Chroma collaborators are industry-leading creative visionaries, prolific polymaths—and amazing humans. Meet our friends at Marmol Radziner, an elite team of design technicians with a dextrous approach to building spaces.

Founded in 1989, Marmol Radziner is an unparalleled interdisciplinary practice renowned for innovation, dynamism, and precision. The architect-led firm specializes in boundary-blurring design, offering intelligently customized services that span architecture, interior design, landscape design, furniture design, fabrication, construction, and more. Evolving the pre-modern tradition of the all-embracing “master builder,” their visionary designers, makers, and tradespeople have cultivated a core depth of knowledge and breadth of experience that’s unrivaled in the field.

Chroma and Marmol Radziner’s partnership thrives on pure collaboration. It’s actually a quite profound alliance of leading design thinkers and creators—but also, we just really get each other. Our studios operate at similar frequencies. Our systems and processes share a sense of purpose and a thoroughness, as well as a playfulness and a vibrancy. And while we’re each committed to a hyper-distinctive vision shaped by constellated perspectives, our juxtapositions create uncommonly unique spaces that couldn’t otherwise be imagined.

Marmol Radziner principal and San Francisco studio director Jason Davis has led some of the firm’s most iconic projects, taking a psychological approach to the built environment that centers the human element. He shares the firm’s approach to creating experiences as much as spaces, with a focus on multidimensional efficacy, shared values, and community.

In this Chroma and Marmol Radziner collaboration, vintage 1970s Lucite and steel Waterfall stools by Charles Hollis Jones bring a playful touch to White Macaubus Quartzite in plain-sawn white oak casework, featured in Architectural Digest. Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson.
In this Chroma and Marmol Radziner collaboration, vintage 1970s Lucite and steel Waterfall stools by Charles Hollis Jones bring a playful touch to White Macaubus Quartzite in plain-sawn white oak casework, featured in Architectural Digest. Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson.

As an interdisciplinary firm, you design from many points of view. What unites these perspectives?

All of our work is a reflection of the client’s program and context. Of course we also bring our own sense of modern design, attention to detail, and natural materials. With those core values and approach developed from our architectural background, we have been fortunate to work in landscape design, furniture, and even home accessories. We see any design opportunity as a chance to integrate those values into a cohesive experience.

Marmol Radziner’s San Francisco studio director Jason Davis in conversation at Chroma’s Dogpatch studio
Marmol Radziner’s San Francisco studio director Jason Davis in conversation at Chroma’s Dogpatch studio

As much as you draw from the tradition of the “master builder,” in what ways are you innovating within this tradition and updating it as a contemporary firm?

Beyond architectural design, all of our services, including construction, are options that we provide for our clients. Depending on project type and location, we build a little more than half of our single-family residential projects. We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with a lot of great builders. However, on projects in which a client chooses the design-build method of construction, we are able to bring our construction team into the design phase and integrate their feedback early. This allows cost estimates, material lead times, and constructability to all be part of our conversation, helping to reduce delay and surprises later in the project. Even on projects where we are not the builder, we design and complete our drawings with an understanding of how they will be built. Clarity in the drawings helps any builder determine more accurate pricing, which makes everyone happy.

Sightlines between spaces compose a poetry of function.
Sightlines between spaces compose a poetry of function in the main living space. Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson.

What are the unique opportunities afforded by, or what do you find most rewarding about, the fluidity and depth of your design services?

Marmol Radziner is a full-service design firm and, with that, we have the capability and staff to bring a client’s vision to life. From hand sketches to computer renderings, physical mock-ups to immersive virtual reality, we have a lot of tools to explore concepts. We use these in conversation about all aspects of the design and then the project team brings those ideas to fruition. One of my favorite experiences is collaborating with artisans, fabricators, engineers, and designers to understand and solve issues. A team meeting may involve any of these tools or individuals but almost always results in developing a concept idea into a reality.

Calacatta Paonazzo stone with walnut casework and brass fixtures soothes in the primary bath. Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson.
Calacatta Paonazzo stone with walnut casework and brass fixtures soothes in the primary bath. Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson.

You’ve reached the pinnacle of design across the disciplinary spectrum—and beyond. What’s next?! What does the future hold for Marmol Radziner?

We are always open to new opportunities. Although our hearts are in single-family residential, we have been fortunate to work with amazing clients on a variety of project types including retail, schools, hospitality, and even our first residential tower in downtown Los Angeles. At the same time, we recently explored casting custom cabinet hardware and have a furniture line carried by RH Modern. It is hard to say what will happen next. For now we are focused on the projects in front of us and being good neighbors in our community.

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