Moby: L.A. Architecture's New Mascot

Moby

An "unremarkable" Hollywood apartment building, captured on Moby's architecture blog

Moby first talked about his architecture obsession almost a year ago on the KCRW show "DnA: Design and Architecture," where he's interviewed by host Frances Anderton at an event at the A+D (that's Architecture + Design) Museum. (Disclosure: I'm a production assistant for the radio show.) He's always been fascinated by buildings, but when he moved to L.A. two years ago, he bought Wolf's Lair, a literal castle just below the Hollywood sign (which has an guest house designed by John Lautner, one of the architects featured in the Pacific Standard Time Presents show). While walking the streets of his Beachwood Canyon neighborhood, he began to document the unassuming and unappreciated addresses of his new home.

The new Getty video lacks the lyrical punch of Ice Cube celebrating the Eames for Pacific Standard Time (I will forever call the 405 the "bougie" freeway), but Moby does surface some salient statements about the banal vs. beautiful battle that plays out on L.A.'s streets. The best quote: "L.A. does have some of the best architecture on the planet and also some of the worst architecture on the planet. Sometimes 10 inches away from each other."

And Moby makes another point that will certainly endear him to all local designers. In L.A., instead of looking at buildings designed 300 years ago, he says, "You're looking at buildings that our friends made." That sound you hear is the fluttering heartbeat of every architect in the city. (Although as more than one person mentioned at the press conference where the video was unveiled: What the hell is he doing talking L.A. architecture while wearing a Muir Woods sweatshirt? Somebody get this guy a SCI-Arc t-shirt.)

If you'd like to see the next episode in Moby's Ongoing Architecture Talk Show unfold live, head to Palm Springs. As part of the city's Modernism Week, which kicks off this Thursday, he'll be appearing on a panel at the Ace Hotel on Saturday, February 23 talking -- what else? -- modern architecture.

See also:
*Fugly Buildings: Our Series on the Most Hideous Buildings in L.A.
*5 Artsy Things to Do in L.A. This Week
*10 Best L.A. Art Galleries For Partying

Alissa Walker blogs at Gelatobaby.com. Follow her on Twitter at @gelatobaby and for more arts news like us on Facebook or follow us at @LAWeeklyArts.