The Bradbury Building

My Nguyen

        The Bradbury Building is an architectural landmark located at 304 Broadway at West 3rd Street in downtown Los Angeles, California. Built in 1893, the building was commissioned by Los Angeles gold-mining millionaire Lewis L. Bradbury and constructed by draftsman George Wyman . From the outside, the appearance doesn't look like it was an old architecture but the Bradbury was one of the oldest building in the city. It is one of Southern California's most remarkable architectural achievements and on its way to becoming most prestigious office address. Also this building appears in many television shoots, music videos and movies " Blade Runner" in 1982  " 500 days of Summer" , one of the place that you should visit while it still there.

photo 1 by High smith, Carol M., 1946

         The style of the building was influence by Italian Renaissance Revival style, round arches entrance and lots of  windows with facade of brown bricks , highlight by cast stones and terra cotta detailing. These materials are very durable, they will keep the building stay the same for a long period of time. As we can see, the exterior building didn't change from the day it was build. Overall, the Bradbury building doesn't seem to be interesting from the outside until you walk inside , you will be amaze of the interior of the building.  According to Bradbury Building History by  Publicatina " To find beauty, Wyman turned the building inward upon itself. Except for the uncharacteristic restraint in ornamentation, there is nothing unusual about the Italian Renaissance exterior façade of brown brick and sandstone terra cotta. It is the beauty of the dazzling center court of its interior that has given the building its fame "

photo 2 by © Jim Shoemake

         Since Wyman want to turn the building inward, so the inside of the court will amaze you, make you  feel like you just went back hundred of years. The interior is the most significant part of the building. The narrow entrance lobby, with lot ceiling and minimal light, it make you fell like you walk into an alley with arched windows on the side that open to the light inspiring by the Cathedral.  After  you reach to the center court. There are five-story court with glaze and unglazed yellow and pink bricks, once again, bricks are very durable. The combination of the color remind me of the Renaissance building very casual , all the materials they use are long-lasting, because it didn't look worn out yet. On the top, there was polished wood with glass roof that allows the sunlight in to the court, so the space will fill with pure-natural light, also you can enjoy the sky and sun during the day. I think it was a brilliant idea, because you don't have to use artificial light, which will save a lots of energy. Glass and wood are reusable. This building using almost all the durable and sustainable materials

photo 3 by Kriskrob

        The building is fill with black ornamental cast iron, geometric patterned staircases and wrought-iron and polished oak railings are used  throughout the place. "The wrought iron decoration was made in France and first displayed at the Chicago World's Fair before installation in the Building. Even the mail chutes are tall poles of metal not supported by any wall. The walls are pale brick and the floors are Mexican tile with imported Belgian marble used in the staircases. Such was Bradbury's desire for quality that the rich wood paneling is even carried out in the basement." According to publicartinla. Since they make the rooftop with glass, so when the light come in, the court will bright up , you can see almost  every details in the wall or the black ornamental. Everything details in the building are so neat, that make you want to look at it all day. Also there are unique open-cage elevators which seem to be really interesting since you can watch the entire building as you move up and down. The elevator rise toward the roof and offices open onto the balconies surrounding the court.

         The building seem to stay very well by it self's, I believe that the materials they choose are very successful. Even though, the building was build in the 1800s, but the building remains it beauty, unique, enchanting and very long lasting. 

  

SOURCE

http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Bradbury_Building.html

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/01/business/fi-coversidetour1

http://www.dahp.wa.gov/styles/italian-renissance-revival

http://www.publicartinla.com/Downtown/Broadway/Bradbury/brad_hist.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradbury_Building#cite_note-jewel-12

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Studio Alexander Fehre

By Tiffany Le

(ArchDaily)

Location: Schorndorf, GermanyArea: 400.0 sqmYear: 2014Photographs: Zooey Braun

(ArchDaily)

"My idea was to put the showroom and conference table right into the heart of the office – the so-called Movet Workshop. The result is a generous room for the team and a down-to-earth and hands on showroom for the clients," said Fehre (Dezeen).

