/  by Thomas DeVoss

mobylosangelesarchitecture:

when i was growing up in new york and connecticut i imagined california as looking like this. palm trees and architecture that looked nothing like the center hall colonials of connecticut or the tenements and skyscrapers of nyc.

and then when i first started coming to l.a i was amazed that this was a CITY but that people primarily lived in houses. and granted, many of the houses in l.a are kind of ugly and beige.

but then there are these perfect little jewel box mid century houses, reminding me of my post-adolescent l.a/california visions. and i guess one could argue that architecturally these mcm houses aren’t as arbitrary as norman castles or swiss chalet in the desert.

i mean, architecture like this opens itself to the outdoors but keeps the sun at bay when necessary. and it has the quasi-privacy screen, sort of saying ‘well, we like our privacy, but it’s ok if you peek a little bit’. the paradox of exhibitionist privacy.

-moby

/  by Thomas DeVoss

“Designed by a renowned team of Parisian Atelier Jean Nouvel in collaboration with Australian firm PTW Architects, One Central Park in downtown Sydney has received some high recognition in just the past few weeks alone.

The project was recently named the Best Tall Building for the Asia + Australia region in CTBUH’s 2014 Best Tall Buildings, shortlisted in the World Architecture Festival Awards, and received a Commendation in the NSW Architecture Awards 2014.”

-http://www.bustler.net/index.php/article/atelier_jean_nouvel_ptw_architects_award_winning_one_central_park_in_sydney/

/  by Thomas DeVoss

mobylosangelesarchitecture:

i was out hiking today and i came across this perfect little a-frame house.

whenever i see perfect little a-frame houses i think of record producers in the mid 70’s reading about est and sitting in the hot-tub thinking about how best to record background vocals for the doobie brothers.

they seem quintessentially californian, the perfect home in which to make lentil stew for robert plant and melanie. which is odd. odd because with their super pitched roofs they’re designed for alpine climates where it snows 8 months out of the year. further re-inforcing the idea that almost all architectural vernacular in southern california is arbitrary. awesome, but arbitrary.

swiss chalets in a place where it never snows? down the street from normal castles and center hall new england colonials?

delirious los angeles.

-moby

/  by Thomas DeVoss

luxuryaccommodations:

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A pioneering project initiated by AKA Beverly Hills hotel in collaboration with Airstream 2 Go, AKA Mobile Suite invites guests to explore the beautiful coast of California from the comfort of a sleek airstream trailer. Dubbed the world’s first luxury mobile suite, this dapper hotel room on wheels features AKA signature comforts and swank leather interiors accented with colorful pieces by L.A. fashion designer Trina Turk. In addition to its comfy bedroom, fully-equipped kitchen, luxuriously appointed living area and plush bathroom stocked with Bulgari toiletries, the airstream packs everything you need for outdoor adventures, from gas grill and camping chairs to AKA bikes available for rent.

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