Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LAX
Los Angeles, USA
- Architects
- Slade Architecture
- Year
- 2015
Client
Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd
(VAA Design Team: Jeremy Brown, Callie Tedder-Hares, Paula Mignucci , Emma Lally)
Architect / Interior Designer
Slade Architecture
(Principals: Hayes Slade, James Slade / Team: Magda Stoenescu ,Tian Gao, David Iseri, Sang Hyun Lee, Emily Puhnaty)
Quantity Surveyor
PT Projects
Lighting Designer
KGM Lighting
MEP Consultants
AMA
Structural Engineer
GMS LLP
Kitchen consultant
Robert Rooze
Contractor
Clune Construction ltd
Commissioned Artists
Vic Lee and Diana Reichenbach
Code Consulting/Expediting
D3 Architecture
Photography
Tom Sibley
Opening
May 8, 2015
The new Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at Los Angeles International Airport is set within a relaxing space overlooking the Hollywood Hills and puts a distinctly Southern California spin on Virgin Atlantic’s warmth and individuality.
The lounge recalls LA’s warm sunsets, flowing surf, laid back lifestyle, mountain backdrops, smooth curves and sculpted surfaces. The reception area envelopes guests in a calm, cleansing environment sheltered from the bustle of the terminal. Leading into the main lounge is a sculpted Corian and copper Flow Wall that continues into the space and cuts diagonally through the lounge as a backdrop for the Clubhouse opposite continuous views that include aircraft, LAX’s iconic Theme Building, runways, the Hollywood Hills and the Hollywood sign.
The sinuous Flow Wall defines a distinct variety of spaces each furnished to provide varied seating and social possibilities within the triangular shaped lounge volume. At the widest part of the triangle, this space is defined by custom designed landscape-like sculpted couches and end tables that provide a variety of relaxed seating that recalls dunes and rolling hills at the glass corner of the lounge facing views of the Hollywood Hills and mountains beyond. Swan chairs by Arne Jacobsen compliment the sculptural language in this area.
The Flow Wall is sculpted at Eat Drink Man Woman to form the copper lined bar, featuring natural Californian produce and plants. The furnishings here include classic Walter Knoll Turtle chairs and a custom fabricated surfboard inspired counter along the windows. This piece is sculpted from layers of bamboo inspired by surfboards, skateboards, boat hulls and polished beach stones. This creates a perfect curated view of the gates and allows one to peer out over the Virgin Atlantic aircraft. The classic Eames chairs at this counter are a direct reference to the famous California design team of Ray and Charles Eames who helped define the modernist California aesthetic.
The apex of the triangular lounge space, beyond the tip of the Flow Wall, encloses The Conversation in warm bamboo lines walls and ceilings framing the Diana Reichenbach video installation. Leather banquets lining this room provide an intimate get-away within the clubhouse. This is the perfect place to enjoy an inspired Virgin Atlantic crafted dinner inspired by Californian lifestyle.
Unique art pieces commissioned by Virgin Atlantic anchor the two ends of the triangular lounge space. In the south corner of the space, Californian based digital media artist Diana Reichenbach has created a beautiful immersive media installation. To the most northerly part of the space a hand drawn wall, by British Artist, Vic Lee, can be experienced.
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