While most cities like New York or Chicago have distinctive skylines, Los Angeles is admittedly lacking in the skyscraper department. This, however, does not mean Los Angeles is void of appealing and awe-inspiring structures. The diverse breadth of architecture in Los Angeles gives the city its own unique identity as a collection of many different cultures and ideas. To fully appreciate Los Angeles architecture, we must learn to look for the many different sculptures, museums, churches, houses, and buildings that form the city.
The Towers of Simon Rodia, also known as the Watts Towers, were built by Sabato “Sam” Rodia. It took thirty-three years to finish the powerful sculpture, reaching completion in 1954. The two spires evoke a commanding presence from afar with their towering steel frames. Up close, one can see the colorful mosaic patterns scattered over the mortar finish, a sight more commonly seen on carousels than on obelisks. The towers are located in the Watts district of Los Angeles.
The Museum of Tolerance is famous for its message against racism and prejudice. The exhibition is presented with the combined use of multimedia and architecture. Visitors are led on a path through the interiors of the spiraling museum to reach different points of interest. Videos, music, interactive activities, and skits are spread throughout the museum’s structure.
J. Paul Getty’s Getty Center is a museum located in Los Angeles. Located on top of a hill in Los Angeles, the museum makes use of the land’s natural form to accent the structure of the buildings. The museum itself houses art from the middle ages to the modern age. Its courtyard sports gardens, pools and fountains, inspired by classic Italian villas.
The LA Philharmonic plays in Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall. Lillian Disney funded the hall’s construction as a gift to the people of Los Angeles. The swoops and curves of the building are designed in Gehry’s iconic style, heavily based upon deconstructivism.
Landmark houses such as the Eames House, Shindler House, and Ennis House are all located in Los Angeles. The Ennis house was designed by the admired Frank Lloyd Write to combine modern architecture with the designs of ancient Mayan architecture. The Shindler House was built by Rudolf Schindler and set a precedent in residential architecture. Eames House was built by Ray and Charles Eames, two of the most influential American designers.
Los Angeles architecture should be celebrated for the sheer amount of diversity the city offers. Though the city isn’t the traditional skyscraper and corporate office type of urban zone, it’s the combination of its many smaller communities that produce some of the most exceptional architecture in the world.
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