When it comes to building materials, Element in Marina del Rey is kind of like a unicorn – rare and maybe even a little bit magical. They are the only lofts in Los Angeles constructed with precast concrete, which allows for large openings and copious glazing.
Lofty Idea
Glass and Concrete Create Sustainable, Stylish Units
The 50 lofts at Element meet the energy efficiency demands of California’s strict codes while also giving buyers a modern industrial aesthetic. Units feature eight floor plans ranging from 973 to 1,594 square feet and are priced from the mid-$500,000s to over $1 million.
Constructed in the hip-mix Marina Arts District amidst a mingling of auto body shops, police impound yards, modern restaurants, and high-end retail, Element’s contemporary industrial appeal is boosted by concrete floors, exposed piping and ducts, and large windows.
Glass and concrete work together to meet California’s stringent energy codes. The precast concrete creates a thermal mass for passive solar heating and cooling, while the windows and doors utilize low-E, argon-filled, dual-pane glass to mitigate heat gain. Their aluminum frame panels are thermally broken to further reduce heat and cold transfer.
The precast concrete provides finishes consistent with urban lofts and eliminates the need for interior supports, which facilitates the property’s flexible, open floor plans and massive windows. Track sliding partition walls create expanded living spaces while floor-to-ceiling multi-slide glass doors disappear into pockets to give residents seamless access to courtyard-facing balconies.
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