The Norms restaurant in West Los Angeles, California is shown in this undated handout photo released to Reuters March 19, 2015.
The Norms restaurant in West Los Angeles, California is shown in this undated handout photo released to Reuters March 19, 2015.

(Reuters) - A west Los Angeles diner that is celebrated as a classic example of mid-20th century Space Age-style Googie architecture has been mentioned on a record by singer Tom Waits and depicted with fiery streaks of orange by painter Edward Ruscha.

The 1956 Norms restaurant location received another mark of distinction on Thursday when the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission voted 5-0 to recommend designating it as a cultural monument to be preserved, officials said.

The City Council is expected in the coming weeks to make a final decision.

The move to preserve the diner amid concern that it might be demolished has galvanized conservationists in a city renowned for tearing down buildings many consider landmarks.

The restaurant on La Cienega Boulevard, which is one location in the Norms diner chain in Southern California, was designed by architects Louis Armet and Eldon Davis.

It is famous as an example of Googie architecture. The post-World War Two architectural style originated in Southern California and often was employed for coffee shops. It is characterized by its Space Age design elements, taking influences from cars and jets.