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Since its inception in 2000, McClean Design has evolved into a leading contemporary residential design firm through its commitment to excellence in modern design. Throughout the years, the company has curated a project portfolio that reflects its interest in modern living and desire to connect clients with the beauty of their natural surroundings. This is often achieved through extensive glazing systems and warm, light-filled contemporary spaces. Additionally, the firm prioritizes environmentally sustainable design practices and possesses substantial design and construction experience, which empowers it to navigate complex approval processes, such as Design Review Boards and Coastal Commissions. We learn more about McClean Design’s history from Paul McClean, Owner. 
“The cornerstone of our work is residential architecture, specializing in custom modern homes. Our client base primarily consists of homeowners with reasonable budgets. Originally from Ireland, I started the business in Laguna Beach, California, 25 years ago. I was fortunate to have experience with design review committees, as it got me into public speaking and required me to present projects. This then helped me build an audience and gain some visibility, which was essential in the pre-Internet era for meeting potential clients. During our first ten years, we worked in coastal Orange County. Following the Great Recession, we began to get more work in Los Angeles, which facilitated our growth into Southern California as a whole. Somewhat ironically, after the pandemic, we significantly expanded on an international scale. At present, 20-to-30 percent of our projects are international, while 30-to-40 percent are located outside California, with only a small percentage in our home state. We feel incredibly lucky to be able to undertake wonderful projects around the world,” he opens.
Pushing boundaries
In keeping with its passion for modern design, McClean Design integrates various materials and architectural concepts to achieve a contemporary aesthetic. “Indoor-outdoor living is a crucial element of modern design, especially within the California modern style,” says Lead Architect and Associate, Chris Pozil.
“California offers the perfect environment to enjoy this lifestyle, allowing us to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces. For example, many of the homes we design feature sliding glass doors that can open all the way. When these doors are in the open position, it is actually difficult to distinguish between the indoor and outdoor spaces. Currently, we are exploring ways to take the concept of California modern and adapt it for projects around the world. We are embracing the challenges of adapting this type of design to different climates, whether the humid, hot environment of Miami or the colder conditions we encounter when building in Canada. To apply this concept everywhere, it is essential to engage with the local elements while still keeping the core idea of bringing in natural light and creating expansive views. Our experience doing that has been great so far. We have enjoyed the opportunity to design California modern homes around the world and open up these breathtaking views, from the hills of Los Angeles overlooking the ocean and downtown, to exploring new areas that offer stunning panoramic vistas across different geographical locations,” he continues.
For a concrete example of McClean Design’s modern home building expertise on a global scale, Brett Loehmann, Principal, shares insights from a recent project the company undertook in Dubai. “Contemporary design is about pushing boundaries. With everything we are learning these days about wellness and the importance of natural light, we continuously strive to challenge these limits while working within the codes set before us to create spaces that people truly enjoy. This philosophy directly influences our work in Dubai, where we have consistently returned for various projects over the past five years. Dubai is a unique place that constantly pushes architectural boundaries, from skyscrapers to one-of-a-kind buildings. Residential contemporary architecture has flourished there in the last five years, and we feel fortunate to be part of this evolution. This is particularly exciting to us as we often face restrictions on what we can build in California, but in Dubai, we can construct anything we can imagine. The availability of labor and their ingenuity allow for extraordinary designs. While we may encounter pushback, as we do in the US, in Dubai, if there is a consensus, local contractors can bring ambitious visions to life. Our role is to collaborate and navigate the challenges to realize our vision.
“We currently have a project nearing completion in Dubai, which involves several homes within a larger community. While we typically focus on single-family, one-off designs, this opportunity has allowed us to create a plan and explore several ways to make it work with different materials. Through this experience, we have become more familiar with the Dubai environment, preparing us for future projects there. Similarly, we worked on another project that has challenged us to think differently about how we design houses. Typically, our homes feature stunning views or open directly onto the beach, but this particular site is more landlocked. As a result, we had to look inwards, both literally and metaphorically, to create light-filled spaces that evoke this cool feeling, even though they are located in Dubai’s extreme climate. Taking what we have learned from our projects in California and applying them to Dubai’s dynamic environment has been a lot of fun for us,” he elaborates.
Crucial relationships
Following McClean Design’s 25th anniversary, Paul reflects on the factors that have contributed to the company’s enduring success. “First and foremost, we have been incredibly lucky to have great clients. Secondly, we approach each project without preconceived notions or agendas, always keeping in mind that we are building homes for our clients. Our goal is to solve problems in a positive way by responding to site conditions, planning requirements and client needs. We listen to them attentively, and if a project is not going in the direction the client wants, we are ready to pivot. Building relationships with our clients is crucial. We navigate family dynamics daily, and it is important to recognize that this process represents a substantial investment of both time and money. Clients need to be engaged for three to five years and must be deeply involved, so the process is very personal to them. The most successful projects are those where clients feel most invested,” he ends.
McClean Design’s global projects reflect a bold expansion of modern architecture, where innovative designs in diverse climates showcase the team’s adaptability.