"Buildings are meant to be experienced"

Thom Mayne is another one of these arrogant architects that really have no clue as to how to relate to people. As an architect I could see many opportunities to allow some interaction with pedestrians.

It’s true that a building is meant to be experienced, but how can anyone experience something if there’s no possible opportunity to enter the building. It’s like having a conversation witho someone with neither side talking. If you want to talk about an experience enter into the Bonaventure Hotel. Similar in it’s dead blank wall modernist form but at the very least there are visable things from the outside that will allow a form of curiosity that will invoke someone to enter the building. And once you’re inside it becomes a different experience completely.

With the Caltrans Deathstar there’s no opportunity to inform and educate the public with it’s green design. The site is sloped differently on 3 of those 4 sides allowing a subtle opportunity to have some small resturants or stores to serve nearby Little Tokyo. Imagine had they had those same panels or adjustable solar shades on the ground floor with the top of the parking structure be a ground floor garden and additional “green roof”.

But that design wouldn’t work because I’m thinking like a human first rather than an architect.

I want to thank you (somewhat belatedly) for reading what I wrote and sharing it with your readers. I did enjoy the first installment of “Screening the City” but I hope James gets his hands on a more reliable DVD player before next month!