essary control over their privacy.

3. INSTRUMENTAL OPERATIONS
The ground floor programmatically functions
as a open meeting space during normal hours.
During creative hours, it can be used for indi-
vidual or group music sessions (guitar, piano,
and drum set) and for painting, drawing, sculpt-
ing, etc. The Caterpillar® table can split into
multiple sections and become 5 separate tables
for hosting artwork activities. It then can also
be re-assembled into one long conference table
for conference meetings. At the far back wall
of the space is a large interactive “smart “ wall
that serves a complex variety of uses such as
interactive magazine editing, displaying sub-
mitted artwork, featured web-casts, or playing
educational movies. In that immediate zone are
durable counters and drop down shelves act as
storage space for all their needs. A stepladder
leads up to the mezzanine where founder and
editor Dave Leon’s office and space for interns
are co-located with additional storage units. The
second level offers views through the façade
skin as well as views of the interactive wall and
below. The space will also require a storage
space with a dedicated server back-system. The
didactic / conceptual-hyped up architecture of
the flagship head quarters will prescribe and
manifold a unique contemporary media identity
within the context of digital innovation, cultural
memory, spatial materiality, and communicative
outreach.

5. The PAINTED BRAIN
DESIGN MODEL: AD (ARTS DISTRICT)
Lydia Chan / Rob Mothershed
PURPOSE
The design proposal for the Painted Brain’s home is to be in the creative Arts District in downtown
Los Angeles. The future magazine will need a start of the art identity that can lyrically announce
a contemporary public voice. The future spaces shall interweave art direction, magazine management,
media-design, editors, patrons, and publication production. The Painted Brain, located on 1335 Willow
Street, Los Angeles, CA, is a non-profit organization that runs their magazine, holds meetings, and of-
fers a space for young adults experiencing mental illnesses to come and express themselves creative-
ly through art, poetry, music, and photography. Recognizing the importance of all the related activities

19. The PAINTED BRAIN
DESIGN MODEL: AD (ARTS DISTRICT)
Lydia Chan / Rob Mothershed