Hawthorne: Spencer Pratt and Art Deco: LA architecture as a political platform

It’s not often that architecture becomes a major talking point in a race for mayor.But former candidate Spencer Pratt keeps talking about it, firing off a thread on social media on the appeal of Art Deco buildings.“One of the hallmarks of communism is the exaltation of ugliness,” Pratt began, in a post that included a photo of the 1930 Eastern Columbia building on Broadway, perhaps LA’s best-known Deco landmark, alongside one of a hulking concrete tower by Eric Owen Moss Architects, known as the (W)rapper, that was completed three years ago on Jefferson Boulevard.“Contrast our gorgeous Depression-era LA architecture with the commie brutalist slop vomited upon us today,” Pratt declared.

“I’ll support any candidate who vows to throw this architect in prison for crimes against beauty.”Even as some architecture critics have joined Pratt in slamming the (W)rapper — Oliver Wainwright, in The Guardian, called the building “a menacing thing” — it seems unlikely that Pratt’s former rivals, Mayor Karen Bass or City Councilwoman Nithya Raman, would endorse tossing Moss in the slammer.Still, the thread revived a question that’s been bouncing around LA architectural and political circles for several weeks: Why does Spencer Pratt like Art Deco so much?That obsession first emerged in May, during interviews with David Friedberg of the All-In podcast, and the writer Meghan Daum.“We’re going to have LA so beautiful,” Pratt told Friedberg.

“No more of these high-density, SB 79, prison-like structures.We need to bring Art Deco back.” California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story The SB 79 reference was to a state housing bill, set to take effect July 1, that allows denser apartment construction in neighborhoods near transit lines....