Architecture

UCLA’s cityLAB has launched a design competition where contestants can submit proposals for low-cost, easy-to-build starter homes on vacant city-owned lots.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

A historian takes readers on a visual tour of buildings torn down from the 19th and 20th centuries in “ Los Angeles Before The Freeways: Images of an Era 1850-1950 .”

from KCRW Features

Nothing says “Los Angeles lifestyle” quite like a house in the hills. For one couple, the appeal is enough to make rebuilding a certainty in spite of the fire risk.

Altadena couple plans to rebuild in danger zone with no reservations

Nothing says “Los Angeles lifestyle” quite like a house in the hills. For one couple, the appeal is enough to make rebuilding a certainty in spite of the fire risk.

from KCRW Features

Hollywood Forever Cemetary’s new, five-story-tall mausoleum will be able to store the remains of tens of thousands of people.

Hollywood Forever’s new mausoleum is for both the dead and the living

Hollywood Forever Cemetary’s new, five-story-tall mausoleum will be able to store the remains of tens of thousands of people.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

After the 2018 Woolsey Fire destroyed Gary Scott’s Malibou Lake home, he rebuilt a smaller and more fireproof house on the same land.

After Woolsey Fire, this music composer built his dream house

After the 2018 Woolsey Fire destroyed Gary Scott’s Malibou Lake home, he rebuilt a smaller and more fireproof house on the same land.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Using film, models, music, and costumes, artist and futurist Liam Young envisions a world where everyone on earth lives together in a single city.

‘Views from Planet City’ imagines climate-friendly megapolis

Using film, models, music, and costumes, artist and futurist Liam Young envisions a world where everyone on earth lives together in a single city.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

In the aftermath, LA Conservancy and others are navigating how to preserve history when the historical landmarks themselves are gone.

LA fires: How to preserve history when the buildings are gone?

In the aftermath, LA Conservancy and others are navigating how to preserve history when the historical landmarks themselves are gone.

from KCRW Features

Architectural historian Erik Ghenoiu and his architect wife made their home more fire-resistant, and they were active in community fire mitigation efforts.

Architectural historian lost his Altadena home. How will he rebuild?

Architectural historian Erik Ghenoiu and his architect wife made their home more fire-resistant, and they were active in community fire mitigation efforts.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

LA spends tens of millions of dollars settling sidewalk injury lawsuits each year. But the city says that actually fixing the sidewalks would cost more.

Why can’t Los Angeles fix its broken sidewalks?

LA spends tens of millions of dollars settling sidewalk injury lawsuits each year. But the city says that actually fixing the sidewalks would cost more.

from KCRW Features

A new documentary explores the life and work of Rudolph Schindler, a Frank Lloyd Wright protege who cemented California as a global hub for modern architecture.

Rudolph Schindler: LA architect defined SoCal modernism

A new documentary explores the life and work of Rudolph Schindler, a Frank Lloyd Wright protege who cemented California as a global hub for modern architecture.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

This morning’s earthquake is a reminder of the importance of retrofitting buildings. The LA Times discovered the city has had trouble reporting accurate data on this.

Does City of LA have good data on whether buildings were retrofitted?

This morning’s earthquake is a reminder of the importance of retrofitting buildings. The LA Times discovered the city has had trouble reporting accurate data on this.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Crews set to begin dismantling historic Wayfarers Chapel

Palos Verdes landslide leads to removal of Wayfarers Chapel

Crews set to begin dismantling historic Wayfarers Chapel

from KCRW Features

Actor Chris Pratt razed an architecturally significant house. Another wealthy homeowner wants to demolish Marilyn Monroe’s former home. What are LA’s historic preservation rules?

The complicated process to preserve LA’s landmarks

Actor Chris Pratt razed an architecturally significant house. Another wealthy homeowner wants to demolish Marilyn Monroe’s former home. What are LA’s historic preservation rules?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Construction has begun in Agoura Hills on the world’s largest wildlife road crossing. How do you get animals to cross over the busy 101 freeway?

Will animals cross one of the nation’s busiest freeways?

Construction has begun in Agoura Hills on the world’s largest wildlife road crossing. How do you get animals to cross over the busy 101 freeway?

from KCRW Features

Expansions of The Broad museum and the Colburn School represent investments in the arts on Grand Ave. Neither design is oriented toward drivers or parking.

Museums, concerts, and no driving? Grand Ave enters new era

Expansions of The Broad museum and the Colburn School represent investments in the arts on Grand Ave. Neither design is oriented toward drivers or parking.

from KCRW Features

A Malibu mansion and a humble home in Ventura have something in common: Their carbon emissions are net-zero. Is this the next trend in home building?

Zero-carbon homes exist. Can you really live in one?

A Malibu mansion and a humble home in Ventura have something in common: Their carbon emissions are net-zero. Is this the next trend in home building?

from KCRW Features

The 366-foot-tall Vegas entertainment orb known as Sphere is drawing crowds for its U2 residency. West Hollywood and Santa Monica are exploring building similar structures.

Vegas Sphere inspires offshoots in LA

The 366-foot-tall Vegas entertainment orb known as Sphere is drawing crowds for its U2 residency. West Hollywood and Santa Monica are exploring building similar structures.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

A 300-year-old Shōya house from Japan was meticulously disassembled and shipped to the Huntington in San Marino, then put back together. The process took eight years.

Shōya house: Step into 18th-century rural Japan at the Huntington

A 300-year-old Shōya house from Japan was meticulously disassembled and shipped to the Huntington in San Marino, then put back together. The process took eight years.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

LA’s iconic hillside stilt houses have been destroyed in many disaster movies, but in real life, they offer residents a thrilling perch in the clouds.

LA’s stilt houses attract disaster film directors, peace-seeking residents

LA’s iconic hillside stilt houses have been destroyed in many disaster movies, but in real life, they offer residents a thrilling perch in the clouds.

from Greater LA

Mel’s Drive-in Restaurant in Santa Monica is an example of Googie architecture: a retro futuristic style featuring stretched roofs, large glass windows, and neon signs.

Googie architecture: All eyes are on Mel’s Drive-in at end of Route 66

Mel’s Drive-in Restaurant in Santa Monica is an example of Googie architecture: a retro futuristic style featuring stretched roofs, large glass windows, and neon signs.

from Greater LA