The boogie knight: michael soriano.
San Diego's emerging creative director michael soriano has transformed Sportsman's Lodge in Point Loma into the whimsical Pearl Hotel,
where the bar crowd can opt for poolside hammocks or build their own pillow-stacked den in the lounge.

"It's important to me to generate a dialogue, for people to talk about their experience".

3314 Felton Street
San Diego, CA 92104
ph 619.339.1768
email michael soriano

BIO

Michael Soriano doesn’t really like getting compliments. He’s a mellow, grounded Taurus, and sometimes feels guilty that good design comes so easily for him. In fact, this ego-phobic guy even hates the idea of a bio. You won’t find egos in Michael’s designs either: they won’t scream for your attention and then keep you at a haughty distance. Rather, they’ll invite you in, give you a hug, and truly engage your senses- making you think, reflect, and hopefully smile. “The beauty in many things is not so much in how they look, but in how they’re experienced,” he says. Much like a favorite, soft, worn out sweater, Michael’s designs evoke memory, comfort, and practicality, and if those concepts aren’t always the hottest design trends, that’s okay with Michael. He's not into “hot”, so just call him warm and fuzzy.

Make that warm and fuzzy with rough hands- because Michael has spent a fair amount of time laboring in the trenches. After attending college in his native San Diego, he migrated to Hollywood to join a prominent production company to build and dress commercial sets. But fame and fortune driven LA wasn’t Michael’s style, so he eventually headed back to San Diego to dirty his hands in landscape and interior design. Twenty years of designing furniture, art installations and commercial environments has taught Michael to understand how things are made, not just how they should look. As he likes to say: “if you want to open a great restaurant, you should already know how to “wash the dishes.”

But even with his extensive hands-on construction and manufacturing experience, Michael’s talent in art means that he thinks more like an artist, and less like an architect. He deftly contrasts metals, stone, woodwork, or fabrics with a hand that’s always natural, not forced. Whether it’s combining rough with refined- or blending primitive with modern- Michael’s work results in a harmonious balance of complimentary feelings. Just as Michael encourages us to enjoy the subtle elements in his designs, he himself strives to appreciate the smallest things in life. He claims no regrets- not even that time in his youth when he had a questionable artist tattoo his leg at a once then seedy Broadway street parlor. Needless to say, he’s kept the botched tattoo, because it reminds him of who he was at that moment. And to change that, would be to deny a part of him that has led him to be the person that he is today. And did this “ego-phobic” Taurus give up on tattoos after that? Well, it’s best to ask him that yourself.


Current Projects in Development

"The Loop", Four story, mixed-use residential and commercial project, Santa Barbara, California

Galleria Park Hotel, Concept Development for Hotel Renovation, San Francisco, California

Queenstown Porch and Garden, Restaurant and Bar, San Diego, California

Raglan Public House, Restaurant and Bar, Ocean Beach, California

Barrio Moto Cafe, San Diego, California

High Rank Web Design, Corporate Office Remodel and Expansion, San Diego, California

Takas/George Residence, Re-Model and Landscaping, Encinitas, California

Community @ The Carnegie Building, Lofts, San Diego, California

Heller Residence, Remodel, Phoenix, Arizona


Ongoing Projects

Jan-10 Community @ The Scripps Building, San Diego, Commercial

Mar-10 Felton Residence, Remodel, San Diego, California

Completed Projects

2011
UCSD Alumni Center, San Diego California, Concept Development

2009-2010
Community @ The Onyx Building, San Diego, Commercial
Analog Music and Burger Bar, San Diego, Restaurant/Bar
Sessions Public, San Diego, Restaurant/Bar
Viridian Lofts, San Diego, Commercial
Casa Surf Project for Riviera/Modern Luxury Magazine, Laguna Beach, Hotel
Concept Design San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, Bar
Vin De Syrah Wine Parlor, San Diego, Bar
Walker Residence Landscape, Pacific Palisades, Landscape

2007-2008
Andrews Investment Partners Executive Offices, San Diego, Office
MTV Life of Ryan, San Clemente, Residence
Community @ The Martin Building, San Diego, Commercial

2006-2007
Pearl Hotel, Point Loma, Hotel
Onyx Room Remodel, San Diego, Bar
Tower 23, Pacific Beach, Landscaping
Cendio, La Jolla, Restaurant
Balogh Residence, Rancho Santa Fe Residence
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla, Installation

2003-2006
Harrison Residence, San Diego, Landscaping
Bolson Residence, La Mesa, Landscaping
Fellica Residence, San Diego, Landscaping
Pellow Residence, San Diego, Landscaping

2002-2003
Blue Lotus, San Diego, Bar

2001- 2002
Graham Downes Architecture
Gringo's Cantina, Restaurant
Okiton Japanese Bistro, Restaurant
Marine Room, Restaurant
D'Lush, Café

Museum of Contemporary Art of San Diego, La Jolla, Installation
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla, Installation

2000-2001
Parallel 33, San Diego, Restaurant

1998-1999
D/C Shoes Circus Distribution Head Quarters Vista, Ca., Commercial. Design and Fabrication of Fixtures and Furnishings

1997-1998
Jigsaw Fashion Show Audio Visual Coordinator, La Jolla, Installation
Finelines Wholesale Showroom, Los Angeles, Commercial
Objex Boutique, West Hollywood, Commercial
The Flame Nightclub, San Diego, Bar
Café 222, Del Mar, Café
Gigabites, Rancho Santa Fe, Café
Café Cybernet, La Jolla, Café
Café 101, San Diego, Café
Café 1208, Burlington Vermont Café

1996-1997
Samsara Café, Monterey, Restaurant
Zov's Café and Bistro, Tustin, Restaurant
Lulu Boutique, San Diego, Commercial
Café Lulu, San Diego, Restaurant
Old Venice Restaurant and Bar, Coronado, Restaurant
A.G.Floral, San Diego, Commercial
International Information Center, San Diego, Commercial
Africa and Beyond, Solana Beach, Commercial
Africa and Beyond, La Jolla, Commercial

1995-1996
Anthropologie, Long Island, N.Y.,Commercial
Concept Developer/Visual Stylist, Soho, N.Y.
National store opening team member. Santa Monica, Ca. Newport Beach, Ca.

1993-1995
M.A.C. Make Up and Cosmetics, Montreal, Canada, Commercial
Design and Fabrication of Fixtures and Furnishings
London England, New York, Chicago, Miami, Housten, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Denver.

Café 1134, Coronado, Restaurant

1992-1995
Forma Artful Furnishings, San Diego, Ca. Commercial
Creative director and Partner of Forma Inc.

1991-1992
InSite, San Diego and Tiajuana Cooperative, "Evolving", Java Gallery, San Diego Installation
Model Call Salon, La Jolla, Commercial

1989-1991
Pytka Productions
On Set Dresser/Visual Stylist and Art Department Team, Los Angeles, Production

1984-1987
Aktivity/On Beat Productions Metro Night Club, San Diego, Production
Promoter. Art Director and Production Coordinator