The Red Shed
The owners of Electric Avenue invited Social Studies Projects (SSP) to design a freestanding pavilion to be used as both a waiting room for clients and a lunchroom for mechanics. Taking inspiration from greenhouse structures, SSP designed a simple red steel framework, clad in twin-wall polycarbonate panels to keep the interior bright, while gently obscuring the surrounding parking lot from view.
The design concept was inspired by the more industrial, structurally expressive architecture of the mid-century era, so prevalent in the neighborhood of Silverlake in Los Angeles -- also home to many works by Richard Neutra, Rudolph Schindler and the like. This structural framing translated into a complementary suite of tables, benches and cabinets designed custom for the project, powder-coated in shades of goldenrod and peach. The color scheme, initially taken from the garage’s own signature red signage and exterior paint, evolved to include adjacent tints of coral and goldenrod, inspired by the natural variation of that red paint at its most sunsoaked moments.
Keeping in mind Los Angeles’ warm weather, open clerestories on two sides provide cross ventilation to the space. Landscaping by Katy Valentin, including jasmine planted around the structure’s perimeter, was designed to play against the hard-lined geometries of the architecture. The effect is a multisensory experience; sitting inside, visitors enjoy a playful and bright environment, floral aromas and the vibrant sounds of the neighborhood beyond.
