The creative eye behind it all: John Sofio

Few people have their finger on the pulse of L.A. nightlife the way that John M. Sofio does.

Tastemakers near and far can’t get enough of John Sofio’s vibrant, vivacious and varied work. And Los Angeles residents—especially—are profoundly impacted by his spaces long before they knew him.

The influence of hospitality and design groomed the city’s most prolific nightlife designer from a young age. As founder and owner of Los Angeles’ multi-disciplinary design firm, Built Inc., his enticing and captivating aesthetic can be credited to a love of hospitality from an early age.

John’s parents migrated away from New York City and into the suburbs in the early 70s. This instilled a sense of inspiration in him through their newfound love of suburban modernism, as showcased throughout their family home.

“My father painted a large graphic stripe in orange, yellow, and white across the longest room in our house, while my mother slowly curated the rooms in Italian modern New York. I was influenced by the energy of the Lower East Side in the late ’70s and early ’80s. It was a time of change and confusion and definition.”

Poppy opened as a hybrid nightclub concept portraying a fantasy world transporting into an underlying stream of consciousness filled with the extensive menagerie of elements from a storybook setting.

The award-winning designer and his company don’t just design spaces for the 400+ residential, hospitality, and commercial projects in their nationwide portfolio. Every aspect of the project is handled, from concept and branding through architecture, execution, interior and finishes.

John has shaped and constructed some of Los Angeles’ most exclusive hotpots, including The Nice Guy, Poppy, Delilah and many others helmed by the h.Wood group, a longtime collaborator with a deep Hollywood elite following.

Delilah is a modern day supper club and formerly “The Pink Pussy Cat,” a burlesque dance club in the late ‘40s with pink décor.

When asked what is the single most important element to remember when designing such multi-dimensional spaces, he says: “Executing a singular thought.”

“Design through committee waters down a concept quickly. The singular thought must be protected throughout the execution of the project.”

John has been designing spaces since 1995 and initially only worked on residential projects. Architecture was a natural choice for John, as he attributes the foresight, perception, and visualization that he developed as a photographer in his earlier life to choose architecture as his creative medium. He describes his process as soulful with a blend of modern organic.

“I’m constantly trying to create spaces that make you feel like you’re ‘somewhere’ and there’s a reason to be inside that space, other than just having a drink. That’s what soulful design does—it grants differentiation and importance.”