Design and Architecture

Design and Architecture
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Design and Architecture

From your iPod to the Freedom Chair to the Walt Disney Concert Hall, design and architecture shape our world. On DnA: Design and Architecture, host Frances Anderton talks to design world leaders about the latest in products, fashion, graphics, architecture and more, in Los Angeles and beyond.

Photo credit: Marc Goldstein

LATEST BLOG POST

Sparky and Me: PURE EE

(Frances Anderton) 2009-07-02 15:16

Sandra Kulli, Sparky and an approving granddaughter

BMW is at work on the production of a 100% electric, zero electric MINI, and they are calling on 500 people in the LA and New York areas to field test the cars. The company says it wants to find out how well the "limited range of such a vehicle" ...

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RECENT SHOWS

Public Space Is the Happening Place in LA Design

Public Space Is the Happening Place in LA Design

Some of the most interesting new design in LA is going on in public space. Frances Anderton speaks with architecture critic Chris Hawthorne, landscape designer Mia Lehrer and architect Frederick Fisher about the public spaces and places to see this summer. Plus, Karen Ginsberg on a bright new future for Santa Monica's public conveniences, and Benny Chan on LA from 1000 feet.

Waste Not, Want Not

Waste Not, Want Not

  1. The vacuum, the washing machine and, now, the hand-dryer...industrial designer Sir James Dyson talks about his ongoing mission to keep ourselves and the rest of the world clean. Dennis Hathaway explains the fight against LA's "visual pollution," and we hear from a group of artists who are "upcycling" garbage into poetry.

     

Is It Goodbye to Architectural Excess?

Is It Goodbye to Architectural Excess?

The economic crash has brought a decade of lavish “icon”-building to a halt. Does this mean an architecture of “excess” will be replaced by one of “relevance?” Frances Anderton speaks with Frank Gehry and Architecture for Humanity’s Cameron Sinclair.

 

Surviving the Downturn, Creatively

Surviving the Downturn, Creatively

Los Angeles has long been a magnet for architects and designers but the slump has hit them hard. Can they find creative solutions? We hear about the ups and downs of the downturn, and the lure of the virtual building site.

Interview with Ralph Eggleston, production designer of Wall-E

Interview with Ralph Eggleston, production designer of Wall-E

Frances Anderton interviews Ralph Eggleston, the production designer of the film Wall-E.
Architect of Cinematic Cities Builds Home for Cinematic Arts

Architect of Cinematic Cities Builds Home for Cinematic Arts

The creator of fantasy cities also likes building the real thing. George Lucas, patron of the USC's School of Cinematic Arts on buildings on screen and in reality. David Rockwell, designer of the Oscars telecast, on how they'll make the show sparkle. And friends of Frank Gehry offer tributes as he meets a major milestone.

Design, Architecture and Inauguration Day

Design, Architecture and Inauguration Day

Today, the Obamas take Washington. What does this mean for design and architecture? Join DnA today to hear from Todd Boyd, AKA The Notorious Ph’d, on the first couple’s “cool” style; Hello Beautiful’s Edward Lifson on lessons learned from Chicago; Dan Neil on how to dress up a tank as a presidential limo; and Diana Dorrans Saeks on new White House designer Michael Smith.
Back to the Handmade

Back to the Handmade

As mass-produced goods overwhelm us, people are returning to the handmade. Frances Anderton speaks with Jenny Ryan, Catherine Bailey, William Stranger and Brooke Hodge about Felt Club, Heath Ceramics and raw wood. Plus, Ron Woodson and Jaime Rummerfield on low-cost high-style at a holiday party. And Alissa Walker "raps" up the year in DnA.

The Metropolitan President and Architecture and Design

The Metropolitan President and Architecture and Design

Barack Obama will be the first president to hail from a major metropolis in a long time. What does this mean for architecture and design? Plus, James Bond and his relationship with Modern architecture.

The Graphics of Political Protest

The Graphics of Political Protest

Shepard Fairey and Robbie Conal, who have kicked up a storm with their political posters, discuss using design to send a message. Plus, the Gamble House turns 100, a conversation with director Ted Bosley about the Greene & Greene brothers' "new and native beauty."

 

'Guerrilla' Designers Remake LA Public Space

'Guerrilla' Designers Remake LA Public Space

Angelenos are building benches for bus stops in South Los Angeles; clearing trash and landscaping neglected strips of land and covertly planting trees on sidewalks. Jay Griffith, Mr. Stamens, Roly Poly and others discuss the "guerrilla" design of public space in Los Angeles. Plus, a leading LA design company opens its doors to locals.

All LA's a Stage

All LA's a Stage

DnA looks at the opening next month of the new Broad Stage and the remodeled Mark Taper Forum. Plus, Alex McDowell on how computers are changing the way films are designed, and Liz Farrelly on her favorite authentic inauthentic space.

Landmark Architecture of LA's Past and China's Present

Landmark Architecture of LA's Past and China's Present

This week, we look at the architecture of big ideas, in LA past and China present.

One-Seaters, Two-Wheelers and the Honda Fuel Cell Car

One-Seaters, Two-Wheelers and the Honda Fuel Cell Car

With gas prices and congestion getting worse, is it time to trade in your car for a two-wheeler? Plus, Charles and Ray Eames get the USPS stamp of approval.

