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There’s an entertaining book about Los Angeles that
everyone who is interested in Los Angeles and it’s architecture, in particular,
should read. That book is call “Los Angeles: The Architecture of Four
Ecologies”, by Reyner Banham, the noted British architectural historian and
critic. The book was first released in 1971, but since there’s so much
interest in “Green” or sustainable design nowadays, and because its been exactly
20 years since the passing of Mr. Banham, and since this book was mentioned
during the recent GreenWest Expo (an annual convention about “Green” or
“sustainable” design) held in Los Angeles this month, I felt it was appropriate
to review the book for the modern citizen of the Los Angeles area.
The book looks at Los Angeles in general and then gets
quite specific. Mr. Banham explains the history of Los Angeles; its growth from
a small pueblo near downtown Los Angeles, the land-grants from the Spanish
government, its growth via the railroad and rail mass-transit (and the demise
of same), the settlers, the water-wars, the early years of growth, and the
development of the highway system to what we see now.
Then, Mr. Banham breaks down the Los Angeles area into 4
Ecologies: “Surfurbia”, “the Foothills”, “the Plain of Id”, and “Autotopia”.
Each Ecology is researched and explored through the eyes of Mr. Banham who
explains in unique fashion how these areas developed into what they are now-for
good or for bad, or both.. And, if you ever hear someone describe a stucco
low-rise cheap apartment building (that ubiquitous building found all over
Southern California) as “ding-bat” architecture, the term was coined by Mr.
Banham in this book to explain almost stupefying overlays of architectural
styles on the front (“Taco-Modern,” “Kon-Tiki Prairie Style”). Yet, around the
back, one sees primitive/cheap modern architecture with parking under the
building between steel posts. Sound familiar?
The link to the GreenWest Expo and “Green-ness”? There is
a growing concern within City Hall about Los Angeles’ lack of “Greenness” and
what to do about it—there were a lot of City Hall heavy-weights at the Expo, all
expressing their concerns and their ideas. Since I personally believe that one
needs to understand how one got into a situation before a solution is found,
Mr. Banham’s book explains pretty much how Los Angeles got into its present
position of being the poster-child for “urban sprawl”, extreme auto-dependence,
and its insensitivity to the environment.
I hasten to add that this book is not a diatribe against
Los Angeles. Rather, Mr. Banham would’ve been the first to admit that he is
completely fascinated and infatuated by Los Angeles, warts and all. Despite its
short-comings, Los Angeles, according to Mr. Banham, has much to offer in
1971—and I agree with him…even in 2008
Regarding the architecture, Mr. Banham explores the reasons
why such notable architects such as Irving Gill, Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard
Neutra, Rudolph Schindler, the Eames, and Green & Green gravitated to Los
Angeles and how the area and history shaped their architecture. There is even a
chapter dedicated to the Case Study House architects that is remarkable astute.
I recommend this book if one wants to know more about the
urban and architectural history of Los Angeles. From the Big Picture down to
the small, one will find at least one chapter that will seem very familiar, as
Mr. Banham visits all the well-known areas, and writes as if he’s a tourist,
which he is. Shortcomings? The pictures give the book a dated look, but
terrific writing never grows old.
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