Category Archives: Architecture

Urbanism: It Ain’t Rocket Science

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: The City of Los Angeles has been holding listening sessions the past few weeks on the revision of its zoning code. I haven’t been able to attend any of them, but if I did it would be … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged Los Angeles, urbanism, zoning | 5 Comments

A Tour of the Long Beach Civic Center

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: The architectural degradation of our government buildings during the 60s and 70s is both fascinating and depressing. What mass hysteria gripped the Establishment of the time? Did no one object? What can and should we do with the legacy … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged brutalism, civic architecture, civic center, Long Beach, modernism, our strain grows weaker, things that hurt my eyes and my soul | 43 Comments

“Urbanized” (2011)

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: The third volume in Gary Hustwit’s super SWPLy design series for the TED crowd — following his previous HELVETICA and OBJECTIFIED — I found this documentary only intermittently engaging. I enjoyed HELVETICA, which looked at 20th century … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Movies | Tagged Gary Hustwit, modernism, postmodernism, SWPL, urbanism | 12 Comments

Pasadena: Then and Now

Posted on July 6, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: In 1888, the city of Pasadena, CA built an opera house at a cost of $125,000 ($3.15 million in 2012 dollars). The design used the Moorish revival style, which was very popular at the time. The building was … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged art deco, Gordon Kaufmann, Moorish revival, Pasadena | 3 Comments

Eyesore of the Month: Carlos Slim’s Museo Soumaya

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Although it’s almost two years old (hey, gimme a break, I’m a little slow), I just discovered that billionaire crony capitalist Carlos Slim has built a museum in Mexico City to house his fine art collection. First, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art | Tagged blobitecture, Carlos Slim, Frank Gehry, Mexico City | 6 Comments

Design Coincidence?

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: On the top: the design for Apple’s new headquarters. On the bottom, the headquarters of Britain’s GCHQ, an intelligence agency that does electronic surveillance and is said to have links with PRISM. Are giant circles the shape … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Commercial art, Photography, Politics and Economics | Tagged Apple, architecture, surveillance state | 7 Comments

Linkage

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Shouting Thomas is having bear troubles. Have you noticed how many scientific and/or academic studies are done on toys? In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that some college is offering a degree in Barbie Studies. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Books Publishing and Writing, Linkathons, Movies, Music | Tagged Addison Mizner, Anita Loos, Armond White, Cormac McCarthy, Ernst Lubitsch, Film, Foseti, George Orwell, Lonnie Johnson, Matt Forney, movies, Wilson Mizner | 6 Comments

The Neon Museum

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: On a recent trip to Las Vegas, I visited the Neon Museum, where the ghosts of the city’s golden age haunt the Nevada desert. It’s a wonderfully photogenic, melancholy place and an essential stop the next time … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Commercial art, Photography, Travel | Tagged Las Vegas, neon, signage, typography | 12 Comments

Linkage

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Lesbians react to lesbian porn. Dennis Mangan discovers a group of traditionalist French women. Gucci Little Piggy spotlights some amusing (and somewhat phony looking) images of working mothers. Swooshiness! Reflectiveness! Transparency! Please save me from all … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Linkathons, Movies, Politics and Economics, Sex, Technology | Tagged chris marker, Film, Greta Garbo, Lars Hanson, lesbians, Mauritz Stiller, movies, Penn Station, Satyajit Ray | 3 Comments

De De Mollner’s Sunset Strip (With a Few Detours Along the Way)

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: After reading Paleo Retiree’s ultra-groovy interview with De De Mollner about her days as a go-go dancer in 60s L.A., I couldn’t help but wonder about some of the Sunset Strip locations she mentioned. A few of … Continue reading →