When a Los Angeles-based psychotherapist acquired a tarnished historic structure, architect Barrett Cooke, cofounder of the firm Arterberry Cooke, transformed it from an austere edifice into a soothing environment for hosting clients, parties, and other uplifting gatherings.
Tell us about your professional background:
My route to pursuing the design world actually began because I was interested in furniture design. I ended up getting a master’s in interior architecture because I enjoyed working at that scale. I then moved out to Los Angeles and worked in small boutique architecture firms. A few years ago, I met my business partner, Alice Arterberry, who was moving from LA to Austin, Texas, when we started working together. Now we run independent offices in each city while continuing to collaborate.
Did this project’s client have any specific requests for your team?
Michelle came to me with very clear, pragmatic goals, which were to make this space work for a therapy practice. It was already somewhat set up for that; there was a large central gathering area and many small, more private rooms. We didn’t have to change much in terms of the layout or flow of the rooms, but we did add a few others.
So now there’s space for all her therapists to practice, and they’re also able to host events like lectures from different psychoanalysts or therapists; the internal team will also meet sometimes in the upper lounge. Michelle is able to use it as a community space too. It’s perfect because the building had a huge central hall that kind of craved for it to be utilized in that way. It was so spacious that you would never just fill it with people waiting for their appointments.
How did you approach this project?
This office occupies a very old building in Garvanza, a neighborhood in northeastern Los Angeles. It had a complicated history because several owners made various changes and add-ons. It was founded as a library, but most recently it was the home of the Danish Soldier Society. The structure is also in a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone, meaning we were restricted on what we could change.
We were charmed by the structure’s potential, so when we first walked in the door, we expected to make straightforward habitability and accessibility updates. But this ended up being fairly complicated, primarily because there was no HVAC system; we had to add one without disturbing certain historical elements. We ended up putting in a VRF system, which allows for individually controlled rooms instead of needing to install bulky ductwork. In the end, it’s actually a great feature because not every room is in use at the same time, so they can remain comfortable only where needed and turn off cooling elsewhere.
As for the exterior, the biggest changes were painting, repairing old windows, and other general upkeep. Also, the original doors didn’t meet accessibility requirements, so we replaced them with large new ones; ramps and stairs were added for this purpose too.
The interiors bridge a commercial and residential feel. Was that intentional?
Yes, and much of that is attributed to the colors. Therapy is obviously an emotional process, so making the interiors feel very comfortable and not clinical and dull was important. In an earlier iteration of the design, we suggested some more blatantly professional elements, like dark wood and old-school clinical decor, but Michelle was not interested in that. So we decided that a light and warm environment would help put people at ease.
We have an interior design team on staff, and one of them, Emily Carlin, took the lead on that. She attended an art show for Agnes Pelton, who made colorful, desertlike paintings with soothing colors, which inspired her. She brought the concept to Michelle and asked if we could use it as a guidepost for decorating decisions; she loved the idea (and the artist, actually). We pulled the soft pastel colors and tones throughout the space from the art, which perfectly created the calming atmosphere Michelle was after. She even scattered Agnes Pelton books throughout the office after the project was done, so it was really sweet seeing her connect the inspiration with the results.
What is your favorite part of the results?
I just love that each room has its own little personality, yet it feels like they are all in conversation with one another. The decor is also distinct throughout. It was really fun for my team and me to play with the furniture setups and imagine how each space would be used differently.
A lot of this uniqueness by room comes down to color. I think people currently feel much more willing to experiment with it rather than having primarily neutral ambiences. One of the first things you talk about when you’re in architectural design school is paint. It’s a more affordable way to transform a structure. Likewise, people are embracing bolder textures, patterns, and colors with kitchen cabinetry and countertops, going beyond simple all-white stone and Shaker cabinets, for example.
