Architecture in Los Angeles has long been a point of fascination as well as a target of derision. Historians such as Mike Davis and Norman Klein have written about the city's bizarre relationship with its buildings and urbanism in books like City of Quartz and The History of Forgetting, while movies such as Blade Runner have depicted our downtown monoliths in ominous ways. The Armory Center for the Arts wants to continue the debate. The think tank behind Big City Forum, an interdisciplinary project that brings together artists, designers, writers and architects to discuss L.A.'s cultural environment, has put together a new panel discussion for its “Transforming the Social” lecture series: Architecture/Complexity/Generosity. How does Los Angeles architecture adapt to community-based needs? How can architecture in L.A. evolve to reimagine the daily life of the city in a more generous and complex way? Find out in a talk moderated by Will Wright, director for the government and public affairs department of the L.A. chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Panelists are illustrious architect Michael Maltzan, community-driven designer Theresa Hwang and influential building and interior designer Peter Zellner. Armory Center for the Arts, 145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena; Wed., Sept. 4, 7-9 p.m.; free. (626) 792-5101, armoryarts.org.

Wed., Sept. 4, 7 p.m., 2013

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