We spoke with Visualhouse founder Robert Herrick for some background information on the company, as well as where Downtown Los Angeles is going.
For starters, please describe what Visualhouse does. Visualhouse is a creative agency focused on creating compelling brand stories for architecture, design, and the built environment. We work on the world's leading landmark developments from concept level through to completion, producing captivating campaigns that increase value. What are some of the Los Angeles area projects you are working on right now? We're working closely on Olympia and Oceanwide Plaza at present, although we've been involved in the majority of the new developments your seeing going up downtown. How will the Downtown of 2030 compare to the Downtown of 2017, and perhaps more glaringly, the Downtown of 20 years ago? Its been a long time since downtown last boomed and with that last growth came a style of architecture and design we've all become accustomed to. We're going to see a new dawn and era of design come through, these new towers are revolutionary technically and aesthetically compared to last generation. What do you consider to be the neighborhood's current strengths, as well as its weaknesses? Downtown LA has represented a fairly new untapped development market. With a number of companies relocating to new trendy areas of downtown this has lead to endless residential potential to support this growth. We just need to be careful downtown's infrastructure can support this impressive growth. You guys have offices in three other cities besides Los Angeles. In your opinion, is there something unique about projects in Los Angeles versus those in New York, Miami, London and other locations? We do operate across the globe, working on iconic local projects. All projects fit their environmental demands, from an aesthetic and physical perspective. Los Angeles is no different, the projects in downtown are working a very large scale, where design is paramount as gives a unique selling value to the development. This is very similar in Miami, projects are wanting the limelight to sell, so marketing and design is everything. New York and London's established markets can rely on traditional local demand to sell. Some would say Los Angelse is late to the game in reembracing urbanism. Speaking generally, what are some improvements you'd like to see for infill developments in the urban core? LA could be considered late, but when you're dealing with a city that has such little foot traffic and is originated and designed around the car it's unsurprising. The true gentrification of Los Angeles will happen over time, every new restaurant and hot spot is a catalyst for growth. In New York it's widely considered that Keith McNally's next restaurant opening makes neighbourhoods. Larger mixed use developments like Kilroy has done in Hollywood are excellent catalysts to connect up the sparse nature of Los Angeles, further mixed used developments like these would really help speed up the gentrification of the city.- Visualhouse (Official Website)