I’m giving this a “like” but not because I actually like this project. It’s one of the worst that Metro has come up with — an almost entirely street-running LRT line with speeds barely faster than a brisk walk, with service that half-duplicates the Sepulveda Subway.
Good to see this art deco gem getting a new lease of life.
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Some of us have been discussing Brutalism on the Metropolitan Life building thread. What would one call the style of Eric Owen Moss, specifically the Wrapper building in Culver City? Unfortunately I do not know how to transfer articles but there are notable ones from The Guardian and Urbanize LA for those who are not familiar with this building or Moss’s style. Seems to me he has taken Brutalist and put it on its head. So to speak.
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That’s a great question. The LA Conservancy refers to his style as “postmodern” and “contemporary” which to me both totally fail to capture EOM’s very specific style.
Some core examples for those who aren’t familiar:
Samitaur
Vespertine
As discussed in the other thread, the key tenets of brutalism are exposed raw materials, and a rejection of both Miesian functionalism and old world tradition — in those regards, it’s a great category for EOM’s work.
On the other hand, the collage-y, tacked-together materials, and almost organic curves and bulges, don’t really fit the blockier, simpler brutalist archetypes.
Maybe something like Expressionist Brutalism?
The large use of concrete does not explicitly mean that something is brutalist, it’s the roughness and geometry used in it that determines if it is brutalist architecture. That is why architects such as Tadao Ando are not considered brutalist architects.
EOM’s architecture is considered deconstructivism and slight postmodern.
Oh there it is. Deconstructivism is the perfect word for it.
Thanks, that’s great. Would the Wrapped tower fit deconstructivism? The wrapped idea with huge protruding stairs seems very different from the above photos. Would you please post photos of the Wrapped building, especially the side with the stairs and the large blank concrete walls. I wish I wasn’t such a computer tech idiot!
The (W)rapper building is still considered deconstructivist style architecture. Deconstructivism covers a broad array of postmodern and modern architecture that simply translates to the fragmentation of order and the random manipulating of forms and volumes.
Credit
Thank you TKDV, crazy, don’t think it will age well.
Most stuff built today will be torn down in the next 300-400 years, meanwhile things like Norte Dame will still be around.
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Two municipalities in Los Angeles County have both seen their new tallest buildings recently proposed.
West Hollywood, CA
1000 North La Brea Avenue
34 floors
377 feet
514 apartments
Glendale, CA
601 North Brand Boulevard
Two 36-story buildings
380 feet
858 apartments
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Update:
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