Richard Meier designed The Getty, it opened up in 1997. An amazing museum right on the pacific coast, it was a whopping 1.3 billion dollar project. The Museum has a way of engaging the art with the visitors, they also have an amazing courtyard that is known world wide. The courtyard even features statue art, a very simplistic, but elegant look. Not only is the building a museum, but it is also use to do art research.
California Tower was constructed in 1915 and designed by Bertram Goodhue. It was open to the public for about twenty years, till 1935. The purpose for constructing the building was due to the Panama-California Exposition. It was created with that Spanish touch in deign, the building has extraordinary arches and domes. This design reminds me of the Spanish church called Sagrada Familia. Means a lot to me as I would walk around this when I lived in San Diego. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to enter due to it being closed. Recently within the last five years they have opened the building up to the public.
Frank Gehry is possibly one of the most famous architects of his time. The Walt Disney Concert Hall was just one of his many amazing designs. It opened up in 2003, its main purpose is a music center. Frank Gehry has a way with his designs, he’ll make sure they some how fit in to the area, but they look nothing alike to what it’s surrounded by. It was interesting to find out his inspiration for the design came from his love for sailing. That is what I love about Gehry, he always does every design with intent and creativity.
Chapel of the Holy Cross is a church in Sedona, Arizona. If you haven’t heard of Sedona, it’s a gorgeous city that attracts a lot of people for its natural features. It was designed by August K. Strotz and Richard Hein and opened in 1956 and it is built into a buttes. I have a love for design that blends into its surroundings. This is work that I appreciate from these architects.
The Hilton Anatole was constructed in Dallas and completed in 1979. It’s known for being very luxurious with endless amenities and tons of Ballrooms/conference space. It was renovated in 2010, the architect was Merriman Associates and GC was Andres Construction. As soon as you enter the building on the east side, you’ll notice the pond that flows through the building and the hanging art that is always moving. My first experience in this building was in 2016 for a conference, I fell in love with the design. It makes it feel inviting and welcoming. I felt as if I was outdoors without having to experience the terrible weather.
The Bellagio was designed by Jon Jerde and opened up in 1998. This famous building was estimated to have cost 1.6 billion dollars, that’s insane for a hotel! I currently work for one of the seven superintendents on that project. He told me a fun fact about this building, that waterfront fountain was initially design to be a ski experience with a cable hoisted from the top of the building. Due to liability issues the design was changed into a fountain. I couldn’t imagine if the attraction at this building, besides gambling, was the ski resort. I love how this building is possibly the most realistic building on the strip, I feel like most buildings in the strip are their to cover up the mess that lies within it.
Henry N. Cobb designed the U.S. Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles which opened in 1989. I remember as a kid looking out the window as we’d drive by every time we’d be around downtown. It’s an elegant building with 73 floors, it sits at 968 feet high. At one point it was the tallest building in downtown Los Angeles till the Wilshire Grand Center. I would say that the design of this building really got me interested in designs and construction. It’s the reason that I chose the program I’m in.
The Griffith Observatory is an astronomy research facility that is open to the public. It sits about 1,334 feet above sea level on a mountain overlooking Los Angeles. John C. Austin was the architect for this project, completing it in 1935; it’s a major attraction in the city of Los Angeles. I’ve always admired this building; growing up in Los Angeles, it would stand out on the mountain top. My family would always find a time in the month to go up the trail to it. They would have telescope stations sitting out, and on particular days you could see planets like Venus or Jupiter in midday. This influenced me to look into astronomy.
