GREEN Tea

Another 'Green' facade has popped up. This one is in Culver City. Royal/T on Washington Boulevard is a So. Cal. incarnation of the popular Cosplay restaurants that originated in Tokyo as a part of the otaku culture and that include maid cafe's (Meido kafe) and butler cafes (shitsuji kassa) where the service staff dress as traditional maids or butlers. Inside, the space includes playful pieces by Takashi Murakami. The facade is uninterrupted fuzzy plastic green grass. The first significant artificial turfs were developed in the 1960s and AstroTurf was installed at the Astrodome in Houston in 1965. The quality and variety of synthetic grasses have increased dramatically in the last decade. Still, one wonders why it took so long to start applying it to the vertical surface of buildings.

Lighting UP

Bega has introduced an innovative line of in-ground luminaires using single watt LED lamps. The fixtures are entirely solar powered and need no external power source (obviating the need for costly routing of exterior power). With built-in light sensors, these fixtures automatically illuminate when darkness falls. They are intended for in-ground use but can be used on vertical surfaces though they are recommded for use on only south facing surfaces where they can be sufficiently charged by the sun.

Contemporary Temporary in Huntington

This temporary exhibit structure for Nike 6.0 was erected in the middle of SWAG alley at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington: an elegant and effective shade structure that included, among other features, the first Augmented Reality Slot Machine (seen in photo at right) designed by Total Immershion in conjunction with ad agency Wieden+Kennedy.

Hollywood Madame

The Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum at the corner of appears to be somewhat successful in its attempt "to complete the western end of Hollywood Boulevard ... and to make the space deferential to the existing landmark [Chinese Theater]." I attended a private event there recently in advance of the official public opening. Interestingly enough, though, the material presence of the building appears strongest on Orange Street where the flowing brick facade seems to suggest the notion of scultpting in wax.

"Green" Building

Memphis At The Beach Cafe and Bar opened in Manhattan Beach at the end of last month. The new restaurant/bar is addition to the family of Memphis restaurants that begain in 1995 in Costa Mesa with the original Memphis Cafe, created in the shell of a comdemned dive bar next to the Lab Anti Mall. I used to take refuge there on trips to the OC from the Bay Area. The Manhattan Beach addition designed by Poon Architects (the downtown CHAYA) belongs much more to LA and proudly advertises its 'green' aspirations.

Under the Pier

I found this amazing light effect under the Santa Monica Pier this weekend. A reminder of the power of light and shadow.

Soy Systems Samples

I just received samples from Greneker Solutions showing wall components mocked up at half scale. One of the samples is in their raw soy plastic (kind of yellow), the other is in their standard matte white finish, and the third in a glossy red. The forms are very crisp and solid.