West Hollywood Galleries, Showrooms Throw Open Their Doors

With L.A. Design Week wrapping up Friday for the trade, the public can get in on the act tonight when West Hollywood hosts Design Walk 2000. From 6 to 10 p.m., more than 100 art galleries, interior design showrooms, specialty shops and restaurants will offer refreshments and entertainment for the milling guests.

It’s the third annual upscale open house, which attracted an estimated 10,000 visitors last year.

Information kiosks and walking maps will be available at main intersections throughout the “Avenues of Art & Design” area, which includes Beverly and Robertson boulevards and Melrose Avenue between La Cienega Boulevard and Doheny Drive in West Hollywood. (This fortunately avoids the construction chaos on Santa Monica Boulevard, which is anything but a model of design these days).

With an emphasis on design information rather than sales, many of the showrooms will have staff members and guest experts available to answer questions and many businesses are using the occasion to introduce product lines.

Participants include:

* Linea, 8843 Beverly Blvd., which will unveil new contemporary furniture, including Philippe Starck’s Big Nothing seating collection (named for its simple design). The collection features armchairs and sofas with tapered cube legs of fluorescent, glowing plexiglass.

* Robert Kuo, 8686 Melrose Ave., designer of traditional Chinese forms, introducing a new collection of objects and furniture in the style known as hand repousse, in which hammered metal decorative patterns are overlaid on surfaces.

* At Bodhi Tree annex, 8585 Melrose Ave., Dr. Kam Yuen, creator of Chinese Energetic Medicine, who will demonstrate alternative medicine techniques.

* Indian Style, 8650 Melrose Ave., which will offer paintings, sculptures and ritual art objects, exotic music, astrology readings, and Indian food.

Reduced-rate parking is available at Pacific Design Center; street parking is free. Information: (323) 650-2668. .

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A popular class at UCLA Extension, “Introduction to Architecture,” is being offered again this spring. Held Tuesdays from April 4 to June 13, it will be taught by Anthony Denzer of Tolkin & Associates, who is education director for the Society of Architectural Historians, Southern California chapter.

Although the survey class is a favorite for people thinking about majoring in architecture, that isn’t a requirement, said Manoj Agarwala of the extension staff.

“It is helpful for people who want to know the career options available, but it’s also aimed at anyone interested in architecture who would like to know more about the history of the field and what architects do.”

Lectures are augmented by multimedia presentations, discussions, field trips and guest speakers. Information: (310) 825-9971.

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Connie Koenenn can be reached at connie.koenenn@latimes.com.