(Dezeen)

"This repetition, paired with an easy to handle surface material, makes the units cost-efficient, while resonating with the theme of industrial production," said the designer. (Dezeen)

"It is important that they feel comfortable and related to the industry they are working in," he said. (Dezeen)

        Studio Alexander Fehre was chosen to complete the most prestige representative office space that the company can adjoin that along with the warehouse. A savvy way to combine the different areas by still dividing the range of requirements in a limited space while retaining an open spacious feel. (ArchDaily) The company is based on an online website where they mainly promote and sell their products, the space was created for the employers but includes a showroom with conveyor-belt elements displayed on white shelves around the room to emphasis relations with the clients making them feel as if they are a part of the action.

         A long table with an oak-veneer top and coral lacquered legs sits in the middle of the space with copper and plaster lighting fixtures. Across the way with two rows of workstations are positioned at right angles to the window located at the very rear is the executive office behind a glass dividing wall that gives an allusion of open space feel.  It contains triangular furniture oak-veneered plywood and linoleum a complex way to not take away from the space as the storage cabinets with oak coated in a ceramic-laquer that combines the joints together to give a seamless finish to perceive an open plan space as a whole. The eyes shift from the carpet surface below the individual desk and storage areas with their unusual triangular shape as it moves up into the ceiling while acoustic foam baffles are used in between the wooden ceiling beams creating a pattern that portrays the furniture and metal mesh. Keeping with the industrial aesthetic design using metal lights dangling upon the conference table as guest are immediately integrated into the office with engagement within the whole area. While using a mesh metal sheet separating the space while embarking to still feel open. It’s used in the most efficient way although it isn't completely solid it’s a genius way to separate the space without closing it in. 

          The carpeting is made from carpet tiles, which can be returned to the manufacturer to be completely recycled after being use a great use of sustainable feature (Dezeen). The choice of wooden furniture tones down the ridged industrial look when it combines with the triangular desk placed in the working area with clean contemporary lines. A mirrored wall at the end of the corridor conceals a storage space to tricking the eye with a reflection of believing the space is bigger than it appears. Along with using things that were inexpensive Fehre takes it to a way that you wouldn't be able to tell with the great design aesthetic that was put into his work. The idea of the space is its constant eye shifting moments from when you first enter and the moment you leave as its unique design is hard to forget. The contemporary furniture designs with ecstatic use of multi-use of metal work gives the space the perfect about of industrial without going overboard.

Work Cited:

“How We Work” AlexanderFehre. Acessed 02 Nov 2014. www.alexanderfehre.de/INFO

"Movet Office Loft Interior Design / Studio Alexander Fehre" 05 Nov 2014. ArchDaily. Accessed 05 Nov 2014. http://www.archdaily.com/?p=560519

“Alexander Fehre designs Industrial-Style Office for a German Conveyor-Belt Manufacturer” 18 Oct 2014. DeZeen. Jessica Mairs. Accessed 02 Nov 2014.

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Kirk Kapital A/S’ Building

By  Zhiyi Liu

  

  

Artist Olafur Eliasson has designed fort-like headquarters to rise out of the sea for a Danish investment company.

Located in the harbor-side town of Vejle, the building  have a curved brick facade with sliced oval recesses. It is accessed from the marina via a new footbridge.

  

  

 

Kirk Kapital A/S’s offices occupy the upper floors of the building, while a publically accessible cafe and gallery are situated on the ground floor. Studio Olafur Eliasson is also collaborating with architects Lundgaard & Tranberg and landscape architects Vogt on a masterplan for the entire marina, which will be complete by 2016.

The building is asymmetric. The outside is covered by dark brown bricks. By contrary, the windows are all curving glass without frames.

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Aria Resort and Casino 

Las Vegas, NV

By Julie Sarantapoulas

                The Aria Resort and Casino is one of the newest hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, opening in 2009 as part of CityCenter.  Designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, it spans 6.1 million square feet and reaches 600 feet tall.  CityCenter was carefully designed with sustainability in mind and Aria is the largest hotel to ever accomplish a Leed Gold rating.   

