L.A. MART® DESIGN CENTER PARTNERS WITH SHIMODA DESIGN GROUP,
LA ARCHITECT / LA INSIDE MAGAZINES AND TAISEI CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION TO PRODUCE
“FINE LIVING: THE LOFT LIFE,” PRESENTED BY BULTHAUP KITCHEN ARCHITECTURE
Event takes place during the NeoCon® West trade show, hosted at the L.A. Mart, March 9-10, 2005
LOS ANGELES [Dec. 23, 2004] – Residential design adds further dimension to the 2005 NeoCon®West trade show with the debut of Fine Living: The Loft Life, a compelling installation exploring creativity and innovation inherent within an urban loft environment, March 9-10, 2005, at the L.A. Mart.®
Fine Living: The Loft Life will consist of space dedicated to living, dining/kitchen, bath and sleeping, serving as a testament to a contemporary lifestyle through overall design and architecture, furnishings, state-of-the-art electronics and appliances, art and high-end accessories. Fine Living also underscores how great design can maximize limited space to create the ultimate living environment that is streamlined, functional and luxurious.
Los Angeles-based Shimoda Design Group, whose recent credits include the design of the Mikimoto jewelry store at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel and the Rolex Building, both in Beverly Hills, Calif., as well as the Steelcase showroom in Santa Monica, Calif., has joined L.A. Mart Design Center, LA Architect and LA Inside magazines, along with Taisei Construction corporation, to realize an unexpected conceptual interpretation of a downtown loft.
“The idea of a loft is really an attitude about how one desires to live; it becomes a choice,” said Joey Shimoda, principal, Shimoda Design Group. “This version of the loft life is an effort to maximize the experience of living in Downtown Los Angeles. Our interest is in the creation of architecture within a tight configuration of space. How does one take a typical “shoe box” footprint and make it a meaningful architectural and living experience? How do we find and re-create the essential qualities of a loft? That is the challenge of this endeavor. We want to create a condition where the physical and mental transformation of space reflects the mood and moment of the inhabitant. The line between activities blur, and the flow of fine living reveals the essence of the loft life.”
Not merely a static loft showcase, Fine Living will be created for and inhabited by a fictional couple to better demonstrate the uniquely personal relationship and interactivity between home and homeowner, and how the look, feel and form of our personal spaces are expressions of our individuality.
“Fine Living is as timely as it is an intriguing project, which allows us to articulate how the current Downtown Los Angeles loft phenomenon is pushing the design envelope,” said Jeff Sampson, director of marketing, L.A. Mart Design Center. “Moreover, Fine Living’s residential focus further enhances NeoCon West as the West Coast’s leading design trade show offering more than 4,000 attendees greater depth of information and inspiration for projects across the design spectrum.”
FINE LIVING SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
As part of the two-day trade show, Fine Living includes a variety of events and activities to complement the NeoCon West schedule.
Seminar Presentation
Fine Living: Creating the Loft Life, $30 pre-reg, $40 on-site
Wednesday, March 9, 3-4 p.m., Exhibit Hall, 2nd floor
Moderator: Jesse Brink, editor-in-chief, LA Architect/LA Inside, joined by Ilse Metchek, executive director, California Fashion Association
Register on-line at www.merchandisemart.com/neoconwest
Fine Living / NeoCon West Cocktail Party
Wednesday, March 9, 6 p.m.
Exhibit Hall, 2nd floor
R.S.V.P. 213.763.5731
L.A. Mart Design Center Showroom Events & Activities (throughout both days)
Floors: Lower Level, Main Level, 10, 11, 12
March 9-10
Accoutrements, Suite 1268
Altitude Interiors, Suite 1240
Art & Frame Direct, Suite 110
Bonnie Sherman & Associates, Suite LL-60
cbk, Ltd., Suite 340
Corsican/Swan Brass Beds, Suite 1230
East West International, Suite 920
Filbert & Fig, Suite 1046
Haptor/Barrett, Suite 1104
JTA, Inc., Suite LL-70
PALECEK, Suite 1048
R.P. Brooks & Son, Suite 1145
Robert Snoddy & Assoc., Suite 969
Trends & Traditions, Suite 1142
Two’s Company/Tozai Home, Main Level 2
For more information about NeoCon West and Fine Living: The Loft Life, contact Jeff Sampson, director of marketing, L.A. Mart Design Center, at (213) 763-5801 or visit www.merchandisemart.com.
ABOUT L.A. MART DESIGN CENTER
As the pre-eminent market center in the Western United States, the L.A. Mart is home to 300 residential, decorative accessory and gift showrooms serving the interior design and retail industries. L.A. Mart Design Center features the finest names in furniture, home décor, fabric, floor and wall coverings, fine art, antiques, lighting and lifestyle merchandise, offering an unparalleled depth and range of product resources for the design professional.
The L.A. Mart Design Center is centrally located in the heart of the Furniture & Decorative Arts District at 1933 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, Calif., 90007, at the corner of Broadway and Washington Boulevard. For more information about the L.A. Mart and Fine Living: The Loft Life, please visit www.lamart.com (click on L.A. Mart under “Properties”) or call 800.LAMART.4.
ABOUT THE FINE LIVING PRODUCER PARTNERS
Shimoda Design Group was founded in 1999 on a multi-disciplined platform that seeks to bring quality design, innovation and technical excellence in projects of every scale. In addition to the core staff of six, the studio has the ability to assemble an optimum team of design professionals according to each clients needs. They include planners, landscape architects, graphic designers, lighting consultants and marketing professionals. Currently the firm has ongoing projects in Dallas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. For more information visit us at www.shimodadesign.com.
LA Architect magazine seeks to inform, enlighten, provoke and entertain. We believe that design encompasses all that impacts our perception and use of space – architecture, interiors, graphic design, art, furniture design, landscape and photography. Our aim is to bring together all of the elements and tools that make design work. LA Architect provides a forum for discussion of issues affecting design in a region well-known for trailblazing. LA Architect is the official publication of the AIA of Los Angeles, published bi-monthly by Balcony Media, Inc. For more information visit us on-line at www.laarch.com.
LA Inside magazine is the latest publication by Balcony Media, Inc. LA Inside’s regular columns provide industry news, a calendar of events, and reviews of current projects, products, books and exhibitions. Feature stories profile practitioners, chart history, analyze materials and techniques, take field trips and more. Unlike a typical “shelter” magazine, LA Inside is both immediate and evergreen providing the latest trade news that is enduring and relevant. For more information visit us on-line at www.lainsidemag.com.
Taisei Construction Corporation has been engaged in the United States as contractor and developer since 1982. A subsidiary of Taisei Corporation, the world's largest construction engineering company according to Engineering News Record's-The Top 225 Global Contractors. Taisei is headquartered in Cypress, California with offices in San Jose, California; and Honolulu, Hawaii. Taisei has constructed a variety of projects across the United States ranging from commercial, hospitality, industrial, hi-tech manufacturing facilities, and tenant improvements. Taisei Corporation was established in 1874 and is one of Japan's leading engineering and construction companies. For more information visit us on-line at www.taisei.com.
L.A. MART/MMPI
The L.A. Mart is a registered trademark of MMPI. NeoCon West is a registered trademark of MMPI.
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.
MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart, Chicago Apparel Center, and 33 North Dearborn in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building in New York; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Washington Office Center in Washington, D.C.
Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.
MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:
Joanna Mineau
Director of Public Relations
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI)
Phone: 312-527-7074
E-mail: jmineau@mmart.com
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