Leadership Role: Trailblazer

Trailblazer

Tim Bonefeld’s journey to Venice began in 2006, when a short-term opportunity to work with SCI-Arc alum and prefab pioneer Jennifer Siegel evolved into a long-term engagement with the neighborhood’s ever-evolving creative scene. Trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture, Bonefeld brought a European sensibility to Venice’s eclectic context, fusing classical design education with an openness to the experimental spirit he found in Southern California.

His early fascinations with Los Angeles were shaped not only by the architectural legacies of Richard Neutra, John Lautner, and the Eameses but also by pop culture—Baywatch reruns and old Hollywood films, which framed LA as a mythical place of freedom and reinvention. When he finally arrived in Venice, these impressions were grounded in a real and complex urban fabric, one filled with hidden architectural gems tucked behind alleys and alongside streets.
One of Bonefeld’s earliest encounters with Venice’s rich design language came near Windward Circle, a district revitalized in the 1980s by architect Steven Ehrlich. The area, along with nearby contributions from artist-architect couples like Robert Graham and Angelica Huston, illustrated how deeply art and architecture were intertwined in the neighborhood’s DNA.

As he explored Venice on foot, often with friends, Bonefeld began to piece together a narrative of a place defined by fearless experimentation. Iconic local projects such as Three Little Pigs, 2-4-6-8, and the Caplin House represented not just architectural bravado but a community of clients and creators willing to take risks. He found lasting inspiration in projects like Frank Gehry’s 1979 duplex for Jane Spiller on Horizon Avenue and Morphosis’s 72 Market Street restaurant, a collaboration with actor Dudley Moore and producer Tony Bill. These weren’t just buildings—they were statements, part of the cultural story of Venice.

Today, Bonefeld runs Democratic Design Studio out of his Venice-based workspace. His practice continues to be informed by the spirit of the neighborhood: open-ended, collaborative, and rooted in the idea that architecture should respond to both place and people.

Trailblazer

Robert Thibodeau has been shaping the architectural identity of Venice Beach for nearly three decades. As founder and principal of DU Architects, a firm he established in 1995, Thibodeau brings a thoughtful, context-driven approach to residential and commercial design, blending modernist principles with a deep sensitivity to site and community.

Originally from Berkeley, Thibodeau moved to Venice in 1989 to pursue graduate studies at SCI-Arc. The school, founded by Ray Kappe in 1972, had quickly become known for its experimental curriculum and maverick faculty. At SCI-Arc, Thibodeau studied under architects like Thom Mayne, Craig Hodgetts, and Robert Mangurian—visionaries whose influence would stay with him throughout his career. These mentors instilled a fearless curiosity and a belief that architecture could (and should) challenge convention.

The intellectual energy of SCI-Arc extended beyond the classroom into the streets of Venice, where the cultural milieu was equally stimulating. For Thibodeau, choosing to stay in the neighborhood after graduation was about more than convenience; it was about belonging to a creative community that lived and breathed design. Over the years,

DU Architects has contributed significantly to Venice’s evolving landscape, crafting spaces that reflect both the neighborhood’s past and its future.

Whether designing homes that embrace natural light and ocean breezes or commercial spaces that support local business and culture, Thibodeau remains committed to architecture as a tool for enriching everyday life. His work reflects a passion for California modernism, a belief in architecture’s social role, and a deep respect for the power of place.

Trailblazer

Leo Marmol, FAIA, is Managing Partner of the architect-led design-build practice Marmol Radziner, founded in 1989 with Ron Radziner, FAIA. Based in Los Angeles, with offices in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles the firm is known for its innovative approach that includes architecture, construction, landscape, and interior design. Since its inception, the firm has developed a reputation for innovative design, sustainable architecture, and prolific restoration work.

Since their award-winning restoration of the Kaufmann House in Palm Springs in 1998, Marmol Radziner has gone on to restore projects by modern masters like Albert Frey, R.M. Schindler, and John Lautner. Beyond their restoration work, the firm has distinguished itself through precise construction and diverse services that encompass both intimate private residences and expansive urban developments. Notable residential projects include fashion designer and filmmaker Tom Ford’s homes in Los Angeles, Aspen, London, Paris, and Santa Fe, as well as residences for fashion industry executive Rea Laconne in Malibu, Beverly Hills, and Palm Springs. The practice’s commercial and multi-family projects include Beaudry, the tallest residential building in California, the Cross Creek Ranch in Malibu, and boutiques for James Perse and Oliver Peoples. Marmol Radziner’s latest projects include a mixed-use complex in Beverly Hills that includes the rehabilitation of the historic Saks Fifth Avenue building designed by Paul R. Williams, John Parkinson, and Donald Parkinson, and the restoration of the Firestone estate designed by William Pereira.

Active in his profession, Leo lectures widely on the topics of architecture and restoration, and participates in conferences, symposia, and panel discussions. Leo has also organized numerous architectural tours in Southern California to highlight the region’s wealth of mid-century Modernist landmarks.

