Creative
Minimalism

Thoughtfully designed renovations and modern new construction for residential, commercial, and public spaces.

Meet the Founders

Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir and Tryggvi Thorsteinsson are the co-founders and creative directors of Minarc, an award-winning architecture and design studio based in Santa Monica. Originally from Iceland, the duo founded Minarc in 1999 with a vision to create architecture that is simultaneously resilient, sustainable, and deeply connected to human wellbeing.

Known for their minimalist yet warm approach, their work merges Icelandic sensibilities with the climate realities of modern California living. Over the past two decades, Minarc has become recognized for pioneering forward-thinking residential design that emphasizes fire resilience, non-combustible construction, passive environmental strategies, and material innovation.
Long before resilience became a global conversation, Erla and Tryggvi were advocating for steel-based construction, intelligent orientation, energy-conscious systems, and architecture designed to endure both environmentally and emotionally. Their projects often blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, using light, landscape, and honest materials to create spaces that feel both grounding and transformative.

Their internationally published work includes private residences, hospitality, and experimental sustainable design systems, including the development of innovative concepts such as ReFlow, a water-reuse sink system designed to reduce household water waste.

Minarc’s work has been featured in numerous international publications and recognized through major industry honors, including the 2024 LABC Architect Award for Sustainability and inclusion in the 2025 Forbes America’s Top 200 Residential Architects list.

Today, Erla and Tryggvi continue to advocate for a new generation of architecture—one that moves beyond minimum code requirements toward homes and communities designed for longevity, resilience, and a rapidly changing world.