SOARING ART DECO—IN THE CITY OF ANGELS

I’VE LONG LOVED ART DECO, and recent Internet trippin’ revealed Bianca Barragan’s “10 Awe-inspiring Art Deco Buildings in Los Angeles,” at Curbed Los Angeles, September 26, 2019. How neat to have such significant architecture nearby. Here are tidbits gleaned from Barragan’s article together with my usual Internet sleuthing.

Etymology. As I noted in “Deco Dreaming”, “This design style, short for Arts Décoratifs, evolved from a Paris exhibition of 1925, l’Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes. Art Deco wasn’t afraid of technology, unlike its organic predecessor Art Nouveau. The style celebrated faith in social and technological progress, a sentiment not overly abundant in current times. Thus, my Deco dreaming.”

Gee, maybe this explains my recent urge for Art Deco Internet trippin’. 

Los Angeles—a Variety of Genres. Barragan writes, “The architectural diversity of Los Angeles is vast, pulling in styles from Craftsman to Googie and from midcentury modern to Victorian. It’s no surprise then that the area holds a crop of amazing Art Deco buildings. Art Deco, which is usually associated with the 1920s and ’30s, is recognizable by its use of geometric and zigzag patterns, bold colors, and clean lines. In Downtown Los Angeles alone, there are a handful of statement buildings featuring these types of dazzling details inside and out: the Eastern Columbia, the Oviatt Building, the Central Library.”

The Eastern Columbia Building. Barragan writes, “Designed by one of Art Deco’s leading architects, Claud Beelman, it opened in 1930 as the headquarters of furniture and clothing stores Eastern Outfitting Company and Columbia Outfitting Company, hence the building’s name. The 13-story structure’s turquoise terra cotta exterior is accented with blue and gold terra cotta, as well as a whole array of geometric designs—sunbursts, zigzags, chevrons.

Image from Los Angeles Conservancy.

The Eastern Columbia Building is at 849 S. Broadway in Los Angeles. Give it a Google Map look. (Barragan has kindly provided such links in her article). 

The Oviatt Building. Barragan writes, “This glorious Art Deco and Beaux Arts structure was completed in 1928 for Alexander and Oviatt, ‘one of the most prestigious and expensive haberdasheries in the city,’ according to the LA Conservancy. In addition to space for the shop, the structure included office space and a 10-room penthouse for James Oviatt. The penthouse is now an event venue, and what was the store’s space is Cicada Restaurant.”

The Oviatt Building, 617 S. Olive Avenue. Image from Mardella Photo Album/Curbed LA flickr pool.

The Selig Commercial Building.  “A lesser-known Art Deco treasure,” Barragan observes, “located on Third Street and Western Avenue, this building began its life as a Selig retail store and was later converted into a Crocker bank. Now it holds a variety of small businesses within its walls.”

The Selig Building, 269 S. Western Avenue. Image by Alissa Walker from Curbed Los Angeles.

Barragan continues, “Clad in black-and-gold, glazed terra cotta, it was built in 1931 for a haberdashery. The architect, Arthur E. Harvey, also designed the Wilshire Professional building and the Santa Monica Professional Building, which is now the city’s first outpost of the boutique Proper Hotel brand.”

I love the Selig’s frieze and rounded corner. 

Bullocks Wilshire (Southwestern Law School). Barragan describes, “Completed in 1929 as a Bullocks department store, the John Parkinson-designed building boasted light fixtures by the famous French glass designer Rene Lalique and fabulous interior artwork.”

Bullocks Wilshire Department Store, 3050 Wilshire Blvd. Image from Los Angeles Magazine.

Barragan recounts, “The department store operated for more than 60 years, and in 1994, Southwestern Law School bought the building, restoring and converting it into an academic building—a project that lasted 10 years and cost $29 million, according to the LA Conservancy…. The building is open once a year for tours, so if a chance comes to visit the space, take it.”

The Bullocks Wilshire Porte Cochère. Image from Melissa A. Rendsburg, Linkedin.

Los Angeles Central Public Library. “The Central Library’s Bertram Goodhue-designed building,” Barragan recounted, “opened in 1926. The exterior is decorated with limestone sculptures and incorporates a wide range of influences from Byzantine to Egyptian. Atop the building, a tiled pyramid is capped with a torch, ‘symbolizing the light of knowledge,’ according to the LA Conservancy.” 

The Los Angeles Central Public Library, 630 W. 5th Street. Image by Michael Locke/Curbed LA flickr pool.

Barragan continues, “Inside, the library features an oft-photographed rotunda, a huge chandelier of a globe, and 12 murals that illustrate California history.” 

She add, “Prolonged threats to demolish the building were part of the reason for the founding of the LA Conservancy in 1978.” 

Thank Bianca Barragan (and the LA Conservancy) for this Art Deco trippin’ just up the road from here. ds 

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2024