                                                                     

                I have had the opportunity to stay at the Aria on two occasions and experience its cutting edge design firsthand.  As a guest, your first view is the expansive lobby.  This is when you realize that this hotel is unlike most other Las Vegas hotels.  The ceiling is made up of wood beams and glass windows, allowing sunlight to flood the room and minimizing the need for artificial light during the day.  Real trees line the lobby, which add to the naturalistic design aesthetic.  Air vents are cleverly hidden under benches so you don’t have to see them on the wall or floor.  This also reduces energy consumption because cool air toward the ceiling is wasted.  The guest rooms are just as airy.  The entire façade is glass, which lets a lot of light into the room.  When you first open your door, the window shade automatically opens by moving along an electronic track.  My favorite feature is that you can set the shade as an alarm clock and wake up to the sun. 

                                                                      

                This is the entrance to the Aria Café Vettro.  The designers have done an impressive job of making ordinary, sustainable materials look modern and trendy.  Glass is considered renewable because it is usually made with recycled material.  Rocks are used in the display and if you look closely, you can see that the stepped wall behind the glass cylinders also contain rocks.  Behind the frosted glass, they take on a polished look.  The rocks were actually taken from the remnants of the Boardwalk Hotel, the previous occupant of this site.    

                                                                       

                This is from the Crystals shopping center which is attached to the hotel.  Upstairs on the way to the tram station, there are lights in several different colors illuminating the area.  The play of colored light against the geometric shapes of the architecture is stunning.  As you walk through the area, the lights and angles continually change, creating a different view in every direction. 

                                                                       

                Here is a view of the Crystals mall from the top.  It is an upscale shopping center with designer stores such as Cartier and Versace.   The building is just as stylish as the brands within it.  The floor is an intricate pattern with inlaid wood.  All of the wood used in the building is FSC certified, which ensures that forests are not depleted as a result of construction.  When you look closer, you can see small stones and quartz embedded in the floor and staircase.  Each storefront is unique and adds to the overall design of the building.  There are stores with colored glass, metal, backlit displays, and decorative lighting.  This all adds up to make sightseeing just as fun as the shopping itself. 

                                                                

                This last picture displays some of the original and quirky design that can be found throughout Aria.  This is called “Glacia” and the pillars are made of ice.  According to a sign accompanying the fountain, the core of each pillar is kept at negative 5 degrees Fahrenheit.  The columns re-freeze after about 36 hours and then water jets sculpt the pillars. 

                A few more words about the sustainable features involved in the Aria.  It is the first hotel on the strip to generate some of its own electricity through natural gas.  About 40 percent of water in the building is conserved, which equates to about 50 million gallons per year.  The showers are pressurized, which allow them to use less water without a noticeable difference.  It has its own stretch limos which run on clean-burning compressed natural gas.  The list goes on and on.  More information can be found at the following sites:

               

http://pcparch.com/project/aria-resort-and-casino/detail

http://aria.hyatt.com/en/hotel/news-and-events/awards/leed-gold-certification.html

                The Aria Hotel and Casino is an inspiration to designers who want to build for the future.  The environment was considered in every aspect of its construction all while maintaining the highest level of comfort and aesthetics.  

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The OC Mix Mart

The OC Mix Mart

by Jennifer Shaffer

 

The OC Mix Mart was created in 2010 by the Burnham Group USA. It is like a giant indoor bazaar of individual stores selling different wares. Andrea and Russell Young wanted to create an area that was more unique and they did just that with the giant warehouse building for just pennies on the dollar. My friend Sarah Dowdell was one of their first proprietors; I used to buy clothes from her out of their home. Back then her store was called Birdstreet. Her store at the OC Mix Mart is called Deer Lovely.

When you walk into “The Mix” you see that the floor is large, expansive polished concrete throughout.  Their main sitting area has two long grey fabric sofas facing one another and two large chair and a half’s flank either side of the sofas. It creates a very home-like environment.  Around the sofa sitting area there are smaller café tables with chairs and of course what hipster place doesn’t have a huge community table?  They have one!

