apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

those molded flowers aren't holding it together. they're skate-stoppers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Grind-prevention.jpg
unfortunate, because that bench vault looks great for skateboarding (minus the bumpy ground). it's too bad city-developers don't incorporate multi-purpose architecture into these sorts of public spaces. they'd save money and resources on building over-developed skateparks by allowing skaters to skate things they're building anyways.

I've put a call into the museum to find out more about the tiles, so I'll keep you posted!

thank goodness! dang skate punks...

I am imagining a replica bench in a funky venice garden. I wonder how labor intensive and what the expense might be behind a do it yourself smaller version. ahhh homework.

I agree, those are skateboard stoppers and they are there for a good reason, not just to protect that beautiful bench, but it's also a liability issue for many public buildings I would imagine and thus to prevent any potential lawsuits as well as damage to the buildings etc themselves.

it's a shame that we have to resort to this but skateboarders are legion everywhere, even here in Seattle and they are the ruddest bunch by skating up and down sidewalks where people are trying to walk.

I'm all for skate parks if they reduce skateboarders off of our streets and sidewalks (and not to mention, riding the railings etc of various buildings).

Having been around since the inception of skateboards both Round 1 in the 60's and the later Round in the 70’s that caught on and is still with us today. Born and raised in Dog town, having spawned a demon skater who is now 28...might be a genetic thing as I was a skater myself...

I have to say I find these remarks in this forum regarding skateboarding somewhat offensive. Surly there must be a better forum for such remarks than the likes of an apartment therapy post highlighting blue tiled benches in Ventura County. However, since you insist then I want my opinion put in the mix.

Primarily skating is a mode of transportation for many. When cars caught on and the market reached a certain saturation point, they paved roads to accommodate automobile traffic. In Los Angeles in the 1970's bike paths were included in road planning when we decided to accommodate the growing numbers of bikers on the roads, this helped to mitigate certain safety issues but skaters as commuters were at that time ignored and since then have been vilified more often than not. City planning to include skateboarders, even though the numbers are legion and I believe would grow even more with different civic attitudes, was not even noteworthy back then.

Here in Los Angeles where skateboarding was invented, it was looked upon and marketed as a kids toy and has never been allowed to make the leap from that niche to that of which it is “transportationâ€� and “green transportationâ€� at that.

The phenomenon of empty pool - bench - rail skating is an offshoot of skateboarding original intentions but not such a leap when you observe how surfboards are utilized and understand that most skaters in the beginning were primarily surfers. My younger brother was directly involved in this “outside the box utilization of skateboardsâ€� movement back then at the inception. Empty pools during a drought, if that is not creative I do not know what is.

Some smart and friendly city planner finally decided to have a different attitude about our skateboarding friends and this is where skate parks started to pop up in the 1990’s. Skate parks came into being partly to try to stop what they perceived and real lawlessness and some because they supported the cause. Skate parks come in handy but skate parks do not mean skaters will not be on the streets/sidewalks nor should they be banned from the use of streets / sidewalks. Skaters are not stupid the more places they can skate the better is the mindset of most.

Green transportation needs to be encouraged, just like bicycles. My opinion is not the popular opinion especially as skateboarders are looked upon as the rude rotten bastard children of rude rotten bastards and bitches. My vision of a skateboarding friendly community is the subject of an ecological friendly post at some future date.

In addition, when I read the comments like these especially since this has all been precipitated by Laure saying she would love the blue flower concrete things to hold up a mirror in her home (Which by the way I commend you on your ability to think outside the box Laure what a great idea!).

I would like to add that Skateboarding all started from outside the box thinking and it precipitated a continuous steam of outside the box thinking for thirty some odd years that is why I support anyone right to skate anytime anywhere. However, if someone whats to protect or block private or public property being utilized by skaters I support their right to do so. Especially if their right to do so gives people like Laure a great idea for hanging a mirror in their home.

All of this is just my perspective and I am sure could be argued into the ground. I could go on but I am sure you have had enough.