CA Boom II wrap-up
It has now been just over a week since CA Boom II closed, and after bombarding you with coverage from the event all last week, we are finally ready to put CA Boom II to rest.
To conclude our coverage, we offer a compilation of links (below) as well as some final thoughts on the second year effort to provide a top-rate modern design show on the West Coast.
DAILY REPORTS:
CA Boom II Opening Night
CA Boom II Day One
CA Boom II Day Two
CA Boom II Day Three
HOME TOURS:
Church/Loft - Aleks Istanbullu Architects
Ehrlich Residence - John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects
Entenza Residence - Harwell Harris
511 House - Kanner Architects
Irani House - Glen Irani Architect
Kozely/Farmer Residence - Sant Architects with Griffith & Cletta
Kumagai Residence - Glen Irani Architect
McKinley Residence - Syndesis / David Hertz AIA
Troxell Residence v.2 - Richard Neutra
SPEAKERS CONFERENCE:
"Breaking Ground" Panel Discussion
We mentioned before that this year was much better organized, and we would like to congratulate CA Boom the many improvements this year. For starters, the opening night party featured two huge buffets and open bars. Left hungry last year, we (unfortunately) ate before the party this time around. If last year's opening event was chaotic and skimpy with ravenous partygoers swarming the few appetizer trays and mobbing the bars, this year was subdued yet bountiful; fewer entertainment options but more refreshments. It would seem that word spread of last year's letdown as attendance was light this year.
Moving along to the actual event let us start with the home tours. There were vast improvements in the format and transportation arrangements this year. Departures were on a first-come-first-served basis with boarding passes handed out for specific times. Buses circulated on the route allowing visitors to stay as long or as little as they would like at each location. Also much improved was the venue for the speakers conference which used the stage space within the auditorium where light and sound control were much easier than last year's tent adjacent to Main Street. A very small item which was much appreciated this year was the availability of a pocket-sized guide to the event with listing all of the event times, exhibitors, a map of the venue, and listings of the home tours.
We do have criticisms of the event as well, and we have promised to provide our honest opinion while offering constructive criticism. The biggest problem? People simply did not show up in great numbers this year, which is a shame, but which is no doubt a reaction to disappointment based on last year’s over-hype. The opening night event was somewhat of a bust despite the improvements because of the light crowd. Also unsatisfactory was the inclusion of some less quality homes on the home tours which felt a bit like filler. We were much less impressed with the exhibition this year; fewer exhibitors and lesser quality over all. Most of what we liked we had seen before.
A final point which is more of an observation than a criticism is that the hours of the show were shorter this year, which left less time for us to attend the speakers conferences this year... in fact... the only one we attended was the one we hosted. The length of time needed to complete the home tour circuit meant that only the first or last sessions of the speakers conference were and option for attendees.
We can see how CA Boom can be improved, and having seen the changes made this year, we have no doubt that it will be even better next year. But we began to wonder if perhaps CA Boom wasn't trying to be too many things to too many people? Or, perhaps if the offerings can be expanded, then it will be able to deliver on this idea of bringing together professional designers of all stripes along with home owners and design enthusiasts. One thing is for certain, the design community in Los Angeles must embrace this event for it to truly be a success. So praise must go to all of the speakers, exhibitors and designers who participated. Land+Living will continue to support and promote CA Boom as well.
So, as our first promotion for next year, we gladly announce that CA Boom 3 will be held March 23-26, 2006.
In closing, on behalf of all you L+L readers/viewers who have viewed the extensive photo galleries of the home tours, I must give a shout out to Anthony for his photography this year... I covered the tours alone last year with my point and shoot, but he kicked some serious butt with his professional set up. I managed to capture him in action at the McKinley Residence (see above), check out that dedication to the shot. Bravo!