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To start, this is the first of what will be called my "Off The Radar" series. As the title implies, it is only going to include new and noteworthy projects in the construction phase that haven't (or almost haven't) been published. One of the perks of living in Los Angeles is that I often see these eye catching projects while driving around in my car. Let me rephrase that: because of the traffic in Los Angeles I am often sitting in my car and I am able to look at mostly hideous architecture, although sometimes credible and inspiring architecture too.
This condo building is almost completed with the exception of a few minor landscaping punch list items. As I stated before, I drove past this building and made a mental note to head back some day and take a gander with my camera. I knew that I would eventually write a blog entry, so it made sense.
The condo complex was designed by Kanner Architects, a well known firm of 20, located in Santa Monica, CA. They are familiar with condo design and it shows. They are known for certain project types with colorful a exterior and a softer, more neutral interior. Apparently the starting price, which might be subject to change in this economy, is $529,000. That's actually not too bad for LA. The only unfortunate part is the site - it's almost underneath the 405 freeway. We'll see how these sell off...
It's definitely a well done condo building. Have yet to see any floor plans...
All four facades have a smooth coat plaster finish, stainless steel windows, metal sills and metal coping. The depth and intricacy of the four facades is mainly achieved by the use of color and syncopated massing. Although the building is mainly a monolithic block, the solid and void interplay on the facade give it interest.
[Photos: The Exposition, 22 - Architectural Flex-space Condos; image source]
This last week, a representative from Rhodes Architectural Stone gave a lunch hour presentation that had a little more oomph than your average talk. Going against all expectations, this one hour talk about stone was definitely worth my time. He started off by giving some facts about the main architectural stones used today - limestone, sandstone, and granite - and then talked about water and how these stones react to it. He then shifted the talk to using the correct proportions for a stone, which was pretty subjective, depending on the project type and location. He stated that many architects get the proportions completely wrong when it comes to stone, giving the overall project a less credible appearance. An example of his was how a stone lintel should extend a bit beyond the opening to give it a realistic look. It sounds obvious, but then he supported it with a series of pictures showing how many noted architects get it wrong. He's absolutely right. From there he talked about the grain of the stone and how crucial it is to the cut and placement of the stone on a facade, patio, pool coping or any other use. He noted that H.H Richardson must have really understood stone, mainly because he understood the grain of stone. If the grain (esp. in limestone) is not taken into consideration when writing specifications then we leave that to the hands of the sub-contractor, who can and usually does get it wrong. In the case of limestone, if it's used on a facade with the grain running vertically, then it could slowly peel away over the years. Finally, he talked about how they specialize in reclaimed stone from all over the world. In some cases, the stone was taken from parts of China and is 2000 years old. Apparently the more orange patina a stone has (like granite, for example), the older it is. It was a very informative talk on a fairly mundane topic. Who knew?
Over the past 8 years the new look of rust in architecture has really begun to be accepted. Below are a few dynamic examples of the material.
In these tough economic times it is all too rare to see architectural proposals regardless of the scale of the project. With the economy digging what seems to be a never ending hole, it is tough to be an optimistic architect. I am feeling a bit nostalgic today - lets reminisce about good 'ole days of enthusiastic and confident developers willing to hire architects.
In 2008 MAD organized 11 architectural firms from all over the globe to contribute in a unique investigative experiment. The object was to design the Huaxi city center, located in Guiyang, China. The following is a small taste of the images and concepts that resulted:
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