12 Famous Buildings In Los Angeles, California, The USA

famous buildings in l.a
Hemasudha
Hemasudha 
Updated
| 5 min read

Being the entertainment capital of the world has made Los Angeles a warehouse of beautiful attractions. It also features affordable Airbnbs and bed and breakfasts that are near tourist spots and beautiful buildings. The magnificent buildings right from the 18th century to the 21st century, stand tall in the dazzling land of LA. The structures were designed by world-renowned architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Rudolph Schindler, Renzo Piano, Richard Meier, and Frank O. Gehry.

Most of the famous LA buildings have a history and they gleam with remarkable architecture. Because Hollywood is nearby, you can also hope to catch a glimpse of celebrities. The masterpieces are iconic with incredible architecture located extensively all over LA. We have picked the top famous buildings in Los Angeles that will spellbind you.

1. Eastern Columbia Building

Eastern Columbia (350091759)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Eric Richardson used under CC BY 2.0

Eastern Columbia Building is a 13-level Art Deco structure in the Broadway Theater District downtown. It is also called Eastern Columbia Lofts and was designed by Claud Beelman. The construction of this iconic place only took 9 months, and it opened to the public in September 1930. When the place was being built, the city government had imposed a height limit of 150 feet (46 meters), although the huge clock on top of the building was added as an exemption. This LA landmark has been featured in films and shows like Lucifer, iCarly, and The Last Hour.

Eastern Columbia Building

Address: 849 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014, United States

Website: Eastern Columbia Building

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2. Dolby Theatre

Dolby Theatre
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Adam Fagen used under CC BY-SA 2.0

If you’re a big fan of Hollywood movies and have closely followed the Academy Awards, then you may already know of this Los Angeles tourist attraction. Located in the Hollywood and Highland Center entertainment complex, Dolby Theatre is a live performance auditorium and is home to the Oscars. It opened in November 2001 and was designed specifically for the aforementioned prestigious awards show by David Rockwell. Formerly known as the Kodak Theatre, the seating capacity of the auditorium is 3,400.

Dolby Theatre

Address: 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028, United States

Website: Dolby Theatre

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3. Hollywood Bowl

Hollywood Bowl
Source: Photo by Flickr user Keith Roper used under CC BY 2.0

Hollywood Bowl is a historic amphitheater which has hosted concerts since 1922. Initially, the amphitheater was called Daisy Dell with a stage and wooden benches. Now, this Los Angeles building has been designed with 1800 seats and contemporary infrastructure. Lloyd Wright originally designed this remarkable building. Its appealing location in Hollywood Hills has made it one of the hottest destinations for art lovers. This largest outdoor amphitheater in the US enables the visitors to enjoy picnicking on their 14 picnic grounds.

Hollywood Bowl

Address: 2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068, USA

Website: Hollywood Bowl

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4. LAX Theme Building

Theme Building - Another Day at LAX
Source: Photo by Flickr user brewbooks used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Anyone flying in LA can notice the splendid and stylish structure of Theme Building at LAX. The building was built in 1961 by Paul Williams, an African American architect. This iconic building in Los Angeles was intended to be the center of the airport but it didn’t turn out as envisioned. Theme Building is still mistaken for the control tower of the airport. The observation deck at the top of this space-age attraction enables the viewer to look at the dashing sights of sky raising planes. The observation deck is open only on the 2nd weekend of each month.

LAX Theme Building

Address: 1d Center Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA

Website: LAX Theme Building

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5. Walt Disney Concert Hall

Walt Disney concert hall building - Los Angeles, United States - Architecture photography
Source: Photo by Flickr user Giuseppe Milo used under CC BY 2.0

Walt Disney Concert Hall was designed by Frank Gehry. His love for ships can be seen in the innovative design of this concert hall. The building adorns the stunning and lustrous clipper ship design. The daring outer architecture excites the visitor to find what’s inside. As described by Gehry, the building is really a ‘highly functional box’ where the acoustics stands out and make the audience immersed in the orchestra. The best part of this fine architectural building in Los Angeles is that you can take a free tour and snap some awesome pictures.

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Address: 111 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA

Website: Walt Disney Concert Hall

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6. Bradbury Building

Bradbury Building in Los Angeles
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Carol M. Highsmith

Built in 1893, Bradbury Building is an architectural marvel located in the heart of the city. It’s the oldest commercial building and is built in Italian Renaissance Revival style with sandstone, brown brick, and terracotta intricate design on its exterior. This five-story office building is decorated with a vintage Victorian court, antique open cage elevators, artistic ironwork, and lavish marble stairs. The timeless structure appeared in several movies like The Unfaithful, D.O.A., Shockproof, Good Neighbor Sam, Marlowe, Blade Runner and many more.

