Los Angeles: Collections of Its Loose Things

Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles. -FLW // We are Architects and Designers. This is our collective diary of Los Angeles and its loose parts. Every month, we each focus on a different topic--whatever we want--in and of LA. We document it here as collections of loose things.

[laloosethings]

This ain’t your mama’s donuts. Unless your mother is named Maggie. 

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Cat update.

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Bank of America building. Uncomfortable alignment.

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In-N-Out Burger. Baldwin Park. 2/9/15 At the site of the original In-N-Out in Baldwin Park is a replica of this California iconic burger joint. You can actually take a tour of the tiny spot during the day, and across the street is the HQ and an operational store. Now your mouths are watering.

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Cha Cha Lounge. Silverlake. 2/8/15 Per the updated CBC, this sign must now be posted in a visible location at the entry of all buildings.

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Garfield Building. DTLA. 2/7/15

If you don’t look up, you’ll miss the Art Deco Garfield Building on 8th St. Built in 1928 and long since abandoned, it’s a building with so much potential, it’s sad to see it sit empty every day I pass by. Any buyers??

[laloosethings]

Los Angeles Theatre. DTLA. 2/6/15 Hidden in a dim, stinky service alley on 6th Street is an original marquee that used to light up Vegas-style, displaying the current act for passers-by. Maybe it will come to life again during Broadway's Renaissance?

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5th & Spring. DTLA. 2/5/15 Stephen Hawking couldn't figure out the parking signs in this city.

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Emerson College // Los Angeles // 20150204 // Nikon 1 J1

This building takes me back to grad school, back to DigiFab with Ferda. Coming here, I really hoped that it would be a “smart” facade, possibly operable (à la Morphosis)… But from what I could tell, in this orientation (facing East), it is purely decorative.

C.

P.S. Yes, I realized that some of my recent photos have been blue… Camera setting has been adjusted!

[laloosethings]

020415 This one comes from the corner of 8th and Broadway in DTLA. Something about the access to the roof got my attention.

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Jewelry Theatre Building. DTLA. 2/4/15 ...are forever! The side of the former 1920s Beaux Arts style Warner Bros. Theatre, now one of the many jewelry retailers in the district.

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The Fonda Theatre // Hollywood // 20150130 // Nikon 1 J1 

From afar, The Fonda is not at all impressive.  But come closer, look up, and there is a beautifully restored ceiling.  A reminder to myself to not judge too quickly.

C.

[laloosethings]

The Original Pantry Cafe. DTLA. 2/3/15

Open 24 hours! An LA Historic-Cultural Monument now owned by former mayor Riordan, my grandpa took my dad and his siblings here on Sundays as kids, and I used to go here all the time with my dad too. Heads up, cash only.

[laloosethings]

As has been mentioned by my fellow archies, the possibilities/topics are endless. So to kick off this project, I have decided to go with fire escapes for the month of February. The first one comes to you from the Trinity Auditorium/Embassy Hotel on the corner of 9th and Grand in DTLA. Something about this one has always captured my attention every time I have passed by.

[laloosethings]

I had to kick things off with one of my favorite downtown photos - a plethora of signage, architecture, and bicyclists enjoying the afternoon sun.  Ciclavia, circa 2013. 7th Street westbound in Downtown LA. 

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Spring Arcade Building. DTLA. 2/2/15

The 83 year old KRKD antenna on top of the gentrifying Spring Street Arcade Building. Recently saved from dismantling and repainted as an homage to a time when this building housed the radio station. The “Broadway Arcade Building” ghost sign adds a nostalgic touch. Look up at it next time you walk to get Guisado’s tacos.

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W Hollywood // 20150130 // Nikon 1 J1

It was so hard to commit to one topic for the month of February.  As soon as I thought of something that excited me, I thought of another, and then others.  In the last hour, I (finally) committed to focusing on the decorative elements that are often added to buildings.  For instance, in the building pictured above, there is not just one, but two metal “awnings.”  We see this all the time on contemporary (and typically residential) buildings.  We call them awnings but they don’t actually shield us from anything… aside from holding up the address numbers, they are purely decorative.  This month, I plan to discover and document old/new, good/bad ways to decorate our buildings.

C.