oneshotexhibition.org blog

A few days a ago L.A. Times reported that an audit by LA County Audit Official, Wendy Watanabe, and the independent firm who wrote the report, Harvey M. Rose, LLC, on how some L.A. County Supervisors use their power to circumvent their influences into the Planning Department Policies and firing of the Planning director, Bruce McClendon (see link).

Excerpt: “Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s planning deputy, Ben Saltsman, and Supervisor Mike Antonovich’s planning deputy, Paul Novak, issued conflicting e-mails to department staffers during the development of a Green Building ordinance that “could be interpreted as violating” rules that prohibit supervisors from issuing directives to employees outside public meetings.”

This should not single out the County Supervisor indiscretions but with all local and federal governments who abused their positions to gain their agendas being co-opted by corporations and developers, especially when the Supreme Court ruled that corporations could spend unlimited amount a money for candidates who running for office, which is wrong. Who knows where the money is coming from and how it is influenced their authority to other government agencies. Good government should start with transparency with the public and media, involvement with local leaders and neighborhood councils that are affected in their area and not serve themselves for the benefit of their careers.

A good example of the misuse of government authority is the LA City Planning and Land Use Department or PLUM on determining and allowing certain amount of development that adds an adverse effect to the neighborhood surrounding area. Most of the contention is elevated by developers wanting to change the zoning area that supports their pet project without public opposition, environmental impact and design reviews. Without any of these criteria to challenge any type of development, we’ll be insured that the future doesn’t look bright and less prosperous.

It could only be serve to notice that the general public are not only mad but angry about their representatives who are enriching themselves and play a diabolical act to deceived the public and their constituents, rather than their financial supporters and cronies, that is why there are tea party and grass roots organizations who are fed up with their government’s power plays. The only hope is when laws are change and are enforced for the public’s well being and that all decisions in urban policies will be concentrated in respect to their neighbors and to the city. Most of the projects are not interconnected within the city parameters and not socially connected with the diverse culture we live in, therefore there is should be accountability for all government who represents the republic.

Song of the Blog: Senses Working Overtime by XTC in the album English Settlement

With Chrysler and General Motors filing bankruptcy and the closing of Car dealership around the country, the question is what will become of the dealership, especially in Southern California, once they are closed? Sometimes opportunity knocks for urban development. The auto industry will change their practice by how the public will respond to their direction and how will cars be produce for the environment and sell them.

Most of the dealership that are closing are located along commercial corridors, which give the opportunity to reimagine the streets as a whole with the amount of  square acres each dealership owns, a clear investment for the locals to build something new and make it relevant for the community. What is meant about local to have something being built is people living within their community has the opportunity to influence the development and design in the area of concern. The notion of auto dealership is almost becoming obsolete as relevant of real estate agents are being taken over by real estate brokerage website in selling property, consumers are more apt to buy thru the internet because prices, specific preference on car model’s accessories and ease of purchasing thru dealers without traveling.

In a report by Planetzen,  The Future of Empty Car Dealership, the majority of web readers stated that local residents should determine what kind of development to replace the empty car dealership which says a lot because the importance of local input and a foreseeable opportunity of social experience other than politicians, developers, planners and architects. The more input between professionals and ordinary folks who have a stake can be educating, less trivial in terms of identity and a move towards a sustainable community in the American suburbs.

One case for debate and focus is the Big Valley dodge Dealership on the corner of Van Nuys Blvd. and the MTA Orange Line in the heart of the San Fernando Valley, which is the North-East of the intersection. The possibility of a new urban center that connects itself along Van Nuys Boulevard that can spread to neighboring communities.

While the world’s economy is in a downturn and one of  the primary focus in it’s survival is saving the environment, the redevelopment of suburbs can infuse hope and rejuvenation of once hopeless landscape that is catered to the automobile and consumption. Each of us has a responsibility to choose where they work and live, but also to invest their interest in improving their neighborhoods by community involvement such as local neighborhood councils meetings, grassroots organizations and personal choices (live near work, shop at local farmer’s market, grow your own vegetable garden and buy local products). The re-imagination of our suburbs one step in the grass.

Site of a possible transit oriented development at the Big Valley Dodge on the corner of the Orange line stop & Van Nuys Blvd.

