Crown Group plans L.A. debut

Australian developer Crown Group has announced a move into the US market with a proposed US$500 million mixed-use high rise in Los Angeles. With a corner of South Hill – at the convergence of the city’s financial and fashion districts – earmarked for the project, the development includes a joint venture with Singapore-Based Magnus Property to create a 43-storey project designed by Koichi Takada Architects. Crown Group are currently in talks with a number of luxury hospitality brands to incorporate a 160-key hotel within the project, slated to open in 2024.

“It’s rare to find the central district of a large cosmopolitan city on the verge of such significant change,” says Crown Group CEO Iwan Sunito. “Downtown is experiencing a once in a generation revival – led by the heightened convergence of tech, media and entertainment in Los Angeles. There’s a great deal of investment and it’s exciting to think of what Downtown will be like in another few years’ time. It will be a highly sought-after place to live.”

Featuring 319 condominiums spread across the top two floors, along with an exclusive resident’s retreat, the high-rise portion of project will sit behind a facade referencing California’s colossal redwood trees. Down at street level, meanwhile, the tower is grounded by a canopy, and a green wall that will seek to improve the city’s air quality.

“It is our desire, through a nature-inspired approach to architecture, to transform an old warehouse district into a living breathing neighbourhood in LA,” comments Koichi Takada. “We want to humanise tall buildings, to celebrate the pedestrian activities and consider how people experience it,” he said. “We want our tall building designs to be more engaging for the public, and to contribute to the community by activating and creating a connection with the neighbourhood.”

www.crowngroup.com.au