Los Angeles, California, USA
Nestled in the light industrial district of a Southern California neighborhood, the former Karr Rubber Manufacturing facility has been transformed by Rockefeller Kempel Architects into an exhibition space that will house a collection of automotive artifacts and design as well as a multi-car collection.
Abandoned for nearly a decade before the architects were commissioned to restore it, the 6,400-square-foot masonry building has been adapted rehabilitating its historic public exterior the existing steel sash frames and glazing, paying homage to its industrial past by keeping the Karr Rubber sign.
For its adaptive and conceptual design, the project has been awarded a 2023 American Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
All the new architectural details and elements have created an open and airy, naturally daylit interior lounge and auto gallery by removing an essential demising wall and adding many skylights.
The architectural team has converted the rear, once concrete industrial yard into a new restorative garden retreat.
With a complete seismic retrofit, and modern features and systems, this local industrial gem has been re-imagined as a place for appreciating automotive art and designing automotive history.
Project: House of Automotive Art + Design
Architects: Rockefeller Kempel Architects
General Contractor: The Hatch Group
Client: GC Lomita, LLC.
Photographers: Eric Staudenmaier
