The design for Los Angeles’ new Grand Avenue project will be driven forward by veteran architect Frank Gehry, if city officials approve the plans.

His ideas are “significantly more exuberant and suggestive of LA culture” than the others that made the shortlist, latimes.com reveals and after much consideration, the Related Cos (the firm behind the project) decided that he’s the person for the job.

Gehry’s vision for the $650 million residential, hotel and shopping complex includes a U-shaped plaza area – as well as a ‘stacked’ tower of shops and eateries. One of the towers will feature a 300-bed hotel, too. If the plans are given the green light, construction should start in 2015 and could be completed within four years.

Still work to do to unify this collection of stacked forms

Christopher Hawthorne, the LA Times’ architecture critic, seems impressed with Gehry’s work – particularly when compared to the previous design the architect unveiled in 2006, of which some elements remain and some have been scrapped.

“Though the towers remain works in progress, the proposal is better development at stress level than in any of the previous designs,” Hawthorne suggests. “The plaza facing Disney Hall is more open and confidently resolved in its design than before.

“Still, Gehry has work to do to unify this collection of stacked forms,” the critic adds, suggesting that there’s more to be done before the designs will create a picture perfect scene. However Related Cos and Gehry plan to push ahead with the designs, which will be submitted to the city council for approval on December 2nd, archdaily.com.

Author: Deborah Bates    Date Written: 27 November 2013