Song of the Blog: Stop Boogie Shuffle by Charles Mingus on the Album Mingus Ah Um

While much of the US economy is trying to survive from the downfall of the real estate market, there is one project that is still going and building with less fanfare but has most of the tourist gawking about is the City Center on the Vegas Strip. It is a City Center (aren’t all hotel casinos a city within itself) along Las Vegas Blvd, near E. Harmon Ave. intersection, with its own zip code that cost 11 billion dollars, consisting designs by world re-known architects: Daniel Libeskind, Ceasar Pelli, Helmut Jahn, Rafael Viñoly, Norman Foster and David Rockwell, having it bill as a world-class city development focusing on art and architecture with an emphasis on sustainable design, being develop by MGM Mirage Company at the cost of 11 billion dollars. It shows what kind of diversity in architecture can bring to Las Vegas at a price.

It was an opportunity to hang out with some friends in last month’s March Madness in New York, New York Hotel and Casino to check out the center. During the day, I could overhear crowds of revelers and tourist commenting the look of the center. A couple with a heavy southern accent commented that they didn’t know what to think about the look of the complex, especially at the Daniel Libeskind design, “it didn’t look pretty, but I think it’s ugly.” In some of the theoretical world of architecture, it is a compliment and reveling in it. It’s weird. Las Vegas, in a whole, is a town that is perceived of being of not knowing what to think.  With all the kitsch, urban sprawl, traffic, lack of water resource and the fact it is in the middle of the dessert. It seems that people like myself escape to an area made out of nothing for something other than the truth and the reality of a sustainable city.

Back to City Center, late in the evening at 4:00 in the morning, I got the chance to really check the center up close while walking to the Sahara Hotel to get to the hotel room. While there were less people on the strip, I found there were no security at the gate and had the possibility of walking inside the complex with no problem. It seems that there resources are running thin, construction is moving in a snail pace and MGM Mirage are trying to get more financial backing to finish the project, the possibility of selling off some of their casino resorts to avoid bankruptcy.

What the problem is with this lifestyle center is the cost and livability in comparison to the rest of the City of Las Vegas; a unit of one can cost up to 23 million dollars. More people are losing their homes in break neck speed. The role of well known architects has been co-opted in designing over the top designs that become a selling point for the exclusive and not for all classes. While mainstream Las Vegas has become a bastion of the absurbity, we could always come to the originator of gaudiness and kitsch is Liberace.

View of City Center w/ Daniel Lebeskind designed building in the foreground (tilting walls).

A closer look @ City Center

The front entrance to City Center

The Dessert night brings comfort, where no secure place has no purpose nor reason that pierces  the conscious mind.

Exposed beyond the surface of doubt.

                                       The true originator of Las Vegas: Liberace

Song of the Blog: Holiday in the Sun by the Sex Pistols in the album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here are the Sex Pistols

One of things in moving away from car culture that lasted for more than 50 years is to develop areas that are pedestrian friendly near transportation stops, meaning transportation oriented development (TOD); Make places more inviting and pleasing of the senses by integrating mixed use, open space and connectivity to the neighborhood.

One sort of banal and mundane approach of the typical urban sprawl that hasn’t brought any revitalization nor a paradigm shift of urban renewal into a community is the proposed commercial development at the corner of Woodman Avenue and Oxnard Street in Van Nuys (it’s really called Valley Glen for real estate purposes and local governing councils). It’s right in the center of a transportation stop for the gold line and is a perfect opportunity to have a new type of development in that corner with some good design acumen. This type of development is the same approach that disenfranchises communities than to more forward into a sustainable society.

This development could exacerbate the mindless cost to extend the practice of more parking lots and boxy buildings for the area that doesn’t tell about the people, area and locale of its richness and diversity. When will there be some kind of civic approach towards urban design that has the capacity to embrace the neighborhood and capitalize urban growth.

It is time to rethink this type of development and design, to bring down the hideous mini-mall that’s going to be obsolete.

The site on the corner of  Woodman and Oxnard where the mini-mall is being develop.

  The proposed development of vacant lot. A typical approach to Urban Sprawl near the TOD site on the Orange Line.

Close up of the building. Check out one of the name of the businesses (Modern Design). Far away from the truth.

Song of the Blog: the pre-released song Georgia by Eagle and Talon on the up-coming CD THRACIAN

The clay plastering workshop a few weeks ago came with surprises and accomplishment. Only a few people (probably eight) attended the workshop and about nine people cancel the last minute, but all in all it was a success.

