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Built:
2003
Cost: $274,000,000.00
Designed by: Frank Gehry
Type: Entertainment Venue
Location: 111 South Grand Avenue
City: Los Angeles
State: California
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A
nother signature Frank Ghery creation, this one located in the heart of Los Angeles. As a city, it's been many decades since Los Angeles had an architectural style to call its own. The bungalows and flirtation with art deco died with the heyday of Hollywood. Since that majestic time, the city, its native art, and its architecture increasingly sought success through flash and glitz, rather than quality presentations that could last generations. The erection of the Walt Disney Concert Hall is a departure from the recent trend, and hopefully signals a change in direction for the City of Angels. This is, undoubtedly, a magnificent building. It lines and curves sweep upward and away from the street in a mystifying way as if following the frenetic wand of Mickey Mouse conducting an orchestra of servant brooms in The Sorcerer's Apprentice. While the result may be a bit over-the-top, it's sorely needed in Los Angeles' otherwise architecturally boring downtown. In many respects, downtown Los Angeles looks a lot like a generic Midwest city, entirely failing to live up to its Hollywood hype. With the addition of this Gehry, the district is starting to live up to expectations. However, it should be noted that even Minneapolis has a Gehry music hall, so Los Angeles needs to pull another rabbit out of its hat if it wants to stay ahead.
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