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Islander, Gardena, CA (apartments) |
Polynesiac
Grand Member (6 years) 
Joined: Jan 29, 2004
Posts: 1831
From: San Pedro, CA
|  Posted: 2008-05-01 9:08 pm
Name:Islander
Type:apartments
Street:1120 W. 155th street
City:Gardena
State:CA
Zip:
country:USA
Phone:310 327 3543
Status:operational
Description:
Huge A-frame, well kept grounds, tikis and nautical decor abound. Obviously, the tenants and ground keepers take a lot of pride in their residence and keep it looking very nice.
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Polynesiac
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: Jan 29, 2004
Posts: 1831
From: San Pedro, CA
| Posted: 2008-05-01 9:11 pm
Sabu referenced the Islander in this thread, but the pictures have vanished:
http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=892&forum=1&hilite=islander%20gardena
I thought there was a thread about The Islander, but I couldn't find it. If there is, please merge or delete this thread as needed.
A few years back, I was exiting my new dentists office with some clean teeth, hopped in the car drove a block and stumbled on this place. I'm still amazed everytime I come across a polynesian theamed apartment complex. Out of hum-drum LA apartment hell areas, comes a shining beacon of architechtual beauty (or oddity - depending on your perspective. Either way, it's different and that's a good thing). I find myself sometimes driving a little out of my way just to pass by some of them, so I can smile.
Anyway, I took these photos about 2 years ago, and it was one of the only rainy days that year. subsequent visits to the dentist have been without camera, but the complex looks exactly like these pictures - very well maintained. Also, the photo of the lava rock waterfall was taken on a day it was off. It is fully functional. I'd love to see this place at night - I bet it has some cool lights on the tikis.
Here they are:
The new Islander sign. Sven has a picture of the old sign on page 218 of BOT. Though not as cool as the other sign, they did try and incorporate a "beachcomber" feel to it with warn looking wood and the font:
Everytime I've passed by there I remember there being a place for rent. anyone want to call and see if they still have anything available? 
View of a-frame entrance and a frames of the side apartments from the street:
side view to show how far out the a-frame comes, good view of the well maintained grounds (I like mine a little more lush, but you can tell these grounds are adored):
A close up of the guardian tiki. He's been painted and moved onto lava rocks (you can see his left leg has rotted away and the top of his head too). I'm guessing the paint was a protective measure, or to hid the rot. At least it's a solid color and he doesn't look like a clown:
View from the other side, showing the entrance way tikis and anchor chain railings and the bridge over water:
Close up of the two entrance way guardians on either side of the bridge. Though a very simplistic style, I love how these tikis look. Note: the anchor chain attached to them:
IN the background of the previous pictures you can see a carving no the bridge, here's a close up. I also like how the bridge wood isn't straight, but torn and weathered looking. I'm guessing it looked more "aged" and has since had a repainting
The rock wall waterfall (not working that day, but I have seen it running):
Cool aged bamboo fence hiding electrical boxes or gas company stuff:
roof close up:
Anchor (details! still there!)
I was unable to enter the complex, but I did shoot a shot into the interior which also looks very well looked after. There really isn't anything too exciting that I could see (no lush gardens or massive tikis), but I do like the spear shaped awning holders over the apartment doors. If you look down in the back of the picture you can make out a building (might be a rec center?) behind a safety fence, which would lead me to believe there is a pool there. Maybe more tikis around the pool?:
extra pic:
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Polynesiac - putting the "F" back in "ART"
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ZuluMagoo
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 26, 2002
Posts: 442
From: Denver, CO
| Posted: 2008-05-01 11:09 pm
Of all the apartment complexes I have hunted down in SoCal, this place is by far my favorite. Here are some shots I took back in 2003 before they changed the color scheme.
The spectacular clubhouse!
Notice it says 'Tiki Hut' on the sliding glass doors.
Waterall is running
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 6552
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2008-05-01 11:18 pm
Great update on the place, Thanks! You can see the original sign in the apartment collage in the BOT, and the entrance in the A-frame collage in Tiki Modern. Since then they must have had another L.A. danger to Tiki atmosphere visit the place: Mexican "Slash and Burn" gardening crews! Their idea of "trimming" is cutting plants down to their stumps, so this Tiki temple has been denuded of much of its lush jungle foliage since I saw it last. There is a very cool rec room in the courtyard, too.
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 6552
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2008-05-01 11:24 pm
Hey Mike, we just parallel-posted from two different continents! YESSSS! That's how I remember the place! Thanks for the thorough documentation!
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Polynesiac
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: Jan 29, 2004
Posts: 1831
From: San Pedro, CA
| Posted: 2008-05-02 08:29 am
WOW! in the couple of years since we took our pictures, they really did tone down the tiki quite a bit. I'm glad there is (was) a cool rec center at the back, I'm curious to get in there now and see if it's still looks that cool. Seems the muted colors are the way to go now...
I love the bamboo covering for the metal poles on the a-frame. They look more like beachcombed ships masts giving the building more of a flotsam & jetsam feel.
thanks for reposting those images!
_________________
Polynesiac - putting the "F" back in "ART"
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