The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 127

Fsshion 'J i I 1 vi i fkf? J.s -J, i if ffi-. ii.V" :4 "I r-I il lf fm i lift rwmmtmm pip til PBMIillp 1 If i lata IMP Fit r1? mmmm mit I 1 nn pop i 1 'I I MMv tvr 47.. hw4L; BY DICK TURPIN Tlmtt RhI EtMti Idllor The Irvine luxurious shopping center, Fashion Island, in Newport Beach, unveils its sparkling stores and inviting plazas for business Monday. A restful park-like atmosphere permeates the 75-acre, $20 million complex, one of the largest of its kind ever constructed as a single building project Its 56 stores are designed for the utmost in shopping convenience and diversity of soft goods businesses as well as physical beauty. A central pedestrian mall has a striking offset pattern of store fronts which eliminate monotony and create a series of random plazas, fountains, a pond, bridge and children's play court Overlooks Pacific Ocean Fashion Island actually overlooks the Pacific Ocean from its man-hewn mesa at Newport Center, the Irvine Co.

development which eventually will encompass 622 acres and Include office buildings, high-rise apartments, financial and entertainment centers. The island-on-the mesa will serve as a town square for surrounding communities as well as becoming a major tourist attraction, according to Daniel A. O'Farrell, center manager. It is bounded by four major traffic arteries, MacArthur Pacific Coast Highway, San Joaquin Hills Drive and Jamboree Road. The site became a familiar place to the world in 1953 when 50,000 Boy Scouts were encamped there for jthe National Boy Scout Jamboree.

Four major department stores comprise the nucleus of the vast shopping area with three of the nation's most famous firms as architectural participants. Overall Master Planning Welton Becket Associates were responsible for the overall master planning and coordination of Fashion Island, the design of Buffums' department store and the mall shops. Charles Luckman Associates designed both the Broadway and the J. C. Penney store.

The latter is the largest among the Penney chain. William L. Pereira designed the center's largest tenant, the Robinson's. O'Farrell said the center is matchless for its site and access conditions. Nearly a million square feet of stores are located within an oval-shaped area with parking for 5,500 cars.

Newport Center Drive, a six-lane, two-way boulevard, encircles the oval for more than a mile and is linked to four major highways by five avenues reaching out from the hub. Fashion Island's tenant mix, housed in 52 mall stores, includes restaurants, jewelry, toy, apparel, candy, book, sporting goods, tobacco, yardage, shoe, wine, barber, maternity and gift a beauty salon and a radio station. Its architectural design blends neo-Spanish and Mediterranean with overhanging eaves, tile roofs, colonnades, porticos and courtyards. Landscaping Design Fountains, statues and mosaic art are all part of the landscaping and beautification design provided by Sasaki-Walker Associates. The $1 million landscaping project includes 16,500 trees and shrubs planted within the 75 acres.

Quinton Engineers, did the site engineering and Diversified Builders constructed the Broadway, the mall shops and did site work; Allison Honor Co. built the J. C. Penney store; Jackson Bros, built Buffums1 and C. L.

Peck built Robinson's. Coldwell, Banker Co. was the leasing agent for the Irvine owner of 88,000 acres of Please Turn to Page 14, Col. 2 ON THE MALL Decorativa pond enhances mall at $20 million Fashion Island shopping center in Newport Beach. Formal opening is slated Monday HOMES and INDUSTRY SECTION SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1967 MUSIC FOR SHOPPERS sSeventy-three wind-activated aluminum bells play their ever-changing tune at entry to J.

W. Robinson's store, at left. 1 1 lilt's i SOLUTION TO WORLD'S HOUSING NEEDS-MUD -Hi htm, jtaj.fi, Sti 'f A 8 4 (Ik- vy 1 is-- 4 BY GEORGE GETZE Tlmt Sclnict Wrltw People multiply faster than houses. The world seems to be losing the battle to provide shelter for the millions of families that are added to its population every year or so. What makes the desperate situation worse in many parts of the world is that mud, the most plentiful of all building materials, could solve the problem if it were widely enough used.

Similar Soil That is why the International Institute of Housing Technology has been established at Fresno State College. The Fresno soil and climate are similar to those of the regions of earth where mud houses are usually built XT' i .5 TIME TEST Two hours in water dissolves ordinary mud brick, left, but not 'Fresno brick at the right. In fact, the first houses white men built in California, and some of the sturdiest they still build, are made of mud or adobe. Technological improve-Turnto Pg. 12, Col.

1 1 1 1 li HIGH FASHION SPECIALISTS Buffums', located at the promontory of Fashion Island, is one of the center's four department stores. Times photos by Ben Olcnder NEW LIFE FOR DEPRESSED AREA? Center Cure Seen Blight dS I'mi il 4 i i The much-awaited and much-debated Los Angeles Convention and Exhibit Center is destined to waft new life into the depressed environs of its site at Figueroa St and Pico Blvd. Its presence will reverse the creeping structural paralysis which has long blighted the area between downtown and what is now the Santa Monica Freeway, predicts architect-planner Charles Luckman. The proposed $35 million, 31-acre complex is bound to stimulate private development and transform the presently drab surroundings from "nothing to something," Luckman declared. Complete Face-Lifting Start of construction on the center would engender other new construction and rehabilitation in the surrounding area, the architect said.

"In 10 years, there would be a complete face-lifting. You would see new office buildings, hotels, restaurants and high-rise apartments. "It's logical for a new theater and entertainment district and retail shops to be added Jo serve those attending conventions. begin Monday. Eight of the 15 council-men must approve financing measures calling for the sale of $35 million in revenue bonds.

1 Charles Luckman Associates, from its base at 9220 Sunset is doing work on other major convention centers: 1 New York's Madison Square Garden Center, $75 million. 2 A downtown Phoenix auditorium and convention center, $15 million. 3 Jack Kent Cooke's Forum for sports, stage productions and conventions in Inglewood, $9 million. Open Barn Approach Such a plethora of designing requires a plan tailored for the distinctive needs of each project, Luckman said. "The old open barn approach is an inadequate, money-losing proposition.

The day of the single purpose 'white operating on a part-time basis, is over. "Throughout the country, most convention-exhibits are held in separate, usually, out-dated facilities which are scattered, inaccessible and therefore ex Pleas Turn to Page 17, CoL "There is no site in Los Angeles with as much egress and ingress for such a center 10 surface streets in the vicinity and the ready access to the freeway system (Harbor and Santa Monica freeways). There are 15 freeway ramps to and from the freeways already in existence." Economic benefits to the city from the center would result in more than $40 million annually in sales tax revenue, it is estimated. Council Action Required Neil Petree, president of the nonprofit Los Angeles Convention and Exhibition Center Authority which will operate the center, said: "We believe this facility will produce $144.75 million annually in direct and indirect benefits to the city of Los Angeles." His group anticipates completion of the center by late 1969. To meet that desired goal, immediate City Council2 action is required, Petree and other members of his commission told couh-cilmen at month-end committee hearings two weeks ago.

Full council hearing! are, expected ta 'S i-jgsssii 3 1 -ACRE COMPLEX Architect Charles Luckman points out features of proposed $35 million Los Angeles Convention end Exhibit Center on model, Th facility, to be built ot Figuerca nd Pico Blyd, il expected to enrich the city by S144J5 million annually. Timet photo bj Jack Carrlck.