Pacific Mercantile Bank Building
Los Angeles is filled to the brim with brilliant examples of Midcentury architecture. The overabundance of the style makes many feel a bit jaded about the significance of the buildings built during the era. Personally, I believe that some Midcentury buildings are a bit overated and lack architectural details that could set them apart from their cohorts. The Pacific Mercantile Bank building in Beverly Hills is an exception to this rule.
Front Facade of the Mercantile Building
Originally landmarked as the Home Federal Savings building, the nine story edifice (circa 1962) stands as a beacon of imaginative Midcentury design that is still being copied today. The exterior of the building is a contemporary interpretation of Venetian Palazzo design: think the Palace of the Doge meets the Jetsons. The consecutive elongated arches that are a common trait in traditional Venetian architecture are repurposed here in a more repetitive manner. Edward Durrell Stone designed the building to have a glass and metal skeleton that is sheathed in a white concrete skin. This design allowed for a simplified construction plan while still producing a visually striking building.
The Palace of the Doge, Venice, Italy
Archways of the Palace of the Doge
Arches of the Mercantile Building
The Mercantile Building's arches have inspired many new buildings that have sprung up across Los Angeles. The Peterson Automotive Museum's new location features an amorphous stainless steel exoskeleton wrapped around a glass underside. The Broad Museum, my place of work, features architectural features that are remarkably similar to the Mercantile Building's design. The Broad, designed by Diller, Scofidio, and Renfro, features a glass underbelly covered with a 'veil' made of white concrete. The veil resembles an asymmetric honeycomb that is reminiscent of the Mercantile Building's arches. It is apparent that Stone's 1962 design has endured through the decades and inspired architects of this century.
The Peterson Automotive Museum Exterior, courtesy of The Peterson Automotive Museum
The Broad Museum Exterior featuring the porous 'veil' , courtesy of The Broad Museum
If you'd like to take a closer look at the Pacific Mercantile Bank Building, you can visit anytime!
Pacific Mercantile Building - 9720 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Cheers,
Hugh