Design and the Elastic Mind; New Uses for Old Materials

Design and the Elastic Mind; New Uses for Old Materials

New technologies are changing our lives so fast it's dizzying. How can designers help? Find out when Frances Anderton talks with Paola Antonelli about Design and the Elastic Mind. We also hear from "elastic" minded architect Greg Lynn about his Blobwall Pavilion and building materials of tomorrow. Plus, new uses for building materials of the past, as the ReUse People open in Pacoima.

 
More Past Shows

Program Details

Host

Frances Anderton

Frances Anderton along with hosting DnA, is a producer for Warren Olney's Which Way, L.A.? and To the Point on KCRW. In addition, Anderton is the L.A. Editor for Dwell magazine.

Tapes & Transcripts

Click the Full Details link to view the complete transcript. Tapes are not available.

 
DnA Calendar

Annenberg Community Beach House
Now open: A new Santa Monica community center located on the site of the Julia Morgan-designed estate of Marion Davies recently revamped by Frederick Fisher.

Designers Forum
June 17, 11am: Join Frances, interior designer Kenneth Brown, graphic designer Sean Adams and writer and publicist Adele Cygelman on what turns designers into brands. LA Mart, Downtown

Sundown Salon Unfolding Archive
June 20, 4-7pm: Fritz Haeg unveils a 140-foot long book that commemorates the Sundown Salon happenings held for years in his geodesic dome home. MAK Center, West Hollywood

Looking for Work
Opening June 20, 6-9pm, through July 18: Ali Jeevanjee, Aimee Less and Earl Parson showcase works made in response to or because of the downturn. Fifth Floor Gallery, Chinatown

InDisposed
Opening June 24, 7-10pm, through July 10: Objects by designers curated by
Jen Renzi and Dan Rubinstein that use reclaimed or recycled materials, are sustainable and portable, but could still be mass-produced. Touch, West LA

AIA/LA Restaurant Design Awards
June 26: AIA Los Angeles will announce the winners of its annual Restaurant Design Awards at Dwell on Design, in the meantime, vote for your favorite finalist to win the People's Choice Award. Los Angeles Convention Center, Downtown

Mobius
June 25-27: This year AIA Los Angeles' annual conference is partnering with Dwell on Design for three days of panels, classes and presentations. Los Angeles Convention Center, Downtown

Dwell on Design
June 26-28: Join Frances Anderton and the editors of Dwell for three days of events including a design conference, trade show, home tours and Square Meal Sunday, an entire day devoted to food and design. DnA listeners pay $10 for Exhibition Plus (weekend pass) with code DWELL6C and $49 for Dwell Conference Plus (three day pass) with code DWELL992G.
Los Angeles Convention Center, Downtown

Dwell's Movie Night & Mobile Restaurant Row
June 27, 5pm: Watch two design films--Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman & The Greening of Southie--while mobile eateries like Coolhaus, Let's be Frank and Green Truck corral up in front of the Geffen Contemporary. Tickets $15 (does not include food), purchase at dwellondesign.com

CA Boom
June 26-28: A modern design and furniture trade show with panels and home tours, including a special event at Pierre Koenig's Case Study House #22. The former Robinson's department store, Beverly Hills

Untitled: Variations in Design Practice
June 27-28: Otis' school of Graduate Graphic design presents a two-day symposium featuring Jeffrey Valance, Aaron Rose, Mark Allen and many more. Otis College of Art and Design, Near LAX

Meet the Nelsons
Through July 9: An exhibit of Wes Jones' cartoon strip he designed and drew for the seminal ANY magazine. Closing reception July 9. LA Forum, Hollywood

Boolean Valley
Through July 5: Potter Adam Silverman and architect Nader Tehrani collaborated on a series of cut, clay objects that form a topographic sculptural landscape. MOCA PDC, West Hollywood

Art Center's Car Classic
July 19, 10am-4pm: The world's top auto designers, collectors and enthusiasts convene at this annual event featuring 100 classic, custom, converted and prototype vehicles and a keynote by engineer Burt Rutan. Art Center College of Design, Pasadena

ZAP! POW! BAM! The Superhero: The Golden Age of Comic Books, 1938-1950 and Lights, Camera, Action: Comic Book Heroes of Film and Television
Through August 9: Two concurring shows that examine the artistic and cultural significance of the comic book, and how these heroes were brought to life in Hollywood. Skirball Cultural Center, Brentwood

Richard Neutra, Architect: Sketches and Drawings
Through September 6: Travel sketches, figure drawings and building renderings by one of LA's most iconic modern architects. Central Library, Downtown

If not now, when?
Through September 13: The work of Eric Owen Moss Architects takes up residence in the SCI-Arc Gallery with a curvilinear structure suspended from the gallery's ceiling. SCI-Arc, Downtown

TRAFFIC!
Through September 20: Benny Chan's extra large format photos of Los Angeles freeways during rush hour. Pasadena Museum of California Art, Pasadena

Walls of Algiers
Through October 18: An exhibition explores the rich and complex history of the African city of Algiers after it was colonized and reimagined by the French. Getty Museum, Brentwood

Skateboard: Art & Evolution
September 16-March 28, 2010: A comprehensive exhibition tracing the history of the skateboard as artwork and as an industrial design object, featuring many original pieces from the Dogtown skaters. California Heritage Museum, Santa Monica

Check these local organizations for more event listings:

AIGA
AIA
Big City Forum
de LaB
Farmlab
ForYourArt
LA Forum

LA Conservancy
SCI-Arc
UCLA

Calendar edited by Alissa Walker