January 2025 Los Angeles Fires /  by Grant Nunnelee

We at CHA:COL are shocked by the devastation caused by the ongoing fires across Los Angeles.
We know personally, with members who have lost their home in the Palisades Fire, that the sense of loss is immense and the thought of rebuilding seems utterly overwhelming.
We intend to help, as Residents and as Architects, those who have been affected.

Our firm specializes in many facets of Design and the Design process relevant to this disaster:

  • Climate Resilient Construction

  • Very High Fire Severity Zones

  • Experience Volunteering with Local Building Organizations (USGBC, AIA)

Rebuild Strategy:

  • “Similar for Similar”: Rebuilding your home within 110% of its original Area, Bulk, and Height

  • Building beyond 110%: Adding a basement, new story, or square footage beyond 110% of the original.


If you wish to get in touch with us to learn more about how best to proceed, please click here

Specifically, our project in Hidden Hills, named “The Reserve” is a great example of these aspects.

2022 IIDA Calibre Design Award Winner /  by Apurva Pande

Thrilled and honored to win a 2022 Calibre Design Award from IIDA. The recognition of our warehouse conversion project for Roger TV meant a lot to us. Thank you for selecting us, and including us in this prestigious group of design firms.

We loved attending the award ceremony and viewing all the amazing selections of design projects from across the industry.

25 Best Architecture Firms in Los Angeles /  by Apurva Pande

We are honored (and thrilled) to be included in a list of the 25 best architecture firms in Los Angeles.

Thanks for the recognition, Archello!

“We took a look at the leading practices, from emerging studios to established international firms. These 25 top offices are designing California and the world, leading the way intellectually and creatively...architects and designers who are dedicated to rigorous, thoughtful, and responsible work. ”
— Archello

Our second studio is now official /  by Apurva Pande

Excited to say, CHA Collective has opened a second international location. In beautiful, tropical coastal Goa.

A preview of what we’re working on. Our first hospitality project. A steel-framed prefabricated Conference and event Pavilion for a seaside luxury resort. More soon


Czech Design Feature on Three Step House /  by Apurva Pande

Loved seeing this feature on the design ideas behind one of our favorites — The Three Step House

“Najít v téměř v centru Los Angeles nezastavěnou parcelu je skoro zázrak, a klienti si svého štěstí byli dobře vědomi. Přeci jen, skoro 300 metrů čtverečních půdy uprostřed čtvrti Silverlake, by developeři klidně vyvažovali zlatem. Právě sem, do příkrého svahu, architekti „zasadili“ netradičně pojaté obydlí.”
— ESTAV.cz
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TOY LOFT GETS SOME LOVE FROM LATIMES /  by Apurva Pande

So happy to see one of our really special loft projects — Toy Loft — get a feature from the Los Angeles Times. Loved vicariously revisiting the design process while reading the story.

“After purchasing, Terence and Yu crafted their vision for the loft on several Pinterest boards and scoured the internet for Los Angeles loft conversions. There they found CHA:COL, the firm of award-winning husband-and-wife architecture team Apurva Pande and Chinmaya Misra, who have a reputation for innovative loft design.”
— LA Times

Enjoy reading here

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