One of the few treats of landing at LAX is the game of hide-and-seek I play, scanning for the Theme Building among the hulking parking structures and never-ending construction projects. Interestingly, the obstructions make spotting it more rewarding–the contrast is so stark. There it is: the spindly legs of a retro-futuristic structure that looks like a landed spaceship, standing defiantly among the bland, utilitarian newcomers.

The Theme Building–and other Googie landmarks–expertly conveys a sense of unshakable optimism about the future.

That enduring optimism makes Googie the perfect focus for us as we look toward the future of our own platform here at the new AllThingsArch.com, with a renewed commitment to demystifying architecture. This marks the beginning of an exciting new era at All Things Architecture, and I’m optimistic that we’ll continue to grow into one of the most trusted and inspiring resources in the design world.

Back to Googie, though–its history and legacy are full of compelling stories: eccentric, rule-breaking architects; moments of social progress; and community-led preservation movements. It’s a style that had its finger on the pulse of innovation and aspiration in its time. And remarkably, that inspiration remains just as relevant today.

So, I hope you enjoy the stories we’ve prepared. More importantly, I hope you’ll be inspired to seek out your local Googie gem–whatever and wherever it may be–and rediscover what it means to believe in the promise of the future.

Steve Park, Editor All Things Architecture