Norms Restaurant on LaCienega Boulevard has stood as an increasingly rare example of space-age Googie architecture since 1956. But maybe no more. Last week, L.A.’s Department of Building and Safety gave the diner’s owners permission to raze it. This same week, we found out that sci-fi author Ray Bradbury’s home in Cheviot Hills, where he lived for more than 50 years, has been knocked down by new owner and celebrity architect Thom Mayne. Why isn’t L.A. more stringent about preserving its iconic buildings?
