Type
Commercial
Location
Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Scale
2,000 square feet
Status
Speculative
People
Chad Karty, Clara Dykstra, Ru Moyers, Dave Croke
SPEEDBOAT proposed a redesign of the outdoor dining area for Hollywood French bistro Gigi’s that responded to the spatial constraints of urban infrastructure with a fresh, creative solution. Our concept used a lightweight framing system and panelization to create both a cozy space for seating and a stylish shelter from the street. The design was inspired by the Paris Metro Stations created by Hector Guimard– elegant, airy, and structural forms that invite guests and serve as iconic markers for the restaurant. While the Paris Metro Stations were classic examples of Art Nouveau, our design used cleaner, more modern graphic and detailing logics to marry the atmosphere of a historic Parisian street with that of a contemporary Hollywood boulevard. We invented a custom powder-coated aluminum framing system that would allow for rapid assembly on site through collaboration with Eric Schwartz of Auxo Structures. Fabric panels were designed in detail with intricate strappings reminiscent of fine garments. Space for plantings and privacy were considered as part of the environment, which allowed for flexible seating arrangements, for parties ranging from 2-12 with varying degrees of privacy and publicness.
