Design and Architecture

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Redesigning the California dream Mar 05, 2020

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Would you choose to rent or own a condo in a multifamily building, or own a single family home?

If you are an Angeleno with the means, it is likely that you would choose the latter. After all, a house is a means to personal freedom, outdoor space, control over design choices, and accumulating wealth.

That deep desire for a house and yard -- and the protection of that type of home -- has been promoted since the founding of Los Angeles. But now it may be getting in the way of upzoning the region.

Can we make multifamily dwellings the new California dream?

Frances Anderton talks to Christopher Hawthorne, LA’s Chief Design Officer, about reaching the “missing middle” with innovative ideas about the design and financing of homes.

Paula Benson, movie design detective Feb 26, 2020

Show notes

Paula Benson says she is “a nightmare to watch a film with.” That’s because she’s always pausing the screen to check the decor, ponder who designed the furnishings and where to get them.

Daniel Libeskind at the ‘Edge of Order,’ Sunset Magazine, and Sound Baths Feb 19, 2020

Show notes

Why does an architect have to be like a “camel in the desert?” Daniel Libeskind explains why in a conversation about his new book “Edge of Order.” He also shares thoughts about maintaining hope following trauma, not working for dictators, and why everyone should tap into their inner architect.

Modernism Week in Palm Springs continues through Sunday with tours, talks, and a trip down memory lane to the heyday of Sunset magazine. Victoria Bernal recalls a childhood as a member of the “Sunset family” and says why the West needs a magazine that shares wisdom on everything from home design for California’s geography to how to “fish with a tire iron.”

And, can you cure bad sound with good sound? Kate Mishkin takes a sound bath at 1 Hotel and finds that “this is the exact right time for sound baths, because we are living in a society that's increasingly anxious and loud and chaotic.”

Frieze and the art fair effect; Lita Albuquerque at Desert X Al Ula Feb 11, 2020

Show notes

Desert X started in Coachella Valley, and now it’s in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. Los Angeles artist Lita Albuquerque shares why she chose to participate amidst a furor back home, saying she couldn't miss being in the country at a "historic moment" of dramatic change, especially for women.

Frieze LA is back for a second outing, bringing a bonanza of art fairs. But not all artists are excited about it. Aaron Axelrod says Frieze contributes to rising housing costs and is making the LA art scene "a little more snooty and less fun." Art critic Jonathan Griffin says the entire art community benefits from the blue chip fair.

Architecture in Parasite; Movie villain homes Feb 04, 2020

Show notes

The movie “Parasite” is favored for many Oscars, including production design. Director Bong Joon Ho talks about telling a story of class through architecture, saying he gets “pathologically excited and euphoric” when he finds a good space. Eui-Sung Yi, LA-based Korean-American architect, reflects on living in a semi-basement and why Korean-American designers love Bong’s movies.

And how is it that very bad movie villains have such great homes? Designer and author Chad Oppenheim talks about the highly alluring “lairs” of movie villains, from James Bond’s nemeses to Nathan Bateman and Dr. Strangelove.

Setting up shop at the Bradbury Building and Beverly Center Jan 28, 2020

Show notes

Two new projects are putting their own design or architectural twist on LA landmarks.

We visit the famed Bradbury Building in downtown -- a popular location for shooting films such as "Blade Runner." There’s a new tenant here: the coworking space NeueHouse. Avishay Artsy recaps the history of the Bradbury, and Frances Anderton talks to the company's CEO and the designer about moving into such a storied LA building.

And we visit the Beverly Center at the edge of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. Its new tenant is The Webster. We talk to the fashion retailer's founder, along with the designer, about brick-and-mortar retail in the internet age, and why place matters.

Cross Colours; Fast fashion’s hidden costs Jan 22, 2020

Show notes

Remember Cross Colours? The LA-based urban streetwear line was a hit in the early 90s, with bright, bold designs and uplifting messages about unity. Now the label is back, and the California African American Museum is celebrating with a retrospective that shows its impact on the mainstream fashion industry.

Plus, Forever 21 may not last forever. But the demand for cheap clothing has not gone away. Fashionopolis author Dana Thomas tells DnA about the human and environmental costs of fast fashion, and how we can slow it down.

New Hollywood royalty; Netflix goes solar; Santa Monica and well-being Jan 14, 2020

Show notes

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are stepping back from the British Royal Family. Will they become new Hollywood royalty? We look at the role Los Angeles may play in their lives, from shaping the couple’s influencer project to a being a possible new home.

New homes built in California must have solar panels. What does this mean for cost and design? We’ll get some clues from Epic, the new home of Netflix in Hollywood, that integrates solar panels into the facade of the building.

And, does one of the Southland’s most comfortable cities need to worry about its well-being? We talk to the woman in charge of Santa Monicans' quality of life.

Remembering “visual futurist” Syd Mead; hunting for vintage clothing at ThriftCon LA Jan 07, 2020

Show notes

Syd Mead envisoned vehicles, streetscapes and gadgets for Blade Runner, Tron, Aliens and many other films. He died December 30 at age 86. DnA pays tribute to this “visual futurist” who anticipated, and inspired, new technologies and the discipline of world building.

And used clothing is a hot fashion trend. But for some young shoppers, vintage means... the '90s. KCRW's Tyler Boudreaux reports from ThriftCon.

Can you design your way out of smartphone addiction? Dec 31, 2019

Show notes

Your smartphone is addictive. Do you need to “Marie Kondo” your apps, put down the phone altogether, or use it as a “drug” dispensary? DnA takes a tour of hidden LA bars that ban phones, talks with a computer scientist who recommends “digital minimalism,” and meets an app entrepreneur who wants to relieve anxiety with “digital drugs.”

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