The long rectangular coffee table looks like it is made from reclaimed wood that is pallet-like. There are several oversized chartreuse pendant lamps randomly hung from scaffolding directly above the living room-type area.  Everything about the warehouse is exposed. There are no areas that are dry walled except maybe between the shops.  The whole building is surrounded with large glass and aluminum windows.  There is a large glass garage door style opening off of the tea room, that opens to a partial wooden gazebo that makes the outdoor seating for the tea room private.  The cubicle-style stores are separated by thin walls that are paneled with what looks like reclaimed wood.  The fronts of the stores are large glass sliders.  I love how this looks, you can see products and the natural sunlight from the windows makes everything visible. There is another large sitting area on the other side of the warehouse with pleather sofas and more reclaimed coffee tables. The outside of the property is a sight to see.  It is landscaped with mostly drought tolerant succulents, but there is some tropical vegetation as well.  The walkways are gravel in some areas and concrete in others. They are juxtaposed and set in asymmetrical fashion which makes the landscaping so interesting.  Outside there is also a large sitting area with giant Adirondack chairs, stainless steel cage tables and a large fire pit filled with concrete balls.  The red umbrellas add a dash of color to the outdoor area without overwhelming it.  There are also long wooden benches for additional seating outside. 

The Portola Coffee has the most interesting lighting.  The antique style glass pendants compliment the antique coffee makers they use the brew the coffee.  The green accents of the coffee shop coordinate with the large chartreuse pendant lamps in the adjacent living room area.  The tea shop has a grouping of three lights that are created using top hats at their front counter.  The tea shop is also painted in a dark grey and Ferrari yellow.   It stands out in decorating as most of the “Mart Mix is neutral and natural in color.  It also has a long community table surrounded by the same Ferrari yellow chairs.  The cheese shop takes advantage of its large glass partitions and downplays interior by using mostly lighter recycled type woods to display their cheeses. 

I think the Burnham’s did an excellent job in turning a large dirty warehouse into a functional indoor mall.  I go there regularly for coffee, tea or a visit with my friend at her shop.  It feels welcoming, and not stuffy because the materials that are used are casual, and mostly reclaimed.  When it rains I know I’ll be comfortable inside. When it’s sunny I always know I can enjoy the outdoor area, have and iced tea and let the kiddos run around.

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Cucina Enoteca

Sustainable design restaurant

Cucina Enoteca 

By: Nancy Wei and Judy (jungin jang)

 

 

 

Cucina Enoteca is located in Irvine Spectrum, which opened in December 2011. This is an Italian restaurant that  interiors include a modern kitchen combined with the history and comfort of an old rustic country farmhouse. The restaurant is two stories with high ceilings on the ground floor and an open-air deck on the second story that overlooks the surrounding neighborhood.  Whimsical expressions of Italian classics coupled with a strong Californian influence. A diverse menu of affordable dishes, mostly below $20, comprising of the freshest local produce, and organic and sustainable products.

    The owner Tracy Borkum is also the head designer of this restaurant. Borkum collaborates on the design with craftspeople and artists mostly in local Southern California for the customized furniture and décor. We can feel the strong passion for sustainable designs, green materials and environmentally-efficient projects in this restaurant. Every product provide comfortable atmosphere that offer a sense of history for the goods consumed there. Through carefully-considered interior design elements,  Cucina offers the conscious consumer a new sense of the goods they choose to purchase and support. 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 There are two walls that use recycled wood for coverings. But this is not a simple wall covering job, the recycled wood is formed into tiles giving both walls two different layers of texture. Achieving more movement and activity, they choose a blackboard on the top of the wall. They can use chalk to paint on it, it’s easy to change and clean. The whole process doesn’t waste too much resources. The ceiling is the original architecture ceiling, Tracy Borkum wants to keep the industrial ceiling in tact. Floor is terrazzo which is one of the original recycled products available. As green and sustainable architecture becomes increasingly important, terrazzo’s characteristics of longevity and use of recycled materials remain strong assets. Especially the the shoes molding decoration on one wall is a focal point in this restaurant. For that design, Borkum collected the shoes forms at flea markets and hung them on the wall. 

     Not only does Cucina sell delicious italian food with wine — they go a step further with an interior replete with sustainably-designed furnishings. You can buy most of their furnitures online. Items for sale include chairs, dining tables and pendants light. They  are all designed by local designers.

