With its towering skyscrapers and modern skyline, from afar you would not guess Los Angeles is home to many Art Deco landmarks. Sandwiched within the concrete jungle, beauties exist. Sometimes, if you just look at their street-level windows, you would think they were like any other building. Upon looking up, you will find that among the jewelry marts and lofts is a surprising amount of deco bones to the city. A couple of Saturdays ago, I went on an Art Deco walking tour offered by the Los Angeles Conservancy. For two hours I walked among these buildings and discovered sights I don’t see outside of my car windows as I speed past.
OUR TOUR BEGINS
Beginning in Pershing Square, we walked along the sidewalks to discover about a dozen deco buildings hidden in plain sight.
Title Guarantee Building
One Bunker Hill – Originally the Southern California Edison Company Building. In days past, the building glowed completely around the exterior, as would have befit the home of an electric company. It is designed by the same architect who built the grand Royce Hall on the UCLA campus.
Los Angeles Central Library
Pacmutual Center – Originally Parkinson & Bergstrom,these two buildings are actually interconnected – they were simply represent different stages and remodels in the life of the building.
James Oviatt Building – Home to the Cicada Club. It once was home to department store Alexander & Oviatt. You can see its interior here and here.
Los Angeles Jewelry Center – Originally the Sun Realty Building, clad in green terra cotta and the Wholesale Jewelry Mart – Originally the Harris & Frank Building
Ninth & Broadway
The Eastern Columbia Building
The Conservancy offers this tour every Saturday. Visit their website for this and other tour options and information on these sites.
4 comments so far.
I had no idea there were still so many vintage buildings in LA, it always seems such a modern place. Those buildings look straight out of a film noir.
It was wonderful to walk around. My next tour I want to take – the theater tour.
this is a gorgeous building!
styleandchocolates
I agree!