L.B. MAJOR

Regarding Nicolai Ouroussoff’s architecture review of the new Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach (“Sweet Dreams by the Bay,” June 21):

The Port of Long Beach is hardly the defunct, decaying place he makes it out to be. Indeed, it and its contiguous neighbor, the Port of Los Angeles, together are the busiest port in the United States--a thriving, active, interesting place.

The next time your architecture critic decides to opine on the relationship between a building and its context, perhaps he should view the “context” for himself.

NEAL ROBB

Manhattan Beach

*

Reading Ouroussoff’s critique of the aquarium, in which he laments the lack of elements from the city’s past and present in its design, reminds me of a conversation I had several years ago with Stan Eckstut, who designed the Queensway Bay project of which the aquarium is the major attraction.

I had suggested a number of things to make the project more adventurous. He replied to me, “That is what you want, but not your kids.” My 5-year-old daughter loves the place.

ALAN COLES

Long Beach

*

Terrific article on the new aquarium. It looks breathtaking. I cannot, however, let a piece about Long Beach’s bright new visage go by without calling to your attention one of the true architects of its renaissance.

As late as 1974, downtown Long Beach, and particularly Ocean Boulevard, was nothing but a rundown collection of beer bars, tattoo parlors, porno theaters and junk-jewelry joints. Chris Pook and his small band of believers somehow transformed “Iowa-by-the-sea” into a world-class, international event destination and one of the most important dates on the world motorsports calendar.

Here’s to the “reborn” Long Beach! And here’s to Christopher Robin Pook and the 20-plus years of his Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

DOUG STOKES

Duarte