Through a holistic vision that encompasses a full range of design, from the building envelope to interiors, custom furnishings and finishes, installations and casework, landscape and swimming pool design, David Bornstein is committed to developing forward-thinking solutions that transform the built environment. A diverse body of high-end projects has brought him from Los Angeles to Miami Beach, the California Desert, Paris, and New York.
A creative spirit by nature, David has more than a decade of international experience in design and project construction and realization. He holds a BA in the history of art from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Architecture from UCLA and is a California-licensed architect. A native of New England, he currently resides between Southern California and New York.
I have always been excited about buildings and creating things. I find myself drawn to spaces that feel unconfined, dynamic, and full of possibilities. A good building or space should be a process of discovery. There is magic in discovering something that did not exist before or that you did not perceive before but now you do because you have drawn attention to it through the design. You should also have the feeling that it is continuously evolving, that it will continue to reveal itself as times goes on.
Living and creating in a variety of unique geographies – the California Desert, Europe, Miami, and New York - has had a profound effect on my work. The environments of each of these places are so distinct, yet I feel that each has inspired me to look at design in a new way. I think about this a lot in my work. Yet the work is not one of imitation or emulation. Instead it is about learning from each of these places and how they think, much like an anthropologist would. Beautiful buildings and lasting designs have a magical relationship with their environments. The way that light, color, materials, technology, climate, surroundings, history, and culture affect a place are the real inspirations for design.
I find it difficult to think of a building in isolation from its finished site and interior space. The most successful designs invariably relate back to their larger surroundings and hold true to the realization of the last finish details. This is an integrated approach that ensures that all the elements of the project can be executed with the same rigor and achieves a product that really works for its purpose.
