'08 BALA Hall of Fame

Aram Bassenian, AIA, and Carl W. Lagoni, AIA, Bassenian/Lagoni Architects

Aram Bassenian

Carl W. Lagoni

After a quarter of a century, the architectural profession has finally gotten serious about housingdesign. Builders and developers, too, are more savvy about its importance. For Aram Bassenian, chairman and CEO of Bassenian/Lagoni Architects in Newport Beach, Calif., that’s a big leap forward. He and his partner, Carl Lagoni, have been honing their expertise in all things residential for more than 35 years. They’ve designed everything from conventional and high-density detached homes to townhomes, condominiums, apartments, senior housing and resort communities.

Bassenian has been honored with an Achievement Award from Professional Builder magazine as well as the Max C. Tipton Award for Marketing Excellence. Summing up the ongoing challenge, Bassenian observes, “As residential architects, it’s our job to create homes that use the link to the past, look forward in technology and mix it with skilled hands to come up with an entity that has character yet appeals to the senses.”  

Lagoni, now president, started working for Bassenian in 1976, right out of college. Like his partner, he has a keen eye for detail and marketability and fine-tunes many of the company’s designs.

“We like to pride ourselves on being on the leading edge in terms of design,” Lagoni says. “We try to help predict trends, if you will.” For example, while traditional elevations are likely to be around for awhile, he thinks that in the not too distant future we’ll see more contemporized interpretations of authentic styles.

Adds Bassenian, “I find that I’ve been able to touch the lives of many people with design, and that’s terribly rewarding.”

Among many other industry awards, Bassenian/Lagoni Architects has won an estimated 79 Best in American Living Awards.