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Las Vegas Facelift

November 27, 2009

“I have too many fantasies to be a housewife. I guess I am a fantasy.” -Marilyn Monroe

Going to somewhere I dislike is a part of my job description, in an unspoken, not-in-my-job-description kind of way.  I truly get depressed when I arrive at some of these locations, but, occasionally, I become surprised with simple humors that bring me back to my ultimate destination: inspiration.



A couple decades ago, I was on a road trip to Los Angeles from the Midwest. I passed the beautifully painted desert landscapes in southern Utah, along with the curvy and sensual desert mountain roads in northern Nevada.  Then I finally reached a historic stop-over city, Las Vegas.  It is not my favorite destination city in the world: an understatement. Conveniently, on that long road trip, I decided to refuel my exhausted body there.



I’ve never accepted the overuse of electricity.  I am a designer known to avoid Christmas home decorations of any kind. I prefer to be minimal. So when I saw the city for the first time, you can imagine my reaction.  It appeared to condescend through the cheap characteristics in the design details found everywhere.



After few years passed, Las Vegas merged into an internationally recognized fanciful adult playground.  Many notable designers and architects brought a few design trends, celebrity chefs opened restaurants, entertainers sold out shows, and luxury retail brands popped up everywhere, along with top quality white cotton bed sheets in most of the hotels.  My observations of Las Vegas’ facelift have been frequented and closely entertained through my business travels.  So, despite my harsh negative attitudes of visiting displeasured places, I am making notes on inspirational areas: improvements in reducing energy usages, innovations in marquee displays, inclusive technologies, and deliveries on fantasy.

Posted by D.B. Kim on November 27, 2009 | Comments (3)