Most interesting/iconic (non skyscraper) in your city/metro? (place, Los Angeles, people)

[kidphilly]

What is the most interesting/iconic building in your city/metro?

And why/what makes it interesting?

[munchitup]

(It says crossroads of the world on the links, but they are not of that, whoops!)

Since LA is not really a skyscraper city, there are tons of great low rise buildings that are unique and interesting.

Grauman's Chinese Theater - Crossroads of the World, Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA - Google Maps
Capitol Records Building (might count as a skyscraper but really not very tall at all) - Crossroads of the World, Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA - Google Maps
Bullocks Wilshire - Crossroads of the World, Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA - Google Maps
Disney Concert Hall - Crossroads of the World, Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA - Google Maps

Those are just a few, but of those my favorite would probably be the Bullocks Building, I really love art deco.

There are a ridiculous number of old single screen theaters in LA from the vaudeville days and the Golden Era of Hollywood, so I could ramble on about all of them; most are in pretty bad condition but many have been adaptively reused (Pacific Theatre El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA - Google Maps), and others are being restored back into theaters (Orpheum, El Capitan). Crossroads of the World, Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA - Google Maps El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA - Google Maps

[kidphilly]

Would say these two for the exterior


Independance Hall | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaye_wolfe/4653430631/ - broken link)


philadelphia_art_museum | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14777449@N07/1578172545/ - broken link)


And maybe the interior of this one (Freemason Lodge)


Philadelphia Masonic Temple | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/adamlyon/1441900678/ - broken link)

As an non typical place to visit, the tour is spectacular of the interior
Tour of Temple

[kidphilly]

This always jumps to my head when thinking of Baltimore


Baltimore Aquarium and, uh, the building next door | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mak506/166087388/ - broken link)

And for DC (though technically not in the District)

Pentagon | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gregwest98/3733687366/ - broken link)

[Drewcifer]

For Minneapolis it is probably the Guthrie Theater:


mplsaug201125 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40863599@N05/6000193137/ - broken link) by afsmps (http://www.flickr.com/people/40863599@N05/ - broken link), on Flickr


mplsaug201128 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40863599@N05/6000191725/ - broken link) by afsmps (http://www.flickr.com/people/40863599@N05/ - broken link), on Flickr

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by Drewcifer

For Minneapolis it is probably the Guthrie Theater:


mplsaug201125 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40863599@N05/6000193137/ - broken link) by afsmps (http://www.flickr.com/people/40863599@N05/ - broken link), on Flickr


mplsaug201128 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40863599@N05/6000191725/ - broken link) by afsmps (http://www.flickr.com/people/40863599@N05/ - broken link), on Flickr

I really like that building.

[Bunjee]

Originally Posted by munchitup

Capitol Records Building (might count as a skyscraper but really not very tall at all) - Crossroads of the World, Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA - Google Maps

What's interesting about the Capitol Records building isn't really its design but its function. Capitol Studios is legendary for its sound quality because of the underground bunkers, trapezoidal echo chambers designed by Les Paul that allow engineers to isolate and enrich sound. It's not just an office building or a landmark. It has form and architectural function. And any plans for condos or skyscrapers nearby could threaten those underground echo chambers and destroy its function.

I'd add the Ennis House, a Frank Lloyd Wright concrete block design. I wish