The client sought to both restore a 50 room Mid Century Modern landmark Motel to its former glory and to create a neighborhood social catalist. Through an updated reinterpretation of the original 'porte cochere", the architects created a covered open air restaurant which spills out into a newly landscaped garden with reflecting pools. Both garden and restaurant are shielded from the street by an aluminum louvered screen which defines seating areas and performance spaces and becomes the updated unifying graphic element for the re-birth of the Motel.