It's 2019 and Richard Christiansen has opened a bookstore . But behind what may seem like an antiquated idea to some was a passion for connection and creativity. "I originally didn't even care if we even sold a book," Christiansen tells AD by phone, birds heard chirping on the other end of the line. "The bookshop was designed as a creative hub for the creative people we know—photographers, writers, directors, architects, and artists—to come together. In this part of Los Angeles there are a lot of places to get a cup of coffee and feed your stomach, but if you want to feed your mind, it's a bit more challenging."

Circular shapes abound—down to the pegs that hold the books.

And so The Owl Bureau was born. In part, the storefront serves as a bookshop, an exhibition space, an incubator, an artist's residency, an HQ for Chandelier Creative (Christiansen's powerhouse of a creative agency), and "a place for culture to develop, and to plug itself into that creative electricity," says Christiansen. In the week since it opened its owl-adorned doors, the space has already played host to a celebration with photographer François Halard , and on Sunday will feature a talk by multidisciplinary artist Amanda Marsalis. The one thing the space isn't? "We're not a coworking space. We would never charge people to pay and sit here, to participate. It's completely against the way we operate. We would never, ever, ever do that." Christiansen is certainly open to the idea of people working on projects on site, though. Ceramic artist and designer Alex Reed has recently begun a yearlong residency program at The Owl Bureau, where a selection of the work created during his residency will be made available for purchase.

"We want to make sure the creative energy goes back into the world," says Christiansen. To achieve that, The Owl Bureau is funding creative projects in the community. So far, two are in the works: a mural and a robotics team who makes robots in the area. "It's not just about painting; you can flex creative muscles in different ways."

Inside the Highland Park space, Paris-based architecture firm Studio KO collaborated with Christiansen and local studios WAKA WAKA and MachineHistories to craft a space that is warm, sunny, and spacious. Everything from the doors and bookshelves to the sofas and reception desk is circular—the team was inspired by a drawing Picasso once did of an owl, cutting out the eyes to place against his face, like a mask. The idea of round holes as something to look through, to see by way of, became an integral part of the space's visual language. "We felt like the wall needed a decorative touch to contrast the rectilinearity of the book shelves, so we projected a generative drawing of an owl onto the wall and engraved it," explains Steven Joyner of MachineHistories, whose firm designed and fabricated the curved walls and circular doors that make up the bookshop. "The engraved drawing is carried over into the door itself, connecting it to the wall while implying massive owl wings spreading across the curvature of the wall. "The door was made by layering various 3d models of desert life, giving a nod to southern California." Other local touches are abound; WAKA WAKA’s Shin Okuda handcrafted the bookshelf knobs from California oak.

The door features two birds kissing, which resembles the shape of an owl.

And though the space isn't specifically purposed for selling books, there's an impressive and inspiring selection of books on photography, design, art, fashion, counterculture, and L.A. noir, curated in collaboration with New York–based Mast Books. Most of the books are new, but a selection from Christiansen's own collection that he amassed over decades are being rotated into the mix of titles for sale. "I love these books. They are my friends and my children, where I've gone for inspiration. But it's time for me to let other people enjoy them the way I have," says Christiansen. "Hopefully, the books are a first step into creating creative electricity in Los Angeles."