Ojai Garage

This industrial-minimalist gallery is a monolithic, earth-sheltered vault designed to showcase a private automotive collection. Carved directly into the hillside, the building’s roofline follows the natural topography that minimizes its visual footprint while utilizing the earth for thermal mass. The exterior is clad in a vertically ribbed Corten steel, creating a pre-weathered, oxidized patina that provides a tactile contrast to the lush surrounding landscape and creates a fire-resistant finish for California’s hot dry fire-prone climate.

The interior is organized as a high-volume gallery, featuring polished concrete floors and a linear wood-slat ceiling that provides acoustic warmth to the industrial palette. Full-height glazed overhead doors create a link between the showroom and the exterior, allowing for seamless vehicle movement and expansive natural light. A minimalist mezzanine overlooks the main floor, housing a private office and lounge that offers an elevated vantage point for appreciating the collection.