Rachel Allen
Architect for Arla & Founder, Owner of Rachel Allen Architecture & Design / RADAR
Eagle Rock resident Rachel Allen is globally recognized for her unique and often surreal designs. Rachel grew up in San Francisco and studied at Princeton University. She then worked for five years with Frank Gehry Partners, ultimately as Assistant Project Designer. She was the 2002-2003 recipient of the Mercedes T. Bass Rome Prize in architecture, a yearlong fellowship at the American Academy in Rome.
Most of the residential projects she’s done have been for other Artists who appreciate her unique creations. One example is the Pesenti-Williams home in Echo Park for artist Jonathan Williams and writer Kim Pesenti. Featured during a recent Dwell Magazine tour, its recent sale set a new sales price record in Echo Park. Encouraging creativity and building community is Rachel’s design mantra. Keeping clients engaged by their surroundings through her artistry is her passion.
Allen Compton
Landscape Architect for Arla & Founder, Principal of SALT Landscape Architects
Long-time, beloved Eagle Rock resident, Allen Compton brings a deep knowledge and reverence of Eagle Rock to Arla. He co-founded the Take Back the Boulevard (TBTB) initiative in Eagle Rock and was instrumental in changing Colorado Boulevard and encouraging “Eagle Rockers” to get out of their vehicles. It’s been a decade long, pro-bono labor of love that has helped to transform Eagle Rock. Allen and his partners at TBTB have now set their sights on improving Eagle Rock Blvd and making similar changes through Rock the Boulevard. Proof that Eagle Rock Blvd is poised for a complete transformation over the next few years.
Allen believes that landscape design that connects people to nature and each other, is a winning approach. Woonerf – a Dutch design concept also known as a “living street” – guided his vision for all of the exterior spaces of Arla. In addition to the aesthetics, Woonerf allows the “streets” to be for people, pets, bikes, neighbors and cars to share. His inclusion of a “central park” with trees, seating, plants and walkways creates a gathering area as well as views of nature from both inside and out. Elevating the spaces around the community of Arla’s homes with natural materials and textured gardens, was a priority.
Deirdre Doherty
Interior Designer for Arla & Founder of Deirdre Doherty Interiors / DDI Designs
Hot off the accolades for her award-winning design of Simone / Duello in DTLA’s Arts District, Deirdre is excited to see the vision for her first small lot development come to life. Staying true to the architectural vision of Rachel Allen’s exteriors, her inspiration for Arla was rooted in the clean lines, bright, airy spaces, and natural elements that are signatures of Scandinavian design.
Named “The Mixmaster of Style” by Luxe Magazine, the Los Angeles native is known for her ability to sense the soul of a place and bring it out in interiors that feel at once surprising and like they’ve been there all along. Deirdre lives for that moment when a client steps into their new space and literally loses their breath because it’s more than they could imagine and exactly what they need. She’s designed Arla so that residents will feel the same each and every time they walk through the front door. Deirdre’s trend-setting work has been featured in Dwell, Elle Decor, Domino, House Beautiful, Los Angeles Times, Food and Wine, Wall Street Journal and other notable publications.