One of our organizing clients has an office at Crossroads of the World in Hollywood.
The art deco moderne complex was designed by Robert V. Derrah in 1936 and is often referred to as the first modern shopping center in America. Various old world cottage bungalows surround one large center building created to resemble a streamline ocean liner. How cool is that?
It's no wonder streamline created such a design influence, even to this day. Below in the black and white picture, you can see how the period inspired this West Hollywood-area streamline duplex home. The home still stands today, we used to walk past it everyday.
Much of 1930s design was borrowed from the golden age of transportation, especially ocean liners. Ocean liners have long been a source of fascination, not only in their beauty but in their functionality. A transatlantic voyage in the 1930's and today's "sea cities" have much in common-- tight, functional storage for adventurous passengers.
During the Golden Age of Travel in the 1930s, transatlantic voyagers captured the allure of distinctively designed passenger cabins: rich woods, fine linens, shiny brass fixtures, flawless service-- all in a postage-sized space with concealed cabinetry, floor-to-ceiling and petite fixtures, this professional organizer's daydream!
Modern day travelers planning a small space can take a design clue from the past and book a voyage on today’s cruise ships. A shrewd use of space and efficiency where high-style and beauty meet functionality hasn’t really changed in over 60 years. The principles are still the same.
Let us know about your small-space adventures. Have you ever traveled on a cruise ship? Was the storage functional (and beautiful) enough for you?
Read more on the Crossroads of the World in Hollywood.
Crossroads - Photos by Floyd E. Bariscale on Flickr
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