It has been about 7 months since the pandemic started and our entire routines changed, at least in Los Angeles. I am grateful for the blessings around us, but I also miss some pre-pandemic things. One of them is to be able to visit other cities, countries, museums and buildings… I like walking around buildings and admire the details, materials and imagine how every single piece that makes that building was born from one thought, carefully planned and executed so we can walk around and feel the different proportions, light, shapes and forms.
So today I would like to invite you to a quick tour with me to 3 of my favorite places in Los Angeles.
1. Getty Center
This is one of my favorite places to visit not only because of the marvelous exhibits and events but the building composition, the sophisticated play of forms, the gardens and the breathtaking views makes this place genuinely special.
The Getty Center was designed by architect Richard Meier and it opened its doors to the public in December of 1997.
Visiting the Getty Center is a whole experience.
The only way to arrive at the main museum is by a collective tram from the parking lot. The visitor experience starts here, where your views are transformed little by little from a collective and most of the time crowded plaza and parking lot to the marvelous views of the city landscape. The Getty Center is an amazing example of how design can influence the entire user experience and how a building can create a strong statement by “listening to the site”.
I can’t wait to visit again! In the meantime the Getty Center has some great resources available, like the Michelangelo Exhibition “Mind of the Master”, a virtual library with more than 300 books to download for free, podcast and even open content images! Visit the Getty Center website for more: https://www.getty.edu/visit/center/
2. Griffith Observatory
Located on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Los Angeles Griffith Park, the Griffith Observatory is another place where iconic architecture and magnificent views merge - I am beginning to notice a theme here!
In 1896 Griffith J. Griffith donated the land to the City of Los Angeles. In his will, he donated funds to build an observatory, exhibit hall and planetarium in the donated land.
The observatory had to be also admission free according to his will. He had a “Vision of a world-class observatory for the people of Los Angeles, allowing the masses a glimpse of the heavens” Mr. Griffith’s mission was to challenge the common notion of that time that observatories were restricted to scientists; he wanted to give everyone the opportunity to glimpse to the stars.
I believe that so much of the magic behind this place is hidden in the vision and intention from this visionary to leave a remarkable legacy to the people of Los Angeles and the world. The observatory's telescope has the most views in the entire world!
I miss this beautiful place, especially the Tesla coil exhibit. It is a physical manifestation of the energy force! The observatory is closed at the moment, but people can still visit the park, take hikes and enjoy the beautiful city views. And if you are an astronomy enthusiast don’t forget to check out their weekly sky report: http://www.griffithobservatory.org/sky/skyreport.html
3. Hikes with ocean views
And last but not least in my list of top places in L.A are the amazing hikes around Los Angeles built by the greatest architect! There are so many fun and great hikes around the city, but my favorite ones without a doubt are the ones with breathtaking views of the coast. It is a great feeling when you are tired, and want to stop and rest, but you know that something great is coming, so you keep going and soon you are there, at the top of the mountain where the ocean, the sky, the sun and the mountains come together to create a masterpiece. You take a picture to remember, and take a minute also to take it all in, because you know that your camera can never do justice to that moment.
The best news about hikes is that they are considered a safe activity during covid times. It is even encouraged to get outside and get some sun and endorphins!
What are the places you can't wait to visit again? Where is your mind travelling today?
Thank you for reading me, for your support and comments. And please don’t forget to share this with your friends, family and colleagues!
Gracias!
Citlalli
Oh, the places you’ll go
Dr. Seuss
References:
(1) Larry Harnisch, “A cosmic gift to L.A”, Los Angeles Times, Feb. 25, 2013 https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2013-feb-25-la-me-harnisch-observatory-20130226-story.html
-Griffith Observatory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griffith_Observatory
-Getty Center: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getty_Center
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Special thanks to my editor, Ilya Godes!
Citlalli is an architect and a mom who enjoys finding the extraordinary around us and understanding what makes each person thrive.
She believes that art, and good design should be accessible, and her motivation is to help build a better world for the next generations.
She has worked on residential and commercial projects for 15 years, and decided to open her own studio in Los Angeles, California, aimed to make great architecture accessible and affordable to more people.
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