Bradbury Building

Address: 304 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013, USA

Website: Bradbury Building

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7. J. Paul Getty Museum

J Paul Getty Center ~ Los Angeles
Source: Photo by Flickr user Thank You (22.5 M... used under CC BY 2.0

J. Paul Getty Museum is devoted to the tremendous art collections of the oil magnate, J. Paul Getty. His collections include sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, sketches, and ornate arts right from the period of middle ages. Opened in 1954, the museum was later partitioned into Getty Villa and Getty Center. The Getty Villa was established in 1974 with the magnificent exhibition of ancient antiquities. The Getty Center was opened to the public in 1997, displaying European artworks and global photography dating from 1830 to recent times.

J. Paul Getty Museum

Address: 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049, USA

Website: J Paul Getty Museum

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8. Capitol Records Buildings

Capitol Records Building LA - panoramio
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Gfox228 used under CC BY 3.0

Designed by Welton Becket, Capitol Records Buildings was the first circular office building in the world. This iconic 13-story tower looks like a stack of records from outside. The building is the home to Capitol Studios which has recorded legendary music by famed artists like The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Nat “King” Cole, and Sir Paul McCartney. The attraction of the building is its 90-foot rooftop pinnacle which blinks the Morse code of the word ‘Hollywood’ in red lighting. During Christmas, the building is set up with gorgeous Christmas tree lighting on its top.

Capitol Records Buildings

Address: 1750 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA

Website: Capitol Records Buildings

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9. Griffith Observatory

Griffith observatory
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Matthew Field used under CC BY 2.5

Griffith Observatory is an outstanding structure located in the enthralling Hollywood Hills at 1,134 feet (345 meters) above sea level. The terraces of the structure can astound visitors with its panoramic views of the city. The 12-inch (30-centimeter) Zeiss telescope can show the wonders of the sky, especially at night. J. Griffith had left funds, guidelines, and land in his will to establish this marvelous structure. It was opened in 1935 and offers free entry to the visitors.

Griffith Observatory

Address: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA

Website: Griffith Observatory

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10. Stahl House

Case Study House #22
Source: Photo by Flickr user mbtrama used under CC BY 2.0

Stahl House is the most famous house in LA. It is a glass house with no walls and is located at an elevation. Belonging to the couples Clarence Stahl and Carlotta Gates, the house was designed by a young architect, Pierre Koenig. The spectacular views from the house are classy and beyond words. The picture-perfect house has been featured in several Hollywood movies like The First Power, Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Corina Corina, The Marrying Man, Playing By Heart and so on.

Stahl House

Address: 1635 Woods Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90069, USA

Website: Stahl House

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11. Pacific Design Center

Pacific Design Center Blue, Green, Red.
Source: Photo by Flickr user carpathiar used under CC BY-ND 2.0

Popularly known as “Blue Whale,” Pacific Design Center is a 1.6-million-square-foot blue paradise. The destination is the home to 100 boutique and international interior decorative showrooms representing 2,200 brands. Plenty of exhibitions, broadcasts, lectures, meetings, and special events related to interior design are organized at this center. The multi-use center includes two world-class restaurants, a plush theater, a well-equipped conference center, and an advanced fitness center.

Pacific Design Center

Address: 8687 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA

Website: Pacific Design Center

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12. Petersen Automotive Museum

Petersen Automotive Museum
Source: Photo by Flickr user Sharon VanderKaay used under CC BY 2.0

Petersen Automotive Museum is one of the largest automotive museums in the world. The museum depicts the history of the automobile and its universal influence on life. The museum was founded by Robert E. Petersen, and his wife Margie in 1994 and it underwent an incredible renovation in 2015. The present-day structure of the museum is elegant and attractive with stainless-steel ribbon assembly on its exterior. The museum showcases 100 vehicles in 25 galleries featuring the exceptional 1939 Porsche 64, Lightning McQueen from the ‘Cars’ movie, Batmobile from Batman Returns, De Tomaso Pantera belonging to Elvis Presley, and many more.

Petersen Automotive Museum

Address: 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA

Website: Petersen Automotive Museum

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Glorious examples of ancient and modern architecture

LA Downtown
Source: Pixabay

LA buildings offer a classic appeal to the city’s glorious landscape. Our top 10 picks will surely amaze you with all their magnificence. If you are someone who is fascinated by classic and contemporary architecture, you should never miss LA on your bucket list. Be sure to visit the best souvenir shops and romantic places while you’re here!

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Frequently asked questions about famous buildings in Los Angeles


Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Hemasudha is a dedicated travel writer whose true passion lies in exploring the world. Traveling, for her, is not just a hobby but a profound spiritual experience that she is deeply passionate...Read more

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