We also tried to integrate more decorative lighting than basic can lights. We still used those, especially in the kitchen and bathroom zones, but for the overarching atmosphere we integrated decorative fixtures like sconces and chandeliers. It is a workspace, after all, so the therapists who work there do need brightness to be productive, but when they are hosting an event in the building or conversing with patients, they can adjust how much lighting they wish to use, highlighting certain areas or reducing the intensity.
Overall, I think this project was a nice reuse of a historic place that had not been updated in a long time. I loved seeing it transform from a Danish Soldier Society hall to a community-focused place for adults to connect, get treatment, and socialize. The most fulfilling part was shaping the space for this strong community purpose and bringing it into the modern era.
For more info, visit arterberrycooke.com
Coastal flavors meet effortless elegance in these selections from The Hamptons: Food, Family, and History cookbook. From a lightly crisp, zesty seafood dish that redefines fried fish to a sun-kissed blueberry dessert, the recipes perfectly capture the breezy, laid-back luxury of Atlantic Coast cooking. Together, they’ll make any table feel like a summer escape—no beach house required.
Enjoy guilt-free fried fish with this healthier take that’s bursting with zesty flavors.
Colorful summer berries and buttery crunch make this dessert a dinner party all-star.
Recipes excerpted from The Hamptons: Food, Family, and History by Ricky Lauren. Rizzoli New York, 2025. Photography by Anne Stratton.
Here is a simple way to make fried fish lighter and more healthful—and perhaps even to sell it to the children at the table. Bread the fish on one side only! It’s crispy and delightful, and has fewer calories and a more delicate taste. Begin the meal with a soufflé and serve the fish with steamed chopped spinach.
Serves 4
Aunt Susan and I went blueberry-picking together with our young children in Amagansett. We decided to have a contest to see which team could pick the most berries. The smushed ones did not count. We had so much fun that we all forgot who won! I still remember how much we laughed. This crisp always reminds me of that magical day.
Serves 6
Brian Knoebel, co-owner and president of world-famous Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, discusses what distinguishes his family’s park from others as it celebrates its centennial.
For those who may not know, what does Knoebels offer park goers?
We have seventy-plus attractions, including over sixty rides, our kiddie play area, and a 900,000-gallon pool with four water slides. There are also over two dozen games to enjoy.
Another big reason people come here is our food. We have thirty-eight food stands, and we’ve won the Golden Ticket award, which names the world’s best park food, twenty-two times. So we really focus on food quality. But we actually have no choice. My dad [park president from 1988-2025 and current president emeritus] is known for saying “It better be good. I eat all my meals here.” [Laughs]
What else makes Knoebels stand out from other amusement parks?
For starters, parking and entry are free; instead of gates, a gravel pathway and a canopy of trees welcome you. I also challenge you to find another park that has as many benches as we do. We’re perfectly content if you come in, find a shady spot, sit, and people-watch. Sure, we appreciate you buying an ice-cream cone or tickets for rides, but we don’t force it; when grandma and grandpa get satisfaction out of seeing their grandkids enjoy the rides, maybe they’ll ride something like our Pioneer Train themselves.
We found our niche long ago—allowing folks to get away from life and remember simpler times—and we’re not going to change that focus. We are a multigenerational family park: third and fourth generations are running it, and third- and fourth-generation families visit it regularly.
What notable changes has Knoebels made over the last hundred years?
One of the first important ones was investing in filtration for the Crystal Pool, which kept us open while other parks without it closed. Bringing the Grand Carousel here in 1941 was another; it’s become a focal point in the park. Also, my family was farmers prior to Knoebels opening, but they traded their best potato field for the Crystal Pool in 1926 and part of their tree farm for the park campground in 1963. The latter was an especially wise choice, because it now has six hundred sites on about 150 acres.
Still, when I grew up in the 1970s, Knoebels wasn’t overly busy. My cousins and I even played kickball in front of our park without much interruption. But the Phoenix, our first wooden roller coaster, opened in 1985—and our dad eliminated our kickball field when the park became busier because of it! So I’d say that one really put us on the map. In addition, our tallest wooden roller coaster, the Twister, opened in 1999, adding a totally different guest experience.
