GENESIS DESIGN CALIFORNIA
El Segundo, CA
Centered on an outdoor showroom and event space, this electric vehicle design studio gives new meaning to the term ‘car park’. The adaptive reuse project reimagines an existing timber structure and replaces the sprawling asphalt parking lot with a lush and leafy landscape.
Korean Gardens strive to be in harmony with nature, in tune with the local climate and natural surroundings. The landscape design at Genesis maintains traditional Korean features like seasonality, yellow flower color, and natural plant forms through a studied selection of plants and materials that thrive in El Segundo.
A zig-zagging amphitheater surrounds three turntables that display car design works in progress at the ideal viewing distance of 50 feet. The generous space is intended to host large-scale events as well as informal, everyday personal events, taking lunch or a phone call. A native meadow dots across the amphitheater, producing a cooling effect and an opportunity for stormwater to percolate into the earth.
In proximity to the existing structure, the main spaces and functions are organized around planted open-air courtyards and patios, creating a biophilic working environment and a unique backdrop to showcase the work of the environmentally conscious studio.
Further from the structure, a wild and colorful garden contains small areas for gathering or working outside in the shade of the canopy of trees. As perfectly straight pathways are rare in nature, the garden paths at Genesis meander and lead to these hidden spaces that encourage human enjoyment and quiet contemplation.
Client: Hyundai Genesis
Design Team:
Elysian Landscapes
EYRC Architects
Kimley-Horn, Civil Engineer
Saiful Bouquet Structural Engineers
Completed: 2025
Area: 2.6 acres