Design and Architecture

On January 17, 1994, Angelenos were awoken at around 4:30 am by the earth shaking beneath us. The Northridge earthquake and its aftershocks killed 57 people, injured thousands, and toppled and damaged tens of thousands of buildings. Tomorrow marks 25 years since that major quake.What steps have we taken to secure our buildings for when the Big One does hit?

Planners are calling Minneapolis the most radical city in America, after a vote to allow duplexes and triplexes to be built on lots previously zoned for only single-family homes. What are the chances something like this could happen in LA? And a talk with Dezeen founder Marcus Fairs turns to the Brexit saga and how it’s affecting -- and implicating -- the “97% of creatives” opposed to a split with the EU.

The state’s new governor, Gavin Newsom, called for a “California for all” in his inauguration speech this week. He also called for a “Marshall Plan” for affordable housing and said that “we have a homeless epidemic that should keep each and every one of us up at night.” So what will Gov. Newsom do to address housing and homelessness?

The Consumer Electronics Show opens Tuesday in Las Vegas and there is buzz about 5G. But do we have the juice to power the increased speed and connectivity it will bring? DnA talks to net zero buildings engineer David Stillman. And hip hop has produced music, art, fashion and dance. Is it shaping architecture? Curator Sekou Cooke discusses the impact of hip hop culture on buildings.

Governor Jerry Brown has championed California’s high-speed rail project. But as he passes the baton to Gavin Newsom, its future is in question. Newsom has openly considered scaling back high speed rail. Republicans want the project cancelled completely. And voters are lukewarm. A recent PPIC poll found a majority of Californians don’t see it as a priority. So what does that mean for construction so far? Because, yes, a lot has been built and it’s already changing the Central Valley.

On Christmas Day, many people will be at home with loved ones. But what kind of home exactly? A “gigamansion” in the hills where you’ll have a jellyfish room but you might not bump into your guests? Or a tent on Venice Beach, with a great location but no creature comforts or stability? In 2018, more than 50,000 people were living on the streets of Los Angeles, while others were building homes of 50,000 square feet or more. DnA looks at these two extremes in “This is Home in LA: From the Tent to the Gigamansion.”

In a city that has gone mad for tunneling, Elon Musk has managed to keep the spotlight on his Boring Company with a drip-drip of titillating news about his underground drilling project in Hawthorne. Months of wondering if this was all more talk than do were answered Tuesday when press and selected guests were invited for a big reveal. Frances Anderton shares the experience with Steve Chiotakis on DnA on ATC, and asks if Musk’s genius for geewhiz technology blinds him to other ways of thinning traffic.

Alfonso Cuarón’s “Roma” is set in a recreation of 1970s Mexico City. The production designer Eugenio Caballero explains how they created the look for a “modern black and white” film. And if you're still looking for holiday gifts for the movie or design buffs in your life, listen up for suggestions from the creator of “Film and Furniture.”

Transportation officials in LA County have laid out 28 projects they want to complete before the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. To pay for it, LA Metro CEO Phil Washington last week floated a controversial approach: charging tolls on freeways during times of highest use, or what’s known as “congestion pricing.”

“The Cher Show” is a celebration of the rocky but triumphant life of Cher -- and 600 of her spectacular outfits created by the legendary designer Bob Mackie. Also, a production designer shares the decorating tastes of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. And a mid-century concert hall gets restored, and with it a design mystery is solved.