Tu Ciudad – Los Angeles

David Maman – The Architect

Eva Longoria’s eatery, Beso; the celebrity infused Italian trattoria Bella; and Hollywood sushi spot Geisha House all have one ingredient in common: Venezuelan-born architect Maman. While interior designer Dodd Mitchell often gets the spotlight for his decorative visions of area nightlife, it’s Maman, 49, who has put lasting structures on the map, helping transform Hollywood from a $10 T-shirt haven to a red-carpet zone. Maman came to L.A. 21 years ago after studying architecture in Israel. He quickly scored a plum job, designing Adolfo Suaya’s Gaucho Grill restaurants and working with the Argentine businessman on his contemporary steak houses, the Lodge and Charcoal.  He also dreams up most of the blueprints for Dolce Group, which owns Dolce (designed by Maman) and Geisha House (he’s designed a second one in Santa Ana), among other gastro-lounges. “While his buildings are very stylish and look great, the most important thing to an operator is that they [both] function and operate well,” says Dolce partner Lonnie Moore.  “He just really understands the client.”

—D.R.