Architecture in Los Angeles

de LaB

Leadership at Design East of La Brea

Erin Cullerton:

Inner City Arts, Michael Maltzan

I love this building as much for the architecture as for what it symbolizes. It's a ray of light in one of the city's most underserved neighborhoods, Skid Row.

Alissa Walker:

Westin Bonaventure, John C. Portman, Jr.

The Bonaventure is an alternate future proposed for Downtown Los Angeles, a concrete bunker that keeps its residents from ever having to interact with the outside world—including a network of elevated sidewalks that reach out into Bunker Hill like tentacles. It’s a utopia that never materialized, but the lost dream sure is fun to explore.

Marissa Gluck:

Schindler House, Rudolph Schindler

It’s my favorite for its overly optimistic, failed utopian ideals.

Haily Zaki:

Capitol Records Building, Welton Becket

When I first moved to LA, I used to live a few blocks away from the Capitol Records building. It kind of grew to represent the nature of LA for me: a place that was totally exaggerated, super creative, and just kind of weird and eccentric. And come on, it's a round spaceship, Jetsons-like building. How can you not love it?

Additional Buildings:

Bradbury Building, Sumner Hunt, George Wyman

Stepping into the Bradbury always kind of takes your breath away. It's an example of good ol' timeless design.