Hollywood/Vine Station
1999
Gilbert Lujan, artist
Miralles Associates, Inc., architects
One of the most famous intersections in the world—Hollywood and Vine—is the site of this station designed by artist Gilbert “Magu” Lujan in collaboration with Miralles Associates, Inc. Artist and architect worked together to evoke the history, glamour and excitement of the Hollywood film industry’s yesteryears and its great movie palaces.
Symbols of Hollywood, which speak of the social vehicles and the dynamics that made Hollywood and Vine the world's film fantasy capital, adorn the street level of this station. Bus shelter designs make reference to Grauman's Chinese Theater, a stretch limousine, and the Brown Derby Restaurant. The elevator entrance resembles a movie theater with its marquee greeting riders on the street.
From the street level plaza down to the subway platform, passengers follow paving which recalls the yellow brick road from the "Wizard of Oz" and pass by 240 hand painted art tiles on the station walls. The interior handrailing design houses the musical notes to the song “Hooray for Hollywood.” The interior of the station contains various artifacts and references to the film industry. Film reels decorate the ceiling while two original film projectors from the 1930s, donated by Paramount Pictures, are on exhibit.
On the platform, the artist created sculpted benches depicting themes that are reminiscent of Los Angeles's car culture and its significance to the local cityscape. The team has included electrical hook-ups for a future video wall to screen old movie classics and artist videos.
Plans for the portal and existing plaza call for a new hotel, condominiums and apartments to be completed by Fall 2009.
“What evolved, in searching for design elements and solutions for this station, was the implication of Hollywood as a dream factory for world culture. The ingredients were light and power, fantasy and enchantment, glitz and glitter. The theater was the extension and satellite of Hollywood's pervasive influence everywhere.” Gilbert “Magu” Lujan & Adolfo Miralles