Mixing Modern with Classic

By Eric Richardson
Published: Friday, June 15, 2007, at 01:14PM

Eric Richardson

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — If you haven’t been on Wilshire lately to take a look at the backside of the Roosevelt, I encourage you to make a special trip. It’s a great example of how a historic structure can be combined with some interesting modern architecture.

Everyone’s familiar with the classic stone front the building presents to its 7th and Flower street sides. What you may not realize, though, is that the back was built very plainly. The two lightwells were plain brick with small windows.

The conversion tore out much of that brickwork and has replaced it with a much more modern glass and concrete look. They cut the space diagonally, increasing square footage and making the units seem like they’ll be much more open.

This meld of modern and historic works because the two aspects aren’t ever in view at once. The changes are visible via an alley off Wilshire (pictured), far from the views of the classic front. It’s a smart architectural decision, and a cool way to handle a historic structure.

Roosevelt Chronicles

Mixing Modern with Classic

June 15, 2007

If you haven't been on Wilshire lately to take a look at the backside of the Roosevelt, I encourage you to make a special trip. It's a great example of...

Fakeblogging Development at the Roosevelt

June 07, 2007

I guess it was inevitable, and, heck, it's probably been done elsewhere, but the Roosevelt Lofts' fake blog is just sad. Ed wrote about this over on View...

11 More Stories in Roosevelt Chronicles

Comments

downtown toilet writes:

blogdowntown is doing a much better job of flushing out the details of this renovation than the roosevelt loft blog itself.

# on Jun.15.2007 AT 02:05 PM

fridayinla writes:

I noticed that modern glass touch a few months ago. I think it's unexpected, but looks awesome. Can't wait to see it from the inside looking out.

# on Jun.15.2007 AT 03:50 PM

George writes:

It looks great and all, but some of these new homeowners were banking on the Roosevelt to get some Mill's Act action and save some money on the property taxes. After seeing what they did, mixing the modern with the old, tearing out some of the old brickwork... As pretty as it may be, I don't think they are going to get any Mill's Act love..

# on Jun.15.2007 AT 08:20 PM

cc writes:

I think the Roosevelt blog has stopped. Now it is gone and I kinda of miss it. I guess we were a little too hard on it.

# on Jun.15.2007 AT 08:26 PM

cc writes:

Oops. I just checked and the Roosevelt blog is still on. I thought it has stopped after a couple of days of no activities.

# on Jun.15.2007 AT 08:28 PM

kenarch writes:

George... The Roosevelt won't necessarily (and probably will not) lose Mills Act eligibility due to the remodel / rehab work. The Secretary of the Interior's Historic Building alteration / addition guidelines spell out pretty clearly how such a project needs to be designed in order to not compromise a historic building's eligbility for landmark status. Mills Act status, while not tied to this directly, is somewhat informed by Interior's guidelines. The Roosevelt project created an intervention which is distictly different from and does not compromise the integrity of the original building. The fact that this modern intervention is located, as Eric noted, on the rear and is not visible alongside the historic front and side facades, is quite an intentional decision. I do not see this project compromising Mills Act or other historic landmark status. The Roosevelt is looking more and more like one of the best and most imaginitive loft conversions Downtown.

# on Jun.16.2007 AT 03:47 AM

kenarch writes:

CC... Yeah, we (and curbed.la, where I post as well) were pretty hard on the Roosevelt blog - but I hope it sticks around as well. Mostly, I hope it realizes that the best thing the Roosevelt can do... is to just be itself! It doesn't need to resort to condescendingly selling itself via blog, since it is a fantastic building and looks like it will have an extremely cool community there. Hmmm. Almost makes me want to take a good look at buying... but in this market??? Hmmmmmm.....

# on Jun.16.2007 AT 03:52 AM

Ted writes:

It is a very handsome building with a perfect location. I'm a bit alienated by the valet-only parking, though. Although I take public transit and only use my car on weekends, it's nice to be able to walk to your vehicle without depending on somebody to fetch it.

# on Jun.16.2007 AT 07:48 AM

cc writes:

I personally think it is a fantastic building in an excellent location. I just don't like their marketing tactics and the fact that the developer withhold the deeded parking from the buyers even though they are charging a fair amount of money for the units.

Ted, if you pay $100 additional a month, you can fetch your own car in some designated floors.

# on Jun.16.2007 AT 11:35 AM

Benjamin Pezzillo writes:

I lived in a building with valet parking back east as a teenager, all you have to do is call the attendant and tell them to pull out your car. After awhile the valets learn which cars they can bury all week and which ones to keep close 24/7. Human interaction and tips for exceptional service help too.

The hybrid look caught my eye recently and I like it better than what Barry Shy has done, and is doing, with the rooftops of his buildings on Spring/Sixth and Spring/Seventh/Main.

I agree with Kenarch, I don't see there being a Mills Act issue with the Roosevelt. The facade, architecural details and core elements remain unchanged and preserved.

The fake blog still keeps me from taking a serious look at buying in that building though. We want a home, not a concept.

# on Jun.16.2007 AT 01:01 PM

Lauren writes:

The Roosevelt is fantastic and as L.A.Live ang Grand Avenue are built, (and Mr. Bus works out his problems with 9time NBA Allstar Mr.Bryant)And more people (including those who are louding downtown but not living in it.)move downtown it will be a very popular building. The location is great too. Maybe the Roosevelt should put more on it's website like pictures of construction like L.A.Live and videos of people talking about the project.

# on Jun.16.2007 AT 06:17 PM

Whitman Lam writes:

We don't need Kobe Bryant. We don't need any superstars. Those guys are overpaid and don't care about the sport or the community.

I'm a Los Angeles Sparks fan from now on. I found out that WNBA tickets cost just a tiny fraction of NBA seats. And I am tired of maxing out my credit card for a Lakers team that reeks of apathy and mutiny.

Have a nice weekend everybody. I will be enjoying my $19 second row seat on the baseline at Monday's Sparks game vs. Detroit Shock. And I will get wild. Go SPARKS !!

# on Jun.17.2007 AT 01:45 PM

D writes:

The windows facing the streets in the roosevelt are all single paned so that they would not lose the mills act. they were not allowed to change the windows. the ones facing the courtyard will all be new windows though. Cant wait to move in!

# on Jun.17.2007 AT 03:42 PM

The Roosevelt writes:

There is ongoing discussion as to what to have inside the lightwells. We hope to have someone get more pictures and video of the lightwells this week, and possibly some interior construction photos as well. We'll keep you posted.

# on Jun.19.2007 AT 04:08 PM

John Swartz writes:

I was involved in the design of this building's renovation. I think this glass system was added to the design later. I like it, looks good.

I noticed it when they started building the angled steel frame for the glass a couple months ago.

# on Jun.21.2007 AT 09:51 AM