Pretty Vacant : The Los Angeles Dingbat Observed
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
The only thing better than one boring building is hundreds of them. Far from the glamorous and avant-garde architectural features that make Los Angeles justifiably famous are the humble apartment buildings known as "dingbats." But Pretty Vacant dares to elevate the low-rise, the boxy, the not remarkably well-constructed to the architecturally sublime. In this inexpensive brick of a book, through scads of photographs of these underappreciated gems, their boundless surfacey charms are soon obvious. Combining funky textures, streamlined sconces, and future-retro ornamentation, these buildings practically define LA vernacular in their optimistic mix of mid-century modishness and darling details. Clive Piercy's photographs provide a streetside glimpse into the curious lives of these buildings, with charming names that range from the regal (Kings Studios) to the space-age (The Galaxie). Assembled in a compact but weighty package with more than 480 images, Pretty Vacant provides a snapshot tour and kitschy homage to this underdog architectural form.
About the Author
Clive Piercy , an associate at the design firm PhD, temporarily moved to Los Angeles from London 20 years ago and has been there ever since. This is his first book.
Pretty Vacant: The Los Angeles Dingbat Observed,Clive Piercy,Chronicle Books,0811840247,Apartment houses,Architecture,Buildings, structures, etc,California,Domestic,General,Los Angeles,Los Angeles (Calif.),U.S. Architecture - General,Architecture / Domestic
Book Contents:
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