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Modern architecture in L.A. tells many stories about our culture and development, and there are many ways to tell the story of Modern architecture. Use these curated collections of historic places to learn about different aspects of our Modern legacy.
Art and Architecture – Sites that exemplify the often-symbiotic relationship between contemporary art and Modern architecture
Big Business – Places built for the major companies and industries that made Greater L.A. a postwar powerhouse
Car Culture – Sites that reflect Greater L.A.'s love affair with the automobile
Homegrown Architects – Buildings designed by architects that hail from and were educated in Los Angeles
Housing the Masses – Interesting ways that housing was rapidly built to meet the demands of a huge postwar population explosion
Innovations in Technology – Sites that reflect the latest and greatest in the materials, design, and building techniques of the times
Living the High Life at Home – The magnificent result of creative architects, open-minded home owners, and treacherous mountain terrain
The Public Realm – What happens when a city grows at lighting speed? An abundance of new buildings and spaces that help define what “community” means
Featured Themes
These sites exemplify the often-symbiotic relationship between art and architecture in Modern design.
Technology developed before and after World War II allowed for completely new forms of architectural expression.
As cities grew exponentially, Modern architecture became critical in creating a sense of community and meeting the needs of everyday life.
Curating the City: Modern Architecture in L.A. is part of Pacific Standard Time Presents: Modern Architecture in L.A. This collaboration, initiated by the Getty, brings together seventeen cultural institutions from April through July 2013 for a wide-ranging look at the postwar built environment of the city as a whole, from its famous residential architecture to its vast freeway network, revealing the city’s development and ongoing impact in new ways. Major support for this project has been provided by the Getty Foundation. pacificstandardtimepresents.org.