8150 Sunset Boulevard
(Image copyright Visualhouse)
In August 2016, developers Townscape Partners unveiled design concepts by the legendary architect Frank Gehry for a mixed-use development at 8150 Sunset Boulevard – on Los Angeles’ iconic ‘Sunset Strip’.
Gehry’s plan, one of several design alternatives proposed by Townscape for the site, features five interrelated and complementary structures, including two residential buildings, as well as distinct buildings and green spaces for retail, entertainment, and public gathering.
The Gehry plan addresses specific design needs for the 8150 Sunset Boulevard site, including the desirability of creating welcoming pedestrian spaces between the buildings, keeping the Sunset Boulevard street front height low - to relate in scale to other buildings in the area - and optimising views of the city from the two residential structures.
This is in contrast to the traditional view of such developments as residential towers on a podium. Instead, the Gehry design establishes five distinctive structures, each with its own character and all united at a common plaza accessible from the street level, with parking offered entirely below grade.
The three-storey retail building that sits at street level, along Sunset Boulevard, will have glulam mullions supporting a glass curtain wall, and will feature a marquee element. There will be an interior open-air plaza, the centre of which will hold the ‘jewel’ in the heart of the project; a structure whose facade is made of stone cylinders and cones and which will house programmable space and retail.
Landscape is an integral part of Gehry’s overall architectural concept, both at the ground-level central plaza and the various terraces in the building design. The buildings feature stepping terraces at both ends of Sunset Boulevard, mediating the scale at these intersections to the street level. All terraces will feature landscape and trees visible from east and west vantage points along Sunset. Additional landscape elements climb into the upper parts of the project, creating amenity and terraces for residents as well as stitching the project into the Hollywood hillside, topped with a landscaped roof.
Comprising around 334,000 sq ft (31,000m2) of space and 249 residential units, and already certified as a California Environmental Leadership Development Project (ELDP), the buildings are expected to achieve a LEED environmental rating of Silver or higher and will add net-zero additional emissions of greenhouse gases.
All content and images courtesy of Gehry Partners.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Introducing or next Guest Editor Arun Baybars
Practising architect and design panel review member.
Quick summary by size, shape, test, material, use or bonding.
Types of rapidly renewable content
From forestry to agricultural crops and their by-products.
Terraced houses and the public realm
The discernible difference between the public realm of detached housing and of terraced housing.
Put digitalisation and sustainability at the core of curricula
Project management educators are urged.
Looking back at the influence of climate events
From a designer and writer: 'There are limits to growth but no limits to development'.
Terms, histories, theories and practice.
Biophilic design and natural light
Letting in the light and natural elements into spaces.
APM Programme Management Conference 2024
Strategies for Success.
Residential takes the reins as contract awards even out
Contracts down, but remain above the last quarter of 2023.
Celebrating Eid and the largest mud-brick building.
Barry Kingscote claims prestigious CIOB CMYA Award.
The British Mosque: an architectural and social history
The story of some 1,500 mosques or more in Britain.
Heat pump refrigerants, efficiencies and impacts
R12 to R1270 what are the differences?
Global heat pump market in 2023
Challenging times with positive but modest outlook.
Beyond the infrastructure pipeline
Opportunities and chokepoints.