Category Archives: Architecture

Art Deco in Hancock Park

July 14, 2014 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

100 N. Sycamore, Los Angeles, Art Deco Apartment Detail, Photo Romi Cortier

100 N. Sycamore, Los Angeles, Art Deco Lettering, Photo Romi Cortier

100 N. Sycamore, Los Angeles, Architectural Detail, Photo Romi Cortier

100 N. Sycamore, Los Angeles, Art Deco Entry Door, Photo Romi Cortier

Finding this Art Deco Apartment Building in Hancock Park was a pleasant surprise while taking an ‘alternative’ route to avoid road construction on my way to work. Yes, I’m one of those crazy Angelenos who gets impatient in traffic, especially when you’re given one blocks notice that the road ahead is under repair… which seems to be happening a lot these days. So to avoid the intersection of Beverly and LaBrea, I took a back route that led me onto Sycamore, just 1 block east of LaBrea (and yes I did my best to observe the posted speed limits signs and slow down for those horrible road bumps put in place for people just like me).

Shining like a beacon of light on my morning commute, I made a mental note to drive back there after work and take a few photos. I’ve seen this building in years past, but it looks better. Crisper. Cleaner. Whiter. My research shows that this Historical Apartment Building (LA Historical Cultural Monument 858) changed hands in June of 2012. Built in 1929, this apartment building has 13 units: 4 two-bedroom units and 9 one-bedroom units. Old photos I found online show peeling paint and stucco that needed repair. I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for anything deco and it warms my heart to see some of LA’s deco jewels being repaired and preserved. Just a few weeks ago we lost a commercial Art Deco building on N. La Brea avenue and Willoughby known as the Morgan, Walls and Clement Building, with little or no warning.

According to the buildings entry system, the property is managed by Essential Management at 310 625-9107. I couldn’t find any reviews on yelp for this building or the management company, at least not in regards to this building specifically. I did find a negative online review for Essential Management for a building in the San Fernando Valley, however, I have no idea if they’re the same people in charge of this building. None the less, I’m happy to enjoy her historic beauty as she celebrates her 85th birthday.

Architecture

The Changing Face of North La Brea

July 11, 2014 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

636 N. LaBrea, Photo Romi Cortier — 636 North La Brea, Photo Romi Cortier

1145 N. LaBrea, Photo Romi Cortier — 1145 North La Brea, Photo Romi Cortier

LaBrea at Santa Monica Blvd, Photo Romi Cortier — La Brea at Santa Monica Blvd, Photo Romi Cortier

Unless you’ve been living on another planet, it’s been hard to miss The Changing Face of North La Brea. After a torturous year or two of lane closures and nonstop construction, things are really starting to come together, and fortunately in a good way. As you know, not all facelifts are for the better, especially in this town.

I’d been avoiding going anywhere near La Brea, regardless of the time of day or night for ages. And then, one evening without thinking, I drove north from the 10, yes the 10, not the I-10. I felt disoriented as I crossed over Wilshire Blvd into a whole new world. It was as if La Brea had become the new Sunset Strip, the Sunset Strip minus the star seeking tourists and double parked limo’s. It was bustling in a new fun way, a way that made me feel old and out of the loop. It was time to get my groove on and start spending some time there.

I love the Streamline Deco inspired 636 N. La Brea with it’s porthole windows and saturated pastel tones. The tropical tones remind me of South Palm Beach in Florida. Happy. Playful. Spirited. I just hope the graffiti ‘artists’ leave it alone. This is also the kind of Art Deco inspired building that we should be seeing in the Miracle Mile, not the crap we’ve been getting sold as Deco that’s nothing more than communal architecture trying to please everyone. (do I dare name names?) My research shows that this may be the new residence of the Olympic Rehabilitation Center (please correct me if I’m wrong). It would make sense, as there’s a large parking lot in the back with a private walled off entrance. Additionally, their web site uses the same tones as this particular building, so they’re branding seems to be intact.