    The  white chairs are made by faux leather and burlap which are from used coffee burlap sacks. It’s designed by Borkum and made by Chula Vista fabricator Javier Estrada. Each one is different and unique, no two chairs are exactly the same and each one make for interesting and inspiring art piece. The dining tables are bronze topped with turned recycled wood legs and made by Del Mar artist Jennifer Price. The vastly different materials create very interesting texture and contrast. The smooth metal top helps with resisting heat and ease of cleaning. The wooden legs help the table fit in with the rustic style of the restaurant.The orange wire Bend chairs are designed by Los Angeles designer Gaurav Nanda. It made from recycled iron. The bar stool is made by a walnut wood and recycled metal frame. walnut is a soft wood and over time will show inherent wear. Other outdoor chairs all use recycled metal, they will create a rustic feeling. The Small Lotus Floor Chandelier is made from individually hand-cut capiz shells, edged in silver metal and assembled like a stained-glass window to create these blooming lotus chandeliers.The shells came from California beaches. Local products, easy  to transport, which is sustainable.

    The Cucina described the playful look, including a colorful mural by graffiti artist Tokayo, as a mix of old and new. In doing this, Borkum got addicted to flea markets and have met some interesting local artists. Tracy Borkum made a conscious effort to choose sustainable materials and products and made from local market and artists rather than buying something from a catalog. So every design is unique and special. The reaction from customer has been very positive. You can't stop turning your head to find new interesting things in this restaurant, so you can realize the designer accomplished something unique and wonderful by sustainable materials and products.



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UCSD Health Sciences Research Facility

UCSD Health Sciences

Biomedical Research Facility in La Jolla

By Dylan Ford

 

            UCSD has a new 196,000-square-foot Health Science Biochemical Research Facility, which is expected to receive LEED Platinum Certification.  The first thing you notice, once entering into this seven story interaction space, is the cast-in-place concrete staircase.  Concrete was a great decision for the staircase because this durable material doesn’t need too much maintenance.  To keep its appearance looking new I would make sure to seal it every 9 months or so and use mild cleaning agents while mopping.  This staircase includes frosted glass panels with LED, lighted handrails.  The LED lighted glass panels are done in a vertical repetitious pattern which can be seen throughout the lobby, drawing your eyes up to the top floor.   This concept is aesthetically appealing and adds a good variation of contrast in textures to this space.  As for the materials used, LED lighting is the way to go, with its minimal electrical usage and variations in colors.  The glass is a good material because it is low maintenance and upkeep, however it may be more susceptible to scratches and possible breaking if hit forcefully.  Putting both of these materials together creates a nice light source and a barrier wall for this staircase.   

 

 The balconies are enclosed with rift-sawn white oak wood panels and guardrails.  This type of manufactured wood is great for straight flat surfaces and has an interesting natural look to it.  Unfortunately, this style of manufactured wood is less sustainable on the environment because it produces more waste in the manufacturing process than other styles of sawn woods.  Due to the waste, this makes it a more costly material to purchase.

  The lobby is covered in gray-tone granite tile and California chestnut hardwood flooring. These floors will be plenty strong enough to withstand heavy foot traffic and the color will show less dirt and ware throughout the years.  The Granite is a nice natural product which is more expensive than other possible floor materials, but is a good choice for this space.  The California Chestnut wood chosen is known to be extremely hard and comes in a rich cinnamon brown color, which is perfect for the lobby of this building.  All of the building materials were selected for low-VOC emissions and recycled content. Even majority of the wood used in this project was FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. This building was constructed with great materials and products which aren’t just environmentally-friendly, but are also strong enough to handle wares and tares of a college campus.

REFERENCES:

http://www.greenmtwood.com/california-chestnut-flooring.html

http://flooring.about.com/od/Flooring-Pros-And-Cons/a/An-In-Depth-Look-At-Concrete-   Flooring.htm 

http://www.meisterloglumber.com/mll/rift-quarter-sawn-hardwood-lumber

http://www.mccarthy.com/ftp-ucsd-health-sciences-biomedical-research-facility

 

 

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