A Weekly Dose of Architecture Books

Getty Center Garden in Los Angeles, California by Robert Irwin, 1997 Since its completion in 1997, the Getty Center in Los Angeles, California, has received much press and praise, primarily centering on Richard Meier 's building designs. Equally important, though not afforded as much attention, is the landscape around the buildings, particularly the Central Garden by artist Robert Irwin. If any aspect of Irwin's design has received attention, it has been the tension between Meier and the artist over the latter's credibility and eventual design of the garden. At over 130,000 square feet, the garden plays a major role in linking the buildings while also drawing attention away from them. It is this aspect, and Meier's desired cont...

L.A. Eyeworks in Los Angeles, California by Neil Denari, 2002 Neil Denari 's first built work in his hometown of Los Angeles, California, the store/showroom for L.A. Eyeworks , furthers the architect's exploration of surface and form found in his unbuilt work . The main idea of continuous surfaces utilizing multiple functions starts at the front door of the 1,250 sf store, as a low bench rises up to an LED display and further wraps to become the stores primary signage. A renovation of an existing two-story building, the store keeps the upper, curved portion of the facade which wraps the corner between Martel and the main entry of Beverly Boulevard. Although the primary reason in keeping the stucco facade was for zoning requirements, the co...

Women's Library in London, England by Wright & Wright Architects, 2002 Although not an award winner by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) proper, Wright & Wright Architects' Women's Library in London, England was chosen by the RIBA Journal as the "Building of the Year". While the last Stirling Prize was given to a pedestrian bridge, a structure expressing technology and engineering, this library on Old Castle Street is a quiet masonry container with internal subtleties rather than extroverted flair. The contrast between the two projects is indicative of much contemporary British architecture: light or heavy. This simplification is not to detract from either work, but to place the Women's Library in a tradition of building in British architecture that is solid and rewarding. The library sits on the ...

Colorado Court in Santa Monica, California by Pugh + Scarpa, 2001 Extensively published since its completion in 2001, the Colorado Court Apartments in Santa Monica, California by hometown architect Pugh + Scarpa , embody that state's commitment to environmental responsibility. At the same time, the project goes beyond the standards set by Califronia to make the building and its residents completely independent in terms of energy consumption. In the architect's words the building uses many passive, environmental strategies, including: "locating and orienting the building to control solar cooling loads and exposure to prevailing winds; shaping the building to induce buoyancy for natural ventilation; designing windows to maximize daylighting; shading south facing windows and minimizing west-facing glazing; designing window...