M-Rad goes retro at Game Over Pizza

Vapor (cave)

Defined by an elaborate program of neon signs, geometric shapes, repetitive patterns, and pastel colors, M-Rad‘s design for the recently opened Game Over Pizza joint harkens back to a simpler, bygone era. As if pulled right out of the 1980s, the new 45-seat, arcade-ready, eat-play restaurant gives new meaning to the 20- or 30-year trend cycle.

Neon signage helps anchor the maximalist design. (Courtesy M-Rad)

M-Rad’s goal was to create a space that would pay homages to the early digital Vaporwave scene and cater to a Gen-Z clientele, rapidly reviving this graphical and music-based genre. And yet, there are also nods to the Italian Memphis movement that plays to Millennial taste. Wrapped in this nostalgic, reference-drenched, scheme are hints of Art Deco geometry, a Pop Art palette, and kitsch 1950s amoebic furniture.

 

References to Vaporwave and Memphis movements join hints of Art Deco and Pop Art in this 1980s-revival eatery. (Courtesy M-Rad)

Modernist austerity and restraint have no place in this Hollywood haunt. The Gothic tradition is still alive and well, a formidable rival to its Neoclassic counterpart. With such a statement piece, M-Rad is challenging the contemporary status quo of minimalist luxury.

The 45 seat restaurant allows for seamless eating and play. (Courtesy M-Rad)

Juxtaposed materials such as laminate, terrazzo, reflective mirrors, and frosted glass reiterate the avant-garde scheme and embrace Los Angeles’s strong affinity for subculture. However dense in its stylistic mash-up, Game Over Pizza exudes a laid-back vibe.