David Randall Hertz

David Randall Hertz (born October 6, 1960) is an American architect, inventor and educator.

He is known for his work in sustainable architecture and as an early innovator in the development of recycled building materials.

David Randall Hertz was born on October 6, 1960, in Daly City, California, to parents Joanne and Robert Hertz.

The family moved to Los Angeles when Hertz was 6 months old and he grew up Venice and Malibu.

Hertz got his start in architecture at a young age.

In high school he was introduced to the building's designer, famed Los Angeles architect John Lautner.

Hertz apprenticed under Lautner for four years.

After receiving a degree from the Southern California Institute of Architecture in 1980, Hertz went on to work in the office of Frank Gehry before founding his firm, Syndesis, in 1983.

That year, Hertz developed Syndecrete, a form of concrete that incorporates post-consumer and industrial waste, such as polypropylene carpet fibers and fly ash.

It is lighter than traditional concrete and may have other waste products such as wood, crushed glass, or plastic chips added for decoration.

In 1995 MoMA included Syndecrete in the "Mutant Materials in Contemporary Design" exhibit.

Hertz's home residence in Venice was built in two phases and completed in 2003.

It consists of four structures connected by enclosed bridges, inspired by Balinese architecture.

Hertz designed the building as a testbed for many environmentally conscious building ideas.

The house has rooftop solar heating panels for water, radiant heating, sustainable woods used throughout, and extensive use of his custom concrete, Syndecrete.

Additionally, Hertz designed the large Syndecrete walls to work as a solar sink, absorbing the sun's heat during the day and slowly releasing it at night.

The house has been featured in multiple commercials and TV shows, most prominently in the Californication (TV series).

In 2004, Hertz became Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified.

In 2007 he founded Studio of Environmental Architecture SEA, based in Venice Beach, California.

SEA focuses on environmentally sustainable buildings, including high-efficiency lighting and water systems, solar panels, and solar water heating.

In 2008 the prestigious American Institute of Architects recognized Hertz as FAIA fellow.

The fellowship is the highest membership honor for architects for their exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society.

Hertz was the youngest member selected in AIA's 152-year history.

Hertz is involved in constructing environmentally beneficial residences and commercial buildings, primarily in and around Venice, California.

His architectural and material work has been exhibited internationally.

In 2010 Hertz completed the renovation of an existing 45,000 square foot concrete warehouse for Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California.

Hertz's recent speaking engagements include a presentation at TEDx in 2013 and 2015 promoting sustainability and green building.

In 2014, American Institute of Architects (AIA) featured residences designed and built by Hertz in the Los Angeles Monograph Tour.

In 2015, KCRW featured Hertz in their Art Talk episode "Daring and Inspirational Architecture Around the World".

In 2015 ORO Editions published a monograph titled The Restorative Home: Ecological Houses by David Hertz, which focuses on residential homes Hertz designed throughout his career.

In 2016, he spoke at the Greenbuild Expo in Los Angeles on historical and cutting-edge technology of extracting drinking water from the air.

In 2016 a team led by Hertz won the Grand Prize of the Water Abundance XPRIZE.

The competition's goal was to make more than 2,000 liters of water in 24 hours using 100% renewable energy at the cost of less than 2 cents/ liter.

In April 2017, Hertz sold his home residence known as "Californication House" for US$14.6 million and purchased Tony Duquette's former property in Malibu.

Hertz and his wife Laura Doss-Hertz have partnered with the GO Campaign to fund sustainable water projects worldwide.

Hertz is a board member of Heal the Bay, an environmental advocacy group based in Santa Monica, California.

Hertz was featured on Apple TV+'s Home (2020 TV series) Episode 8.

Home guides the audience inside the world’s most extraordinary homes and unveils the boundary-pushing imagination of the visionaries who dared to dream and build them.

In 2022, Hertz launched Resilience Fund for Advancing Climate Technologies.

Hertz is the winner of 2022 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum National Design Award for Climate Action.