Previously, the first workshop was about the raising the bale at the Chartwell School Campus and this time was about applying the first layer (scratch coat) over the straw, deer netting and coconut webbing (around the doors & windows per approved plans). It’s probably the most important part of the process because if the mix of the water and the clay contents are not right, than the clay will start to crack and won’t adhere to the surface. Having the leaders of the clay plastering workshop, CJ Cavet & Kathy Gregor, gave a full presentation of clay plastering all around the world and examples of different techniques of clay plastering.

For the whole day Saturday, the group was able to finish the whole exterior portion of the building and Sunday morning, finished the interior. It was amazing when you has a group of dedicated people working together for this project.

Hopefully, next time, there will be documentation on the finish plastering. In the meantime, check the workshop photos:

Slip coat is added on the straw bale and a rough mix of clay & straw to patch up the holes, gouges and inconsistencies of the straw bale.

Rear view

Deer netting is added instead of metal lath for the scratch coat to be applied and building paper is covering the box plate under the eaves.

Enjoying playing with mud clay.

Scratch coat applied to the straw. A mix of fine cut straw, clay & mortar clay.

Finishing the exterior side with the scratch coat.

Another side of the scratch coat.

Now it’s time to do the interior. Note: deer netting and coconut webbing attached to the staw bale.

Applying the scratch coat to the interior.

Finishing up the interior.

Truth window; a box framed picture window to show the layer underneath the finished plastering.

Song of the Blog: Midnight in A Perfect World by DJ Shadow on the CD record Endtroducing

The new California Academy of Science Museum at the Golden State Park in San Francisco by the famous architect Renzo Piano of Italy is a crowning achievement towards building a sustainable world. the reason for that acclaim is because the building is design to replace the old science building damaged by the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989, but kept remnants of the old building. It is an ecological building the houses the natural history of the world and is a step towards designing and living green in mind.

An In-Depth article about the Science Museum by Metropolis Magazine shows the process of the academy members choosing Renzo for the design, the engineering of the building and the ideals of the living roof. It is one of the most detailed marks of green architecture for some time and the first in this century. It shows the possibility of designing green architecture with aesthetic value and progressive approach.

The best in seeing the whole view of the building is from the tower of the De Young Museum, across from the central garden from the Cal Academy of Science. While you could see the living roof atop with the bulging mounds and the solar panels wrapping around the rectangular shape building, The building seems to frame the backdrop of the city and the view of Twin Peaks Park. It almost blends itself with rest of the natural elements in the area.

The California Academy of Science Museum building is great forword step into the 21st century in building green architecture technology. The hope is for today’s architects and designers will take this to heart and come up with new innovative ideals and designs to sustain the future to enjoy the environment as it intended to be respected and harness.

View of the California Academy of Science Museum @ the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco from atop of the De Young Museum.

  View of the Living Roof on the California Academy of Science Museum (photo by Tim Griffith on Metropolis Magazine)

View of the Solar Cells on the edge of existing facade of the building.

Song of the Blog: Calling All Angels by Jane Sibery w/ K.D. Lang on the Movie Soundtrack Until the End of the World

The state of California is in a verge of a movement of epic proportions by a propose Legislation, Measure SB 375, to limit the urban sprawl to reduce global warming. It is the first state or government that has tackle urban development as a source to regulate land use policies that will create smart urban planning & infrastructure, and reduce carbon emission. It will give not only urban designers but Architects a broader context on designing environments for the future of society.

There is a belief that it will entail new business for energy technology, better research & invention on clean energy, such as solar, geothermal & recyclable,  and spur a new age of global environmentalism and emerging markets. The new book Hot, Flat and Crowded by New York Times “foreign affairs” columnist Thomas L. Friedman stated that there is a need of new innovation of clean energy and shift away from the waste that society is accustomed to their lifestyle choice. He calls it the Green revolution and that American has the opportunity to become the leader in this movement.

The hope from the possible new California state legislation measure and the series of books and articles addressing for a newer and daring approach towards the environment and society is that Architects and Designers has the opportunity to come up with innovative ideals and designs that will capture the spirit and the nature of moving towards a sustainable future. The ideal is to have a more responsible practice in reinventing the built environment while preserving our natural resources and the earth.

Song of the Blog:  This is Good by Fascinoma on their Myspace website.

One of the most blatant act of police brutality was done by a rookie New York City Cop Patrick Pogan who attacked a cyclist in one of the Critical Mass event which bicycle activists ride the streets of NYC to promote a better share of riding bicycles in the city landscape and for the public awareness of being socially conscious & environmentally responsible. The cyclist, Christopher Long, who is a Army veteran, was not seriously hurt but left an imprint on other cyclist on the status of being proactive in promoting sustainable living and responsibility.