Is the variety of guest experiences here key to your success as well?
Yes. There’s something for everyone, from the rides to mini golf to a mining sluice and museum to a blacksmith exhibit. Plus, you’re within walking distance of the park when you stay at our park campground or cottages. In fact, we have cottages located near the Phoenix and campgrounds right behind the Twister. People request to stay there, using the roar of the roller coaster zooming by as the greatest alarm clock in the world. Where else can you do that?
Can you reveal what the park’s going to do to celebrate one hundred years?
We’re keeping the details a secret, but we’re focusing on our history and tradition. We’ll have special events and promotions and a season-long celebration. So I can’t tell you too much, but hopefully our fans will love it. Stay tuned!
For more info, visit knoebels.com
The Fourth of July is synonymous with fireworks, family gatherings, and celebrations honoring our nation’s history. But the Fourth in 2026 is unlike any that have preceded: This year will also be America’s 250th anniversary. The occasion is sure to amp up our typical holiday activities with grand, nationwide commencements in major cities and small communities alike. Take a look at what you can expect from this countrywide birthday party and how you can claim your invitation.
2026 marks 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. We typically consider this our country’s origin, even if this was more of our proclamation that we wished to be a nation rather than our official recognition as one. Nonetheless, we are celebrating the spirit of a republic ruled by the people and continue to refer to this decisive historical moment as the birth of the United States.
This isn’t the first historic milestone our country has celebrated, of course. For example, many people may remember the nation’s bicentennial celebration in 1976, an occasion that featured nationwide parades, fireworks, community festivals, historical reenactments marked by colonial ships in New York Harbor, and a commencement ceremony in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, considered the birthplace of America. Believe it or not, it was reported that approximately 90 percent of US citizens at the time took part in some sort of celebration of the nation’s anniversary.
This year, a plethora of events are designed to ring in the semiquincentennial (a fancy way to say 250th anniversary). The only question that remains is how you can join in.
Unsurprisingly, some of the grandest occasions will be taking place right in Washington, DC (even if this wasn’t America’s original capital). In fact, the city is partying like it’s 1776 all year long! Among the special experiences scheduled for the anniversary are outdoor block parties at the National Gallery and Archives in early summer and a monthlong Smithsonian Festival. In addition, Fourth of July celebrations on the National Mall will feature fireworks and parades, special exhibits such as “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” at the National Museum of American History are debuting, and even hotels and restaurants throughout the district are dedicating events to the semiquincentennial.
But the fun won’t be limited to the capital city, as sites around the nation will be marking this milestone with major occasions. Philadelphia will observe the anniversary with, among other things, special cultural events and the citywide festival Wawa Welcome America from June 19–July 4. Meanwhile, Gettysburg will have a Battle of Gettysburg reenactment from July 3–5 and later in the year, November 18–19, will do a re-creation of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Meanwhile, an outstanding spectacle by sea, Sail250, kicked off on May 28 in New Orleans. It features a flotilla of grand ships from around the world sailing from the Gulf Coast up the Atlantic seaboard to Boston—while making stops at several notable ports on the East Coast along the way. Not to be outdone, event planners in Branson, Missouri, will distribute American flags to nearly every household in the city in the hope that each one displays the Stars and Stripes (breaking a Guinness World Record in the process).
Even if you live far from these cities, you may be within a short distance of community festivals held in America’s honor. You can find festivities in your area’s local events calendar, or simply host a celebration at home by viewing televised commencements and hosting a classic cookout with loved ones. Adorn your bash with themed decor, including various merchandise branded for the semiquincentennial like special anniversary flags. Gathering with loved ones will be your chance to reflect on our nation’s origins, what our home means to us, and how we can all unite to achieve even more together.
For more info, visit America250.org
