Googie Architecture Comeback

source: https://www.bestcoastdevelopers.com/googie-architecture-comeback/

SPACE AGE LANDMARKS (1950’s)

Norm’s restaurant on La Cienega Boulevard in West Hollywood was granted landmark status last week; this classic example of Googie modern architecture will thankfully be spared from the wrecking ball for the time being. It’s a cherished late night diner and a symbol of 1950’s design and attitude.

Also known as Populuxe or simply Modern Architecture, the Googie style grew from the streamlined modern style of the 1930s, but with more color and pizzazz to illustrate the increased wealth of the average American as we moved into the space age.

The beauty of Googie architecture was its appeal to the middle class and its theme of the future is now, and accessible to everyone; rather than temples created for the elite, Googie buildings included coffee shops, gas stations and car washes – everyday places people used and lived in. The style arose during the advent of the car culture, as a way to catch drivers’ attention to the amenities ahead, as they raced down the freeway in their new cars.

The name Googie was coined by writer and critic Douglas Haskell. Upon viewing the 1949 John Lautner-designed Googies coffee shop in west Hollywood, he remarked “this is Googie architecture!” Googie was the family nickname of the original owner’s wife. Haskell was not a fan of the style, but the deragatory name stuck and is now beloved by many. While Los Angeles has the greatest concentration of the style today, you can find these playful structures in many places, including Miami, Las Vegas, Wildwood New Jersey and the Midwest. In fact, the early McDonald’s and Bob’s Big Boy restaurants sported Googie style.

It’s an exuberant forward-looking design that conveyed hope and prosperity. Although many Googie buildings were demolished as tastes changed, Angelenos and visitors alike get immediate exposure upon arrival at LAX (the Theme building, pictured above).

It’s an unpretentious and fun style and I’ve always been a huge fan. For more history, check out the story links below.
Googie: Architecture of the Space Age – Smithsonian.com
An Introduction to Googie…. Curbed.com
Norm’s Restaurant Landmark Designation – LA Times
Posted May 26, 2015