What Architect Benjamin Hall Would See In Phoenix
Benjamin Hall
Founder, Benjamin Hall Design
In the early 2000s, California native Benjamin Hall had dropped out of high school and was spending his days surfing when one day he explored the California Polytechnic State University campus.
“There was a unique cylindrical lecture building,” he recalls. “The architecture literally drew me in.” Despite not being a student, he sat in on an architecture class, and the experience changed his life. “That was the moment I knew working in the design world was the place for me,” he says.
It was all the motivation Hall needed to graduate from high school, major in architecture at the University of Arizona and spend a year studying the discipline in Denmark. Postcollege, Hall worked in Seattle, Phoenix and Saudi Arabia–where he completed projects for the monarchy–before returning stateside in July 2011 to found Phoenix-based Benjamin Hall Design.
Six years into his business, Hall wears four hats: designer, developer, builder and landlord. He funds, builds and manages many of his projects, perhaps the most notable being Phoenix’s White Stone Studios apartment complex, which took home the 2015 Distinguished Building award from the Arizona chapter of the American Institute of Architects. “I try to experience everyday life to the fullest,” Hall says. “When you keep yourself open, you become more aware of the small things.”
For insight into his city, we chatted with Hall about how he’d spend a perfect day in the Valley of Sun.
10 a.m. Start the day with brunch at Ocotillo. This popular local restaurant offers a great morning vibe with wonderful indoor and outdoor spaces and delectable food options, including blue corn pancakes and breakfast pork flautas.
11 a.m. Get your art fill at thePhoenix Art Museum, home to more than 18,000 masterpieces. On display now are award-winning works by the 2016 Contemporary Forum grant recipients.
12 p.m. Take a drive to North Phoenix to check out the MusicalInstrument Museum. There, you can browse more than 6,500 instruments from around the world and also attend concerts, likeJ.D. Souther and Judy Collins this summer.
2 p.m. Grab lunch at Pane Bianco, an Italian joint on North Central Avenue. It’s a restaurant that tailors the whole experience to your senses: I come here not only for the fresh ingredients but also the natural lighting, the linens, the water pitchers, the uneven wood tables and the wafting aromas from the wood-fire oven.
3 p.m. Pop by Lisa Sette Gallery to view works by one of my favorite local artists, MaymeKratz. She is known for her resin works made with materials gathered during her trips around the Southwest.
4 p.m. Hit up some of my favorite shops: Hub Clothing for stylish jeans that can be worn in all settings, Bunky Boutique for Arizona-themed clothing, Forthe People for home goods,Framed Ewe for sunglasses andModern Manor for midcentury furnishings. Each of these shops offers a different view into the Phoenix culture.
7 p.m. Have dinner at the deliciousForno 301 Pizzeria & Bar. It’s in an unassuming strip mall, which can mask its authentic allure, but the dining experience and food are straight out of Italy. Make sure to ask about the specials–and when in doubt, get the Diavola pizza.
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