A few jobs back, I was scouting for a “mansion under construction” for a movie. The main character was supposed to be as rich and powerful as they come, and the house being built had to reflect the latest and greatest in contemporary design.
I ended up finding the greatest number of options in the hills over West Hollywood, an extraordinarily expensive zip code where it seems like every third address is a new home being built from scratch.
As I was touring a site with a contractor, I commented that he must have a difficult job, because what’s ultra contemporary in architecture and design changes so frequently, quickly giving what was previously hip a dated feel.
“Ten years,” he replied. I asked what he meant. “Ten years, then a house is too outdated and embarrassing for these rich people to show their friends. So they have us tear it down and build them a new one. Every ten years, like clockwork.”
I asked if he’d ever had to tear down a house he’d built. “Oh yeah, all the time,” he said. “It’s crazy, I know, but hey – at least I never stop working.”
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