The Second Studio Design and Architecture Show #489 - Anthony Laney, Architect & Founding Partner of Laney LA
Feb 24, 2026
Anthony Laney, architect and founding partner of Laney LA, talks about the studio’s first monograph and the convictions that shape their residential work. He explores Genius Loci versus tabula rasa, the firm’s concept-first process and studio rituals, and practical tactics for coastal and suburban sites. Conversations cover material narratives, sense and rhythm of home, and how publishing reshaped studio reflection.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Bookmaking Clarified Studio Convictions
- Producing a monograph forced Laney LA to clarify convictions and define what the firm stands for.
- Anthony ran weekly studio debates for two years and organized the book into five thematic chapters to surface shared beliefs.
Genius Loci Versus Tabula Rasa Framing
- Laney frames site strategy as a debate between genius loci (respond to place) and tabula rasa (create new place).
- In LA work, the firm often sees clients seeking a fresh, escapist tabula rasa even as the city itself develops a new 'genius loci'.
Excavate Constraints Before Prescribing Solutions
- Laney LA treats early design as excavation rather than solutioning, prioritizing discovery of constraints and opportunities.
- The studio's Friday team talk focuses on undefined premises where geometry, strategy, and objectives are debated before prescribing solutions.
