Mr. Cohen’s connection to building was born on November 6, 1961 when the Brentwood-Bel Air Fire destroyed his family home in Crestwood Hills along with almost 500 other homes. Crestwood Hills is a community rich in the tradition of early modern California houses, including many of the Case Study Experimental houses of the 1950’s and 1960’s. The subsequent process of the rebuilding of all the houses in his neighborhood was an unforgettable experience.

The design and construction of an important structure involved a near death experience when at the age of 12 Peter created a vehicle made of common cast off lumber and rubber wheels. This vehicle was designed to go down the steep streets in the foothills where he lived and to carry two explorers. The braker sat in the back with pieces of wood poised to slow down the rear wheels while the pilot sat in front with a rope steering mechanism. The brakes apparently needed some technological improvements, as the maiden voyage of the vehicle was its last. Mr. Cohen survived and reminded himself that he had other plans for wood.
Before becoming a California licensed architect in 1990, Mr. Cohen owned and operated PLAYFORMS. Completing almost 150 projects between 1974 and 1990, PLAYFORMS designed and built custom and modular playgrounds and playstructures for public and private use.

PLAYFORMS designs were based on the Adventure Playground movement of Europe, founded in England by Lady Allen of Hurtwood . Adventure Playgrounds were created after the devastation of World War II and were areas set aside for children where they could create their own environments using recycled building materials salvaged from destroyed buildings.

Peter Cohen is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles, School of Fine Arts (Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, Major in Design, 1974) and the University of California at Los Angeles, School of Architecture and Urban Planning (Masters of Architecture, 1981). He is a California Licensed Architect (1990) and a California Licensed General Contractor (1976).