As for 1145 N. La Brea, It’s quite cool. Initially when I drove by I thought it looked like a dilapidated Guggenheim Museum. Then I realized the facade is just that, a facade, completely non structural. I also love the laser cut metal skin with the aqua walls behind it. They’ve also done a spectacular job of incorporating vertical florescent lights that seems to be a nod to the work of Dan Flavin. I remember seeing his Retrospective at LACMA in 2007 and loving the high impact of his work made from commercial lighting materials. According to wehoville.com this is a five-story 32-unit building of affordable housing, paid for through federal HUD funds and the City of West Hollywood’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Bravo for affordable, yet chic, housing.

And that interesting building on the corner of La Brea and Santa Monica… I was calling it the ‘eyelash‘ building until I snapped a couple of photos. Then I thought hmmm, looks a bit more like, well… like a Vajayjay to quote Opera. Wehoville.com reports this as a six-story, mixed use project with 12,800 square-feet of retail space and 184 apartments, 36 of which will be affordable housing units as well. (I’m curious to know what qualifies as ‘affordable’ in the city of LA and West Hollywood).

Lastly, I have to say that I love the use of Yellow on these commercial projects, its a nod to happier times and is a great color for sunny southern California.

Architecture, Decorative Arts

The Gilded Monuments of Paris

July 10, 2014 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

Courtyard at Palace of Versailles, Photo T. Zeleny — Cour d’honneur, Palace of Versailles, Photo T. Zeleny

Palace of Versailles, Court Yard Detail, Photo Romi Cortier — The Mask of Apollo Clock, Palace of Versailles, Photo Romi Cortier

Les Invalides, Paris, Photo Romi Cortier

Pont Alexandre III, Bridge Detail:Pegasus Being Led by Fame, Paris, Photo Romi Cortier

Paris Opera House Detail, Photo Romi Cortier — Paris Opera House Gilded Detail La Poesie (Poetry) , (Charles Gumery) Photo Romi Cortier

Paris, Bridge Detail, Photo Romi Cortier — Pont Alexandre III, Bridge Detail: Pegasus Held by the Fame of Combat, Paris, Photo Romi Cortier

Palace of Versailles, Gate Detail, Photo Romi Cortier — Royal Gate, Palace of Versailles, Photo Romi Cortier

The Gilded Monuments of Paris are easy to see while visiting the City of Lights, however, finding their proper names is a far more difficult task. It’s taken several hours of research to find the proper names for these exquisite works of art, that I so easily photographed while visiting in 2011. The good news is what I’ve learned while doing research.

The Royal Gate, which stands at the entrance to the cour d’honneur at Versailles, was replaced in 2008. At a price of 4 million British Pounds (about 7 million US Dollars), this replica took two years to recreate. Weighing 15-tons, it took a plethora of historians and top craftsmen to recreate Jules Hardouin-Mansarts original masterpiece from 1680 that was destroyed during the French Revolution.

Louis XIV (the 14th) who resided at the Palace of Versailles, was known as the Sun King. If you’ll take a closer look at the clock presiding over the cour d’ honneur, you’ll notice what looks like a face, framed by the sun. This was a reference to Louis XIV. Known as the Mask of Apollo, this clock marked the rhythm of the time with 3 bells that weighed from 209 pounds to over 2500 pounds. The bronze and embossed copper were regilded in 1999, with a newly approved ‘Royal Blue’ background approved by Versailles archives.

Les Invalides, officially known as L ‘Hotel national des Invalides (The National Residence of the Invalids) contains museums and monuments relating to the military history of France. The most famous detail about this building is who’s buried there. Napoleon Bonaparte, known as Napoleon I, was the Emperor of the French from 1804-14, and again in 1815. Napoleon died 6 years later of ‘stomach cancer’ while in exile. In 1840 his remains were moved to Les Invalides and encased in a tomb sculpted from blocks of red quartzite, in an open rotunda about 2 stories below street level. Therefore, when you walk into Les Invalides and look down over the railing… you’re quite literally bowing down to Napoleon in death.

The Palais Garnier, or Paris Opera House, was built by Charles Garnier during the Second Empire (1861-75). World famous for it’s opulence, this monumental structure is considered ‘typical’ Beaux-Arts. The gilded figure La Poesie (Poetry) sits atop the right Pavillion of the Opera House, and is matched by L’Harmonie (Harmony) on the left. Both are made of gilt copper electrotype.

