A Gehry mall is biting the dust after 27 years of chainlink megagraphic glory overlooking the end of the 10 freeway in Santa Monica.
Just so the titanium jaded kids don't forget, FOG spent the first 25 years of his career doing pedestrian projects like this mall. But the glory of this project will live on in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Pretty in Pink, Terminator 2 and showcasing Tory Spelling in Beverly Hills 90210.
Renderings of the replacement can be viewed here. Strange that Frank didn't get to design the new building...
Least we forget:
9 Comments
I am actually a Gehry fan in general (aghast, on archinect?) but I didn't like Santa Monica Place. There were a few vaguely interesting elements but it was mostly just standard mall fare. I'm excited to see how the new open-air concept will be a real urban extension of the 3rd street prominade. At least, I hope it will be that, and not some lame outdoor mall like the Grove or Westfield Century City.
Strange?? Not really, considering the wikipedia article says the mall has never turned a profit since it opened... and it's only 47% leased, currently. Where would they get the money to hire gehry? :P
The new place - Open-air concept, in LA? Really? Is that a good idea? Maybe "Open-smog" concept...
lesser known gehry within the mall.
funny think is, the recent mall was hardly gehry's original design. most of it was remodeled and jazzed up in 90's by other architects.
Nice, Orhan. Bubar's was done by my old boss while at FOG, if I'm not mistaken.
fred fisher had an ice cream stand with half abstract greek columns from the counter to the ceiling. food court stairs near the entrance took you right up to it. with an all-glass elevator, i liked the mexican restaurant on the western terrace. a lot of daytime drinking happened there;))
Fast Times mall scenes were an exact mirror of my teenaged life...thank you Amy Heckerling.
i dont think i'll miss it...never went in there unless i wanted some extra sugary lemonade from hot dog on a stick. Good riddance...but i have yet to check out the new design
@liberty bell
Fast Times mall scenes were filmed at the Sherman Oaks Galleria...
Donna, it must feel really good to be recognized then corrected a mere 14 years after your post =O/
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.