Platform LA: An Industrial-Modern Oasis in Culver City
- Location: Culver City, CA (Hayden Tract)
- Designer: Abramson Architects (formerly Abramson Teiger Architects) in collaboration with the Runyon Group
The Curation
Platform LA is a 220,000-square-foot design quarter and "boutique retail center" that reimagined a once-abandoned four-acre industrial site. The project celebrates Culver City's grit through a material palette of charred wood, poured concrete, corrugated metal, and rusted steel.
Our products were curated to enhance this "oasis" of independent merchants and creative talent. In the high-traffic central courtyard—a bustling pedestrian hub connecting offices and shops—Bend pieces provide a playful yet sophisticated seating solution that matches the site's "high design" aesthetic. Whether placed under the lush garden nooks or amidst the "raw grit" of repurposed car repair bays, Bend furniture adds a pop of color and architectural texture that stands up to the daily rhythm of one of LA’s most dynamic creative destinations.
The Synergy
The synergy between Bend Goods and Platform lies in a shared commitment to "adaptively re-using" industrial language for modern urban life. Platform’s architecture is a "memory book" of its past as a railroad station and car dealership; similarly, Bend’s wire designs represent a 21st-century "reinvention" of mid-century industrial manufacturing.
Bend was an ideal use case for this project because our furniture is "built like a buffalo" but visually light enough to dance in the California sun. This balance is essential for the sprawling, open-air environment of Platform, where furniture must be durable enough for public use while maintaining the sophisticated vibe of a world-class design quarter.
The Legacy
Completed in 2016, Platform sparked a major revival in the Hayden Tract and has since earned numerous accolades, including the AIA Los Angeles Design Award. The project was led by Abramson Architects, a firm known for creating environments that speak of high design while honoring the "urban grit" of their surroundings.
The site itself holds over a century of history—from a 1900s freight yard to a mid-century dealership—and today, Bend Goods is part of its modern cultural record. Our chairs have been a staple of the Platform experience for years, offering a permanent seat in one of the city's most influential architectural settings.
Products Used
Lucy Chair: Featured throughout the space for its signature "asymmetric triangle pattern" and vibrant presence.
Drum Table: Used as a versatile, geometric surface for visitors in the courtyard and garden areas.
Custom Green Peacock Chair: A standout architectural gesture, specifically bolted down to the concrete to ensure it remains a permanent, immovable fixture for the public to enjoy within the mall's high-traffic environment.
