MAD Architects, the firm behind the $1-billion Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and the Gardenhouse condominiums in Beverly Hills, is bringing another outlandish design to Los Angeles.
Yesterday, plans were filed by the City of Los Angeles to redevelop a property near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street with a domed high-rise called "The Star." Plans call for razing multiple small commercial structures, clearing the way for the construction of a new 22-story, 500,000-square-foot office building.
The $500-million development, which would front both Sunset Boulevard and Harold Way, takes cues from a number of Hollywood landmarks, according to its architect.
“The Star is both a testament and addition to the city’s iconic architecture," said MAD Architects founder Ma Yansong in a prepared statement. "Inspired by the curvilinear forms of the Griffith Observatory, Capitol Records Building, Hollywood Bowl, and the Cinerama Dome, it asserts a new typology for the office of the future."
The building's curved profile is landscaped from head to toe, including multiple sky gardens embedded into the side of the tower, as well as terraced green spaces near street level. The Star culminates in a domed rooftop deck, described as a "terrarium-like" space, which offer space for a restaurant - and views of the Los Angeles basin. Eschewing a typical elevator, visitors would access the rooftop through a funicular cable rail.
Billed as the largest new office building in Hollywood, the project is another big bet on the Hollywood office market, which has experienced a resurgence in recent years as companies such as ViacomCBS and Netflix have leased large spaces nearby.
“Since Hollywood is the birthplace of the entertainment industry, The Star’s prime location on Sunset Boulevard and its unique design present an unparalleled opportunity for a major company to make a bold statement and proudly plant their flag in the rightful home of entertainment in LA,” said Edgar Khalatian, who represents project applicant, The Star, LLC.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the limited liability company is a family partnership led by investor Maggie Gong Miracle. A timeline for The Star has not been announced.
More information about the project is available at its official website.
- Hollywood (Urbanize LA)