sketchbook

PV cove // 4.02.2011

out of the fire

We're working on a bar/music venue that was completely destroyed in a fire last year. The place is an empty shell right now, with shoring holding up the masonry walls. There is no roof on the building, except some of these 49' long steel girders. The girders pictured here had to be demo'd because they were damaged in the heat of the fire. Each one weighs around 3000 lbs. We had the guys save them for us so we can re-use them in the design of the actual bar (moving them around to bend them into the bar shape is going to be an exercise in logistics..).

I like the idea of the history of the place recorded in its new interior..more to follow!

Treasures

Treasures from the past couple of weeks: a gnarled piece of driftwood, a swiss cheese rock, a perfect round stone, a fully in-tact sand dollar, and a piece of sea glass. I'd tell you where they're from, but I'd have to kill you ;)

I'm sitting here watching Werner Herzog's Fitzcarraldo as I'm writing this post. 

I pulled this textile out the other day as a table cloth for a dinner celebrating some very special friends that were in town visiting. This happens to be my most favorite relic from my trip to Peru - appropriate to be watching this film from my laptop on this same table. Fitzcarraldo was filmed in the northern Peruvian jungle - Iquitos and Urubamba. We stayed in the South, in the Tambopata region, outside of Puerto Maldonado. 

A funny fact about the film: Mick Jagger was supposed to play a significant role, but shooting was delayed and he had to leave on tour. His entire part was deleted. 

getty fotografia

heavy metal

Metals field trip ;)

Who knew lead was so insidiously gorgeous? Also loved the bars of bronze and the red patchwork of the steel bar ends. 

the dining society

A friend of a coworker, Kevin Van, started THEDININGSOCIETY -

a monthly (almost) gathering of people interested in sampling some of the best food and drinks from some of the best local chefs and mixologists. I'd say half the experience was the venue itself, the old Echo Park Rec Center on Logan and Sunset - a space with giant ceilings, endless brick walls, and a long table under a simple string of lights. Great food, great conversation, great mix of strangers. 

The dinner pops up at a new location each time, and a new cast of chefs, mixologists and sommeliers creates an entirely unique dining experience. 

We [Breakform] made the table for Kevin - it was designed to fit within a budget, be easily broken down into segments that fit into a small Uhaul, able to be quickly assembled by two people, durable, and (goes without saying) nice on the eyes.. Welded steel angle frames with hand-finished plywood infill resting on a light gauge steel tube framework atop IKEA table legs. 

Of course while you're in the neighborhood, you have to stop by El Prado for a drink.