A cultural melting pot of street art, luxury lifestyle, extreme opulence, eccentric architecture and touches of modern design, for one of the most widely diversified cities in the States. The impressive villas of the Palisades and Beverly Hills, the alternative culture of Venice Beach, the Downtown Arts District, the neon signs of modernist memory, the creativity of West Hollywood, the exclusive allure of Rodeo Drive, where one unexpectedly comes across the Anderton Court Shops, a masterpiece by Frank Lloyd Wright… Los Angeles is an eclectic mixture of juxtaposed realities, gathered under the same “halo.”
A “set of sets” in which to get lost and charmed, to explore from above at the Griffith Observatory, near the iconic Hollywood sign, for a breathtaking panorama. Any traveler who reaches Los Angeles will feel literally overwhelmed by its immensity, and the thought of having only one day for exploring can transform the feeling of discovery into a grueling experience of which little remains in memory, except for the traffic. For lovers of art, design and architecture like us, the best option is to take a very precise route, delving as deeply as possible into the city’s symbols.
The first stop is Venice Beach and its boardwalk that connects it to Santa Monica: an obligatory destination where one can still glimpse the spirit and poetic appeal of the artists and writers of the Beat Generation. Not far from the beach, Abbot Kinney Blvd. – known as the coolest block in the USA – stages its vibrant lifestyle, with elegant boutiques and art galleries.
The canals built in 1905 by Kinney – part of his “Venice in America” plan – are bordered by colorful houses and spectacular works of street art, including (on Danny’s Deli) the Touch of Venice by Jonas Never, inspired by the noir Touch of Evil by Orson Welles, featuring the splendid Marlene Dietrich.
This eccentric town also contains one of the most intriguing buildings created by Frank O. Gehry: the Chiat/Day Building, known as the Binoculars Building, thanks to its form. Today it is part of the Google headquarters.
There are plenty of museums and theaters designed by highly acclaimed architects in Los Angeles: from the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures designed by Renzo Piano – the most important film museum in the United States – to the MOCA Museum of Contemporary Art by Arata Isozaki, the Walt Disney Concert Hall with its splendid organic shape by Gehry to the LACMA by Atelier Peter Zumthor, from the contemporary art museum The Broad by Diller Scofidio + Renfro to the magnificent Getty Center in Brentwood designed by Richard Meier.
Among the new openings, there is the cultural center of The Audrey Irmas Pavilion created by the firm OMA, an extension of the synagogue in Romanesque-Byzantine style known as the Wilshire Boulevard Temple. Conceived with a trapezoidal shape and a façade made with hexagonal stone blocks, the total white pavilion contains a submerged garden, a multifunctional hall and a space for events. At the top, a spectacular rooftop overlooks the marvels of LA.
Design is a dominating force, visible in every detail, and there are many addresses for people seeking collectible or contemporary furniture. First of all, visit the West Hollywood Design District – the cultural destination for design, art, fashion and food – chosen as the “dwelling place” of visionaries and creative leaders, in the stretch along Melrose Ave., Beverly Boulevard and Robertson Boulevard, an eclectic promenade where trends come to life.
Don’t miss Merois, the new restaurant on the rooftop of the Pendry West Hollywood hotel, while for the sophisticated universe of décor the hot spots are Luxury Living Group, Visionnaire, Boffi, Molteni&C, Knoll, Blu Dot, Roche Bobois, B&B Italia, Luminaire, in this mecca of modern-contemporary design, and the Pacific Design Center with its 70 showrooms and brands, all highly acclaimed on an international level.
For a focus on vintage and new modern, Boundary is a unique space with collections from selected brands made in France, UK and Italy; Hammer and Spear is instead a showroom and multidisciplinary design studio for furnishings, lighting, stationery and even an apothecary; Lawson-Fenning is an authentic Californian brand, with two levels offering handmade furnishings composed of precious materials, as well as ceramics, lighting and accessories.
Those after icons of design history should head for Galerie Half to admire exclusive pieces by Gio Ponti; and to Amsterdam Modern, where the protagonists are Mid-Century Modern and extravagant objects from the 1960s and 1970s. The passion for innovative and contemporary furnishings can also be satisfied at A+R, namely Andy Griffith and Rose Apodaca, with the creations of brands from all over the world like Normann Copenhagen, Lee Broome, Arpel, Beyond Object, Established & Sons…
In the heart of Venice stands the art-design destination Stahl + Band founded by the designer and creative director Jeffery Molter, with modern organic and handmade furniture. Nearby, enjoy the vintage temple, The Mart Collective, structured as an impressive cabinet de curiosités in which to discover true treasures of modern vintage. An enchanted world into which to plunge, getting lost and exploring… just like Alice in Wonderland.
