The Edison, that you can find in the basement of the Higgins Building in LA, was once home to the city’s first power station. Built by brass-baron Thomas Higgins, who had a dream: to move downtown to LA’s then-vacant west part, where Wall Street West is today. Of course, the center of the city was to be his own building, sporting all advances of science: lightning-quick electric elevators, lighting, clean running water. However, this was 7 years before LA had its electric grid, so Higgins needed an own plant.

This is the one. After it’s start, it was in use for a few decades, but later it’s been left to decay.

That, until Andrew Meiran (an interesting, Tim Burton-esque figure) and his partner bought it to restore it’s glam and create a legendary club in its place. The place, that took 3 years and 2 million to build, is an ode to the industrial revolution and the endless optimism of the era.

The builders preserved everything they could: the steam engine and the line of generators from the ’30s are al there, together with the original piping. The turbines been found in a bad condition, but after thorough cleaning they are on display too – cut in half, so while you sip your cocktail, you can have a look inside. The DJ’s cabinet is in the place of the former chimney entrance. All new pars built – the steps of the entrance, or the central bar – all have the same style.

After the opening in 2007, The Edison quickly became a cult place. The designer Meiran only heard of steampunk a week after the grand opening. The ‘industrial cathedral’, together with its victorian, gothic and art deco elements is one of the best examples of this style.

The Well

The Lab

Tesla lounge

Music room

The Main bar

Generator room

Game room

Ember parlour

And a map of the whole place

Imagine a house designed by Zaha Hadid… then imagine a house designed by Zaha Hadid set in the lush vegetation with its own pool and Turkish baths – then you have Capital Hill Residence. This private villa is situated on the north-face hillside of Barvikha, a luxury village west of Moscow. The area is dotted with luxury dachas and covered by rich vegetation of pine and birch trees that typically grow up to 20m high.

The villa is built with pre-cast and in-situ cast concrete, steel and glass. It has Hadid’s characteristic fluid design and is divided into two main components: the first one nicely merges with the sloped landscape, while the second is a separate volume floating 22 meters above the ground to benefit from the stunning views of the Barvikha forest over the trees.

The residence is divided into four levels. The lower level or basement is dedicated to leisure space and will include a living room, massage and fitness areas as well as sauna and hamman (Turkish) baths. The ground floor will host the living room, dining, kitchen, entertainment, indoor swimming room and parking spaces. The main entrance lobby, study/library, guest room and childrenâ€s room are distributed on the first floor while the master bedrooms and a lounge with exterior terrace occupy the upper level.

The two main components of the house are connected by three concrete columns that establish a strong dialogue between the two volumes and function as structural elements: within the interior space of the columns are the vertical shafts required to place all mechanical elements and services connecting to the upper level. Incorporated within the space between the columns is the vertical circulation of the house where a transparent glass elevator and staircase are situated, providing a direct connection between the lower and the upper levels.

On the first floor the main entrance holds three concrete columns which intersect the main roof. Skylights and a double-high space are created. The view from the living room, following the grand staircase located in the entrance lobby, is framed by two curved in-situ cast concrete structures. These concrete structures serve both a structural purpose and the function purpose creating of the divisions between main living room, dining room and indoor swimming pool.

The project is expected to complete in 2010 – you can see it as it currently is on the map below (good idea to look around to see whatever else the Russian nouveau riche building there).

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