February 2020

Project: United States Courthouse — Los Angeles • Architect: @skidmoreowingsmerrill • 2018 AIA Awards - Architecture / Source: @aianational

Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) was created by a group of 13 New York City architects with a mission to “promote the artistic, scientific, and practical profession of its members; to facilitate their intercourse and good fellowship; to elevate the standing of the profession; and to combine the efforts of those engaged in the practice of architecture for the general advancement of the art.”

Shortly after its founding, the AIA began recruiting new members from other major cities, creating its first chapters in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Boston before expanding to additional cities such

 Whether you’re trying to live more sustainably or you simply appreciate a good deal, there’s nothing quite like treasure hunting in a great thrift shop. But any vintage enthusiast knows that not all thrift shops are created equal. These shops run the gamut of quality, ranging from high-quality, well-curated offerings to chaotic mounds of apparel and accessories that make it impossible to find what you’re looking for. 

To make the hunt for your next great treasure easier, check out our list of the very best thrift shops from LA to Miami. 

Los Angeles

Squaresville

There’s no shortage of great thrift stores in LA, but Squaresville stands out among them for the uniquely statement-making apparel it sells. Whether you’re looking for a retro

Source: archeyes.com 

Widely regarded as one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, Louis Kahn was born in Estonia but immigrated to the United States with his family when he was just a child. Kahn displayed an early gift of drawing, which led him to pursue architecture school at the University of Pennsylvania. During school, Kahn received Beaux Arts architectural training from famed professors and architects, such as Paul Philippe Cret. 

True to Beaux Arts tradition, Kahn’s architectural training discouraged the use of excessive ornamentation in favor of restraint and integrity of form. Kahn would apply this principle throughout his career, becoming known for his unique style that combined the organic feel of modernism with the

Source: startlosangeles.com 

One of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, West Adams was developed by Hulett C. Merritt and Henry E. Huntington during the late 19th century and was once the wealthiest district in the city. The neighborhood became known for its affluence and exclusivity, with prominent figures like William Andrew Clark, Frederick Rindge, and Isadore Dockweiller calling it home. 

Beginning around 1910, the neighborhood’s demographic began to shift. During this time, West Adams’ mostly upper-class white residents began to move to newly-developing areas like the West Side, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills, while the city’s wealthiest African Americans started to move to West Adams, including Marvin Gaye, Butterfly McQueen, and Bill

Few elements of an interior are more important than lighting. Studies show that lighting can affect everything from your mood to your behavior and choices. Plus, the right lighting is crucial to properly showcasing an aesthetic. And the latest home gadget from Dyson is maximizing lighting’s power to the fullest, offering a lamp that can do virtually everything but charge your phone. Just kidding, it can also charge your phone. 

Dyson is well-known for its high-design, high-tech items, like hairdryers, vacuums, and fans, and now the brand is applying its powers to lighting. Dyson’s new smart light, Dyson Lightcycle Morph, “intelligently adjusts the light it emits depending on the user’s task, age, and local daylight.” 

The lamp works with a

Source: flickr.com/photos/nicksherman

The Case Study Houses program commissioned a team of renowned architects to design 36 prototype residences that emphasized functionality and affordability for postwar living. Some of the world’s most prominent mid-century modern architects participated in the program, including Richard Neutra, Pierre Koenig, and Charles and Ray Eames. 

The architects’ designs ended up shaping modernist architecture as we know it today, introducing features like open floor plans and indoor-outdoor living spaces that ease the flow of everyday living. Being tasked with maximizing affordability, the architects also used then-unconventional building materials, such as cement blocks, industrial glass, and plywood, all of which would

Source: flightnetwork.com

This month, the annual South Beach Wine and Food Festival is coming back for its 19th consecutive year, and it’s shaping up to be bigger and better than ever. This year's festival takes place on February 19 - 23 and is expected to draw more than 65,000 guests to its over 100 events. 

Given what the five-day festival has in store, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. The event showcases world-renowned wine and spirits producers, chefs, and culinary personalities through events that include everything from brunches, wine tastings, and chef-led dinners to panels on hot hospitality topics, like how to run a longstanding restaurant business. 

There are also a ton of food- and wine-centric parties that run late into the

Source: dezeen.com

Los Angeles just got a whole lot cooler thanks to architect David Adjaye’s recent project. Fashion retailer The Webster, well known for its Art Deco-style flagship store in South Beach, commissioned the British-Ghanian architect to design its new 11,000-square-foot space in LA. Forming the foundation of the Beverly Center, the design is nothing short of stunning. 

Source: dezeen.com

The structure is comprised of bubble-gum pink concrete, which offers a compelling juxtaposition with the brutalist building it sits underneath. Of the uniquely pink structure Adjaye told Dezeen, “In the past five years I’ve started to work with a lot of saturated red and pink hues, which extends back to the early color experiments I did at the

With their abundant natural light, sleek silhouettes, and indoor-outdoor living experience, there’s a lot to love about mid-century homes. Typically designed with function in mind, mid-century houses are more than just beautiful; they also ease the flow of daily life with their expansive open floor plans and purity of form. 

As we ramp up for Modernism Week 2020, we’re highlighting some of the top mid-century modern homes on the market in Palm Springs right now based on their history, unique features, and overall design. Just be forewarned—if you’re not in the market to buy a house just yet, you likely will be after checking out these properties. 

1287 Los Robles Drive

Revered architect Charles Du Bois designed this home in 1963, which

All images courtesy of: modernismweek.com

Country Club Estates is a Palm Springs community that showcases some of the most beautiful examples of mid-century modern design in the country. The low-density community sits on 4.8 acres of land and houses 30 luxury condos designed by famed architect A. Quincy Jones in 1965.

The condos are unassuming at first glance, featuring sleek rectangular silhouettes with simple white facades comprised of stacked masonry blocks, but inside, the homes open up into stunning, light-filled spaces that are equally elegant and expansive. Most of the structures remain remarkably true to their original design, featuring open floor plans and floor-to-ceiling glass windows that surround outdoor atriums to maximize the