(image credit: Michael Weschler for The New York Times)
Another great article on urbanity in Los Angeles from the New York Times. This time the Times looks at the freewheeling design and build atmosphere of Venice, focusing specifically on the One Window House designed and occupied by the married couple behind Touraine Richmond Architects. Venice gets fêted by the Times for its continued kookiness - in the face of gangs and Bill Rosendahl - which has continued to produce cool homes on small lots.
Once a backwater of tattoo parlors and beachside bodybuilders, Venice has become a percolating design district with a growing inventory of adventurous homes on narrow lots. Much of Frank Gehry’s early work was in Venice, and he is building a highly anticipated home for himself three blocks south of the One Window House. “This is a real laboratory,” Ms. Richmond said, “especially for young architects.”
The article notes that prices in the once affordable Venice neighborhoods have continued to rise, making a once affordable neighborhood much less so. Young architects with trust funds still welcome, we suppose.
· A 180° View of a Hotbed of Housing Design [NY Times]