The whole event was not permit, given the fact the bureaucracy of government officials would circumvent the critical organizers attempt to get a legal gathering or event to promote an alternative mode of transportation with safety concerns. It is important to note that more and more people are finding ways to decrease the amount of driving the automobile because the high price of gasoline and the driving experiences between cars and bicycles.

The most disturbing thing about the incident is the comments made in You-tube and other blog posts are asinine comments by ignorants who think that it was OK to beat up cyclist with no provocations. Be the judge of that. Also check out the New York Times report regarding this incident by the conflicting accounts from the officer account and what is actually happen by videotaping it.

Song of the Blog: Screw The Law by Black Flag on the Album The Process of Weeding Out.

Straw bale construction is probably the most underestimated material to use in the building industry with all the metallic surfaces, wood-framing and processed materials used in today’s contemporary architecture that increases the carbon footprint. It has not been utilize in ways to explore space and tactility in bigger projects, mostly in mix-use and commercial projects, especially in Los Angeles. There is a lot of potential in which it gives an aesthetic quality and a human tone, similar to the missions of California and the adobe dwellings of the Native Americans in the Southwest, an innate quality that is indigenous to the world.

CASBA (California Straw Bale Association) put out workshops on bale raising and clay plastering seminar. Recently, there was a bale-raising seminar for a charter school in a former military base Fort Ord near Monterrey called the Chartwell School. It is a 16′x22′ typical A-Frame building, separated from the main campus (which is the first LEED Platinum rating for a school), amongst the forest of the Oaks.

Lead by Greg McMillan of Flying M Construction for the Bale raising seminar, it gave most of the participants helpful information on the reason of using straw bales as a alternative material for designing and construction, and the future lies for it. Not a lot went to the preparation because there were some delays, but most of participants enjoy the company and work really hard in raising the bale by the end of the 2 1/2-Day seminar. One was to tie nylon straps on the 4 corners of the building, using a haystack needle to stitch it from separation and movement. All in all, it was fun and informative about building straw bale.

The Chartwell School in Fort Ord, near Monterrey (main campus).

  Site of the Straw Bale workshop, near the main campus of Chartwell School. Note: foundation is already set up with the pressure treated sill plate and the nylon straps attached to it from both sides of the exterior and interior.

Gravel filled between the sill plate prior to raising the straw bale.

Borax is poured on top the gravel to prevent bugs, insects & mold.

Ready to lay the first coarse of the square bales.

  Box framed windows being installed to the straw bale.

Building up with straw bale.

Finishing with the top coarse of the straw bale, ready to put the wood frame box plate for the roof truss installation.

Putting up the box frame plate on top of straw bale.

Plate is nail to the straw bale.

Nylon straps anchor at each corner across to adjust to the building being square (or close to it) by tightening the straps.

  Next time, plastering workshop.

Song of the Blog: Distance Equals Rate Times Time by the Pixies on the Album Trompe Le Monde

With the gasoline prices @ more than $4.50 for unleaded in Los Angeles, the major shift how society is shifting their everyday habits in regards towards the high cost of living. Decision are made in taking a more responsible approach, away from the excess and greed that all of society is taking for granted.

More and more families & individuals are starting to realized the impact of the environment and the high cost of living, they are starting make conservation and responsible choices, on how they live their lives. Such as recycling, walking to shops at a short distance, composting yard and food waste, eat less meat, taking mass transportation (subway, train, bus-line), working close to home, growing organic fruits and vegetables, spending less money.

What is happening here in this global economy is people are starting to think locally and to invest into their own communities which are inundated with subdivisions and the built environment of strip malls, car shops and billboards that has no distinction. There is a movement to reassess how we live, communicate and to be engage with the public in moving towards a sustainable society. It is how suburban communities will eventually become urban and what are the ways to transition it into a integral part.

The important signs of this transition are coming to ahead and to look at the increasing depth and complexity in which we live in, how we take things for granted and the circumstances that surrounds it. To take a proactive search and understanding can only harness new ways of thinking and practice for the future.

The truth is we need to go a long way in order to see there is a future for mankind.

My shopping cart is limited and the world is wasteful.

 Song of the Blog: Everything Wrong is Imaginary by Lilys on the CD Everything Wrong is Imaginary