And lastly, those gorgeous gilded statues known as “Fames” on Pont Alexandre III. Besides looking stunning, they’re very important stabilizing counterweights that support the bridges arch, without interfering with the views. There’s a total of 4, one for each corner, and they sit atop massive masonry socles. Watch the video below to learn more about this elegant bridge.

Architecture, Decorative Arts

Gates in the Hollywood Hills

July 8, 2014 romicortier@yahoo.com 2 Comments

Gate with 4 Diamonds, Photo Romi Cortier

South Western Styled Gate, Photo Romi Cortier

Photographing Gates in the Hollywood Hills was a passion of mine in the mid 1990’s. I lived in the Los Feliz section of the Hollywood Hills when I first moved to Los Angeles. I was so enamored by the gorgeous gates I’d see on my evening walks, that I thought I’d try photographing them with an old canon camera I got from my sister. One after another, my collection grew. Then I thought, why not publish a book?

As I talked to people about my idea, the reasons for NOT publishing a book were many: you need the home owners permission, you need the architects permission, you need the designers permission, coffee table books don’t make money anymore, they no longer make black and white film, everything is digital now. The list goes on, and the photographs get older. But what I find fascinating is that every time I pull these images out and look at them, they’re still exciting. There’s also something very refreshing about seeing these images in Black and White. It reminds me of Hollywoods Golden Era when things were more glamorous and less pedestrian.

I’ve heard rumors over the years about what celebrity might live behind which gate, but that’s irrelevant to me. What’s more interesting is Los Angeles’s culture of the gate. It’s like a calling card for the home, possibly indicating what you might find on the inside. Yet they always achieve the same thing, keeping unwanted guests out and giving homes perched on the edge of a cliff a modicum of privacy. I’ve shared a few of my favorites here, and I hope you enjoy them. If by chance you’re reading this, and one of these belongs to you and I’ve broken some law or crossed the line, please let me know. Otherwise I invite you to enjoy the beauty of these ‘total works of art’. Bravo to these amazing designers and architects.

Architecture

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum

July 2, 2014 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Photo Romi Cortier

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Ballroom, Photo Romi Cortier

PORTRAITS of the FALLEN MEMORIAL, Photo Romi Cortier

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Presidential Limousine, Photo Romi Cortier

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Presidential Helicopter, Photo Romi Cortier

The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum was host to The Portraits of the Fallen Memorial exhibition from May 10, 2014 – July 6, 2014.

I will admit that I was apprehensive about going to the Nixon Library to attend the Portraits of the Fallen Memorial exhibition. However, after spending the better part of the day touring the massive exhibits and beautiful grounds, I found it quite educational. I’ve decided that while this may be my first experience at a Presidential Library, it certainly won’t be my last. It was after all, a museum. A museum complete with gifts to President Nixon, clothing worn by First Lady Pat Nixon, campaign memorabilia, video footage… oh yeah, and of course those pesky watergate tapes. I may be a left leaning guy politically, but If I can’t keep an open mind, then I’m just another extremist.

The most poignant part of my experience at the Nixon Library was to see President Nixon‘s birthplace, and then understand the trajectory of his life that brought him full circle to his final resting place next to First Lady Pat Nixon, about 100 feet from where he was born. I was a bit startled to see their headstones, but I know it’s a sentiment my late mother would have loved, to be buried near her roses.

I also have to say that I love the pomp and circumstance associated with all things Presidential, regardless of party. To me, that’s simply being American. I loved seeing the Presidential Seal on the 1967 Presidential Limousine that carried Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter. Apparently it weighs as much as that Presidential Helicopter… all 11,000 pounds. In fact, the 1977 Guinness Book of World Records states that this is “the most expensive car ever built… cost for research, development and manufacturing was estimated at $500,000.” President Obama’s 2009 Cadillac Limousine is assumed to have cost $300,000. I would have guessed higher considering the expense of technology… maybe it’s made in China. (Oops, did I just say that?) Seriously though, if you live near a Presidential Library, or are considering visiting one, I highly recommend it. You’ll without a doubt be enriched by your experience. And if all else fails, attend a wedding at one. My research shows that this particular Presidential Library is a hot spot for weddings.

FYI – American Flag Protocol recommends our flag should lead, not follow, and should always be attached to the front right corner of an automobile, preferably the chassis.

Where Art Inspires Beauty