eric owen moss architects: cactus tower

'cactus tower' by eric owen moss architects, culver city, california
image © tom bonner


while in LA, designboom had the opportunity to visit eric owen moss architects' 'cactus tower',
located in culver city, california. sited adjacent to an existing 1940's warehouse, the fifty-foot tall unit originally
functioned as an industrial press.



overall view
image © tom bonner


symbolic of the drought tolerant greenery on the west los angeles skyline, the design is the result of combining
an environmental advocacy position with an outdoor space and a new truss typology.



meeting area with potted cactus canopy above
image © tom bonner


stripped back to expose its original steel framework, the tower has been repurposed as an outdoor meeting area
for the production company who occupies the abutting building. once enwrapped in a corrugated metal,
the unit has been reconceived as an open web of steelwork and plantlife.  



detail of structural framework and pots
image © tom bonner


a new platform is installed mid-way up the tower, providing a canopy that defines the communal space.
the new structure is composed of 28 steel pots, each holding sufficient earth for a single, mexican fence post cactus.
arranged in a grid, every pot-line is a linear sequence of five cacti, and a new structural truss that spans
from one edge of the original steel skeleton to the other. in the center, two pots are omitted to allow for the
penetration of natural light into the gathering area below. irrigation lines and lights are integrated into the system
and are invisible from ground level.



view from below
image © designboom


the original 30,000 square foot warehouse has been converted into a multi-purpose production studio.
a variety of open and closed conference facilities, private offices, post-production venues and relaxation
accommodations are housed within the existing shell of the unit. three glass roll-up doors line the perimeter walls,
opening onto the 'cactus tower' outside, while bridging indoor and outdoor environments. 



the pots are aligned in a grid
image © tom bonner


be sure to check out designboom's article on the 'samitaur tower', which we also visited while in culver city.



converted interior of existing warehouse
image © tom bonner



reception
image © tom bonner



second level
image © tom bonner



approach
image © designboom



night shot
image © tom bonner



site plan
image © eric owen moss architects



plan
image © eric owen moss architects



section through pots
image © eric owen moss architects



section through pots
image © eric owen moss architects



elevation
image © eric owen moss architects



elevation
image © eric owen moss architects