Outside of his duties as Managing Partner, Leo helped coordinate the teams that worked on the reconstruction of Aluminaire House, Albert Frey and A. Lawrence Kocher’s iconic all-metal prototype home from 1931. Upon completion in February 2024, Aluminaire House became a part of the Palm Springs Art Museum’s permanent exhibition, and in September 2024, the project was awarded an Advocacy Citation of Merit by Docomomo.

Marmol Radziner’s unique business practice and commitment to design excellence were rewarded with the honor of being named the American Institute of Architects California Council’s Firm of the Year. The firm’s residential projects have received numerous AIA California Design Awards, AIA LA Residential Architecture Awards, and American Society of Landscape Architect Awards. Marmol Radziner was inducted into Interior Design Magazine’s Hall of Fame. The firm has been recognized on Architectural Digest’s AD100 list for ten separate years.

The firm’s historic rehabilitation projects have been recognized by the AIA, California Preservation Foundation, the State Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks, and Docomomo. Marmol Radziner’s restoration of Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House received AIA California’s Twenty-five Year award. In 2015, Marmol Radziner was recognized as Pioneer in Modern Restoration by the Palm Springs Modern Committee for their projects in the Coachella Valley.

Leo received his Bachelor of Architecture with a Minor in Philosophy from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California.

Trailblazer

Founded in 2014, LA River Arts combines advocacy, public policy, and the arts to re-present the river we share. We create art programs along the 51 miles of the River where communities gather and share one of the most significant public spaces in regional Los Angeles. In collaboration, we honor, and support vibrant communities along the river, and elevate the artists and organizations who aspire to reimagine her. Our flagship program, “River Sessions”, explores the complexity and variations of art, culture, and community along the River through monthly, artist-guided site visits and walks.

Trailblazer

SoCal Landmarks is an ongoing photography project documenting the myriad sites, buildings, structures, monuments, and other natural and historical points of importance/interest that are considered landmarks in the ten southern counties of California. Since the launch of the project in February, 2020, a small, dedicated group of photographers has contributed content for the project’s archives, its website (https://socallandmarks.com/) and presence on five social media platforms. At last count, the project has documented over 700 landmarks.

Trailblazer

George Smart HAIA, aka Mr. Modernism, is founder and CEO of USModernist®, the world’s largest nonprofit educational archive for the documentation, preservation, and promotion of Modernist residential design. A passionate advocate for Modernism, George has been one of the nation’s leaders in documenting and preserving this important architectural movement. He is a frequent national speaker to architecture, design, preservation, real estate, and museum groups.

Trailblazer

I am an architectural historian with a Master’s Degree in architectural history. Have been a guide for Architecture Tours L.A. for 23 years and am the author of a series of guidebooks of the architecture of Los Angeles.

Trailblazer

Nicole Shkurovich is a first-generation Mexican-Jew American born in Encino, CA, who studied at Harvard-Westlake School and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from UC Berkeley. Over the past four years, she has dedicated herself to volunteering, studying, and working on urban studies, sustainability, art, and community development projects, where she explores the intricate relationship between humans and their environments. Nicole has cultivated practical experience through volunteer work at Shemesh Farms, as an Environmental Club leader, and as a socio-cultural and art history researcher on Mexican folk art. She further developed her commitment to sustainability and cross-cultural dialogue during her academic gap year at The Kivunim Institute, where she studied Hebrew, Arabic, Jewish Diaspora Studies, and Middle Eastern history. Nicole is currently interning with artist Andrea Reynosa as a writing assistant and with Celeste, a startup dedicated to helping companies in Mexico City address and reduce their supply chain’s water risks through communication, collaborative action, and accountability.

Trailblazer

Sinéad Finnerty-Pyne, the Director of Marketing and Special Projects at Studio One Eleven, navigates the intersection of art, urbanity, and purpose. Her dynamic, multidisciplinary approach encompasses community- based events and public arts programming. Steering strategic planning for initiatives like the Long Beach Urban Lab and the Downtown Long Beach Design District, Sinéad fosters purpose-driven engagement within the urban fabric. With a two-decade career in the architectural and cultural landscape of Los Angeles, her contributions extend to events such as the Pacific Standard Time Performance Festival, Getty 25 Celebrates Long Beach, the LA Design Festival, and the US International Poster Biennial. As a past curator at Armory Center for the Arts, Sinéad collaborated with influential artists and co-authored publications, including Architecture is a Social Act: Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects. Growing up a So Cal native and Long Beach adjacent, she now lives and works in the community she is most passionate about.

Trailblazer

Max Podemski is an urban planner, writer, and illustrator. His book “A Paradise of Small Houses: The Evolution, Devolution, and Potential Rebirth of Urban Housing” traces the history of nine common housing types from the rowhomes of Philadelphia to the dingbats of Los Angeles.