LUMA Rising
Standing tall in the South Park skyline, Luma’s slender silhouette is being revealed as it rises toward the nineteen-story mark. When complete this elegant, light-filled building will be a center point of the architectural focus at South. Draped in glass and standing on a foundation of new construction, advanced design and sustainable materials, Luma will be a residence like no other. Its living spaces filled with light and awe-inspiring views of the downtown skyline. Its interiors adorned in designer finishes and details. Its location just steps from LA Live, STAPLES Center and all of downtown Los Angeles.
With a 2007 completion and occupancy date less than a year away, the final collection of Luma residences has just been released for reservation. This special selection represents the premiere homes at Luma, and the last opportunity to live at this remarkable address.
You can take an up-close look at the finishes and details that make this building so impressive by visiting The South Sales Center, located at 707 S. Grand Ave.
There are some new faces at the South Sales Center. This month we have two new agents joining our sales team and bringing even more urban experience to the roster. Sheridan Mantor and Dominique Smith are both on board and, as always, are here to educate, assist and help make your buying experience at South as seamless as possible. So feel free to stop by or call any time with questions about any of the residences at South.
If you are a new or future South resident, you know the MOCA is well within striking distance by foot, bike or metro. Close enough for a random afternoon stroll or a night out for a grand event. In either case there is a lot to take in, with an impressive permanent collection plus frequent installations and guest collections.
If you haven’t been lately or are short on time, the current exhibition, Postwar Directions: Abstract Expressionism to Minimalism, features highlights from the MOCA’s permanent collection. The exhibition highlights just over fifty works from the museum’s extensive collection of mid-century art.
On display are the likes of Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning, Arshile Gorky, Jasper Johns, Donald Judd, Roy Lichtenstein, Brice Marden, Agnes Martin and Louise Nevelson.
Postwar Directions: Abstract Expressionism to Minimalism is at the MOCA Grand Avenue July 22–October 15, 2006.
As of August 16th the Elleven Home Owners Association has a new Board of Directors. The election was a great success and the new board is in place.
In other “final touches,” the Elleven marquee sign was installed along with the Olive trees and other greenery at the main entrance.
In the Elleven retail space, Starbucks construction is coming along and they are scheduled to open for business by the end of September. The next new tenant to start construction in the retail area will be Salon Elleven, an hip new hair and nail salon. Their construction should start later this month with completion anticipated before the holidays.
Lastly, we will soon start the installation of the permanent sidewalks, street trees, lights, planters and other elements of the final streetscape design.
Luma construction continues at an exceptional pace. The current work is focused on the installation of the pre-cast concrete exterior wall on Hope Street. If you walk on the west side of the street you will also notice that some of the exterior glass and aluminum window frames are being installed along with components of the interior construction.
This construction schedule is right on pace for our 2007 completion date, and we should see the building rapidly taking shape in the coming months.
Rising from its foundation at 12th & Grand streets is Evo, the third of the South trio of towers. The structural columns are under way for the second and third floors, with concrete being poured on a near continuous basis to push the building higher by the week. Evo is also taking claim to one of the biggest cranes in the Western United States, as we just finished the installation of the second tower crane on the Evo site.
Allow us to introduce you to Kevin Johnson of GBD Architects. GBD is the firm working on Evo and the future South projects on Figueroa, and Kevin is heading up the project with partnering firm TVA Architects.
Evo is well under way and will soon stand as a fixture of modern design in the South Park skyline and offer revolutionary homes for its residents. We thought we would check in on the progress and learn a little more about this remarkably designed residence.
South: Kevin, tell us a bit about your background. What inspired you to become an architect?
KJ: I always loved design and drawing. I can remember being about 10 years old and asking for a sketch pad and drawing pencils and spending a significant amount of time sketching. I loved drawing and then found that I could change the way things look through the drawings. I started out doing more industrial design than architecture; re-designing cars and appliances. But I also drew buildings and spaces. In college I was taking art and art history classes and found an architecture class. While I was still trying to pursue industrial design, I found that architecture was very immediate – I could sketch designs for small projects and found they could be built. It was very exciting and still is.
South: What or who has been your biggest influence, architecturally?
KJ: This may not be the coffee table answer, but I have an uncle who is a very talented designer in Hawaii. He is an architect and when I, at a very young age, saw what he did, I thought it was great. He has been a great mentor. I had a chance to team with his firm a few years back on a Niketown project for Honolulu and that was a great moment in my career.
South: So, let’s talk Evo. Tell us about the building and design.
KJ: The view of Evo on the Los Angeles skyline is going to blow people away. The scale, form and shimmering glass and metal skin will really stand out. Its departure will also come from the contemporary design shape and detailing. The form is modern, yet timeless, as a simple structure that responds to its function and location. There has been very little new construction of high-rise housing in the Los Angeles area, and much of the prior work has used eclectic forms. This project will definitely get a lot of attention.
South: How was Evo designed to be a part of the South neighborhood?
KJ: The ground-level base of the project is critical to the development of the entire area. Working closely with Elleven and Luma, this project will complete a very beautiful streetscape design. Pedestrians will be treated to very nice planting and sidewalk accents, along with the activity of shops and building entries. And the ability to put all of the parking below grade means that the housing begins at the first level above the retail level. This gives activity and security to the street level and will help generate a connection between the residents and the neighborhood.
South: When thinking about this cohesive neighborhood, what is the overall aesthetic direction?
KJ: Because there has not been very much development in this area, this project is as much about being a part of the South neighborhood as it is about creating the South neighborhood. There are several new projects recently completed and underway. I am enjoying seeing the variety of character. Having several architects and several developers working on these projects will create a rich mixture of forms and materials. The blocks are so large that no single design development has covered an entire block. This is resulting in a very positive mixture of designs that will give a beautiful collage of architectural forms.
South: With Luma nearly done, how do you see the neighborhood coming together?
KJ: We have been involved in projects similar to this where a significant transformation is occurring from parking lots to homes. Each project that is completed confirms the success of the area. Elleven, the Met Lofts and Packard Lofts have been the first to be completed in this specific area and are the spark of activity in the area. Luma will add another significant architectural structure and number of new neighbors to the area. It is a very positive time for this area.
South: And what about the future of South. Anything exciting on the horizon?
KJ: While we have been focusing on Evo lately, we have also been working on a significant new South project that is part of several new buildings for the blocks that surround STAPLES Center, the Convention Center, and LA Live. The proximity of LA Live to South is very positive. The urban life of this area will be greatly enhanced by the new living, shopping and entertainment amenities that will be just a couple of blocks from Evo. I keep telling people to take a picture of this area, because they will not believe how different (and great) it will look in five years.
South: Thanks Kevin. We’ve got a few pictures and are looking forward to watching the evolution.