Travel Tips

Now an iconic symbol of Los Angeles, The Walt Disney Concert Hall stands sentinel over Grand Avenue, and the misguided dream of making this bland stretch of asphalt the spine of the city. Architect Gehry argued that both his hall and the cathedral(see below) should have been built on Wilshire, towards MacArthur Park, thereby linking downtown with the struggling Westlake District and points west. He was right. But, city boosters won out and both structures stand on a cold, austere point overlooking the staid Civic Center.

The stainless steel exterior had to be dulled after Downtown workers and residents complained of being blinded by reflected sun.

Eli Broad, I love you man. You've done wonders for Los Angeles. But, you goofed this one. You should have pushed for siting Disney Hall and The Cathedral on Wilshire.

Brilliantly designed structure that embraces quirky original dome structure and fosters a lively public space.

This West L.A. temple of "The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints" is uniformly overlooked - shocking considering it is the world's second largest Mormon Temple. It's sited on an easily bypassed stretch of road, but I think it is quite stunning.

An obvious choice...and an icon of Los Angeles. This Welton Becket designed tower was built in 1955 and is supposed to suggest a stack of records. The building was recently purchased and there are rumors that the new owners will transform the interior into condos. The exterior is protected and will not be altered.

The radical Caltrans headquarters has turned the LA Architecture community on its ear. Finished just about the same time as Disney Hall, it has stolen a bit of thunder from Gehry's much discussed concert venue.

A visit to Chinatown, Los Angeles, is a reminder that this is indeed the Pacific Rim. The city has a rich history involving Chinese immigration, and although the original Chinatown was relocated to its current spot during construction of Union Station, the standing district is still a fun visit.