Architecture in Los Angeles

6th Street Viaduct

Los Angeles

Angel Stadium of Anaheim

Los Angeles

Angelus Temple

Los Angeles

Aon Center

Los Angeles

Arroyo Seco Parkway

Los Angeles

The Arroyo Seco Parkway (now Interstate 110) is America's first freeway, opened in 1940, connecting downtown Los Angeles with Pasadena. Designed as a landscaped divided highway with no traffic lights, no intersections, and graceful entry ramps, it was a showcase project of the New Deal era. Listed as a National Scenic Byway, it remains notable for integrating high-speed road design with the Arroyo Seco valley landscape.

Bank of America Plaza

Los Angeles

The Bank of America Plaza is a 55-story skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles, completed in 1974 as the headquarters of Security Pacific Bank. Standing 224 metres tall, it ranks among the tallest buildings in the city and forms a defining element of the Bunker Hill skyline. A quirky regulatory detail: the rooftop helipad was required by building codes in effect at the time, adding an industrial flair to the tower's crown. The building has changed corporate tenants over the decades and today houses a mix of offices, remaining a landmark of LA's financial district and a testament to the high-rise ambitions of 1970s urban development.

Burbank City Hall Annex

Los Angeles

The Burbank City Hall Annex is a civic administration building in central Burbank, California, constructed in 1943. Built as a supplement to the main city hall during a period when Burbank was a hub of wartime aviation and defence manufacturing, the structure reflects the functional architecture of the era. It continues to serve municipal government purposes today and offers a modest but authentic glimpse into mid-century civic planning in Southern California.

Campo de Cahuenga

Los Angeles

Campo de Cahuenga is a historic museum in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, marking the site where California history pivoted. In 1847, the original adobe building on Rancho Cahuenga land was where the Treaty of Cahuenga was signed, effectively ending the Mexican-American War in California. The current structure is a faithful reconstruction of that adobe, designated both a California Historic Landmark and a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. It sits near the Universal Studios lot, close to the historic Cahuenga Pass.

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

Los Angeles

Completed in 2002 to designs by Spanish architect José Rafael Moneo, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is one of the most architecturally significant religious buildings in the United States. Its warm sand-colored concrete exterior gives Downtown LA an unexpected landmark, while the interior rewards visitors with alabaster windows that flood the nave with soft, diffused light. The tapestries lining the nave — depicting 135 saints and beati — stretch nearly 25 meters high and were created by artist John Nava. The crypt below holds the remains of several notable Angelenos. As the mother church of the largest Catholic archdiocese in the country, the cathedral offers free guided tours daily. Even for secular visitors, it delivers architecture, art, and genuine quietude in the midst of a busy city.

Christ Cathedral

Los Angeles

Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, is one of the most remarkable church buildings in the United States. Originally known as the Crystal Cathedral — a glass megachurch designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee, completed in 1980 — the building became famous as the home of Robert H. Schuller's congregation, which at its peak had over 10,000 members and broadcast services internationally for decades. In 2012, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange purchased the building and renamed it Christ Cathedral. Today it serves as the cathedral of one of the fastest-growing dioceses in Southern California, a single structure that carries two distinct religious eras within its walls.

Disneyland

Los Angeles

Disneyland in Anaheim, California, is Walt Disney's original theme park – and one of the most visited leisure destinations on the planet. Opened in 1955 with Walt Disney's vision of a place where children and adults could dream together, the resort encompasses two parks – Disneyland Park with classics such as Fantasyland and Main Street U.S.A., and Disney California Adventure – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney shopping and dining district. From fairy-tale rides and evening parades to spectacular fireworks, Disneyland remains a touchstone of American pop culture and childhood wonder for millions of visitors each year.

Dolby Theatre

Los Angeles

The Dolby Theatre is an entertainment venue on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles that has served as the permanent home of the Academy Awards since 2002. Opened in 2001, it became the symbolic centre of global cinema almost immediately, hosting the Oscars annually and making its forecourt and staircase some of the most televised steps in the world. With a capacity of around 3,400, the theatre also boasts some of the most advanced stage technology in the United States. Outside Oscar season, it hosts major concerts, theatrical productions, and live TV events. Located inside the Hollywood & Highland complex next to the Walk of Fame, guided tours are available year-round — a genuine experience for film lovers.

Eames House

Los Angeles

The Eames House in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, is one of the most influential residential buildings of the 20th century. Charles and Ray Eames designed it in 1949 as their personal home as part of the Case Study Houses program — an experiment by Arts & Architecture magazine demonstrating how steel frames and prefabricated industrial components could create genuinely livable homes. The building consists of two connected pavilions set in a dense eucalyptus grove: a residence and a studio. The large frame panels were infilled with colored and clear glass panes and fiber boards, giving the facade an almost Mondrian-like quality. Inside, the Eames assembled an eclectic collection of toys, shells, folk art and their own furniture. Today the house is a National Historic Landmark open for tours — it feels as if its inhabitants have only just stepped out.

Egyptian Theatre Hollywood

Los Angeles

The Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard – officially Grauman's Egyptian Theatre – is one of Hollywood's oldest and most iconic cinemas. Sid Grauman commissioned the building in 1922 in the Egyptian Revival style, inspired by the era's fascination with ancient Egypt following major archaeological discoveries. It hosted the first Hollywood premiere in an outdoor courtyard theatre and played a defining role in shaping the glamour culture of early Hollywood. After extensive restoration, it now operates as the American Cinematheque's flagship venue, screening retrospectives, special events and world cinema classics.

Farmers Market Los Angeles

Los Angeles

The Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax in Los Angeles has been a city institution since 1934. What began as a gathering point for local farmers evolved into a vibrant marketplace and food complex drawing locals and tourists alike. The site, anchored by its iconic clocktower, hosts dozens of stalls and small eateries spanning cuisines from around the world — American BBQ, Mexican tacos, Korean bibimbap, and much more. It is widely regarded as an ideal spot for culinary exploration on any budget. Adjacent to The Grove shopping center, a visit easily fills half a day.

First Congregational Church of Los Angeles

Los Angeles

The First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, located in the Wilshire district, belongs to the United Church of Christ and is one of the city's oldest and most prominent Protestant congregations. The current building was consecrated in 1932 and holds the designation of Historic-Cultural Monument of the City of Los Angeles. Its imposing neo-Gothic facade and spacious courtyard offer a tranquil counterpoint to the busy Wilshire Boulevard. The church is well known for its active community life, concert series, and social outreach programs across Los Angeles.

Getty Villa

Los Angeles

Perched in the hills of Pacific Palisades with views toward the Pacific Ocean, the Getty Villa is one of the most extraordinary museum buildings in the world — a meticulous recreation of the ancient Villa dei Papiri, which was buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Oil magnate J. Paul Getty commissioned it in the 1950s and 60s to house his growing collection of ancient art: Greek, Roman, and Etruscan works spanning prehistory to late antiquity. Today the Villa holds around 44,000 objects, including significant sculptures, painted vases, bronzes, and jewellery representing more than three thousand years of Mediterranean civilization. The gardens — with fountains, ancient planting patterns, and open peristyle courtyards — are as remarkable as the collections inside. Admission is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance.

Mark Taper Forum

Los Angeles

The Mark Taper Forum is a performing arts venue at the Los Angeles Music Center on Bunker Hill in Downtown LA. Built in 1967 to designs by Welton Becket, it seats 739 and features a thrust stage where the audience surrounds the performance on three sides, creating an intense intimacy between actors and viewers. It is operated by the Center Theatre Group and is considered one of America's most important stages for contemporary drama. Numerous plays have had their world premieres here before transferring to Broadway.

Mission San Gabriel Arcangel

Los Angeles

Mission San Gabriel Arcangel is one of the 21 Spanish Franciscan missions in California, founded on September 8, 1771 — the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. It was the fourth in the chain of California missions and is often called the Godmother of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, as it played a central role in shaping what would become one of the world great cities. Between 1771 and 1834, more than 25,000 people were baptised here. The stone-built mission complex is designated a National Historic Landmark and features the characteristic Moorish-influenced style of early California mission architecture. The mission remains an active parish and is open to visitors.