David Hertz Architects

In 1983, at just 23 years old and right after graduating from SCI-Arc, David developed Syndecrete, a material that grew out of his early experiments with concrete, furniture and fabrication. He was looking for a way to make concrete lighter, stronger and more versatile, while questioning what materials we consider waste.

Before Syndecrete became an architectural material, David was experimenting at the scale of furniture and objects. Working with conventional concrete revealed its limitations: it was extremely heavy, difficult to transport, and edges could easily crumble. Those problems became the starting point for developing a different kind of concrete.

The result was Syndecrete: a lightweight, precast cement-based composite approximately half the weight of conventional concrete, while achieving roughly twice its strength.

The result was Syndecrete: a lightweight, precast cement-based composite approximately half the weight of conventional concrete, while achieving roughly twice its strength.

Recycled materials, including post-consumer carpet fiber and fly ash from coal-fired power plants could become part of the mix.

Over time, hundreds of colors and thousands of custom mixes were developed.

Syndecrete became much more than a substitute for concrete.

David used it from furniture and objects to countertops, sinks, bathtubs, flooring, wall panels and architectural elements for residential and commercial projects.

David used it from furniture and objects to countertops, sinks, bathtubs, flooring, wall panels and architectural elements for residential and commercial projects.

David used it from furniture and objects to countertops, sinks, bathtubs, flooring, wall panels and architectural elements for residential and commercial projects.

He began experimenting with something beyond simply adding recycled content: what if discarded materials could become part of the architecture?

Materials like broken glass, wood, and metal could be incorporated into Syndecrete and revealed when the finished surface was ground and polished. The waste wasn’t hidden, and it became part of the design.

For Rhino Records’ Century City offices, discarded music became the

The evolution of our Woolsey Fire rebuild, from early design studies through design development, has progressed from concept to construction in Malibu.

At Split House, intersecting axes divide the residence into distinct volumes, while openings in the panelized facade frame the sky and bring natural light deep into the home.

As Los Angeles moves through another heat wave, we can’t help but take a look at pools across our projects. Designed for cooling, gathering, and outdoor living, pools can also serve as an emergency water source in fire-prone landscapes. They are recognized as potential alternative water sources for firefighting when conventional sources are limited. Photographed: Stradella Road House, Brentwood

Sail House, Bequia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines

Scorpion House, Venice

Crescent House, Venice

McKinley House, Venice

Westgate House, Brentwood

Butterfly House, Venice

Today, the day of Rev. Jesse Jackson’s funeral, we’re reminded of a moment in May 1988 when he inaugurated “Abstract Ruins III,” a public sculpture by David Hertz at Santa Monica College. Located in the campus free speech area, the piece was conceived as an architectural soapbox: a place for expression, dialogue, and civic participation.

Today, we pause to remember the Palisades and Eaton Fires. We remember those who lost homes and irreplaceable memories, and the firefighters, volunteers, and neighbors who risked everything to protect their communities. We honor the loss, courage, and resilience that followed.

A reminder that thoughtful design doesn’t always add, sometimes it protects. This backyard was crafted around an existing avocado tree, allowing it to remain a defining element of the space.

A proposed concept for a surf lodge in Baja Mexico is blending minimal architecture with a cliffside resort setting.

A look at some of our favorite staircases we designed, each one shaped by materiality, geometry, and the way people move through space.

Honoring the spirit of this 1950s J.R. Davidson Case Study home, our design refresh brings new life to the spaces while maintaining the warmth, simplicity, and indoor-outdoor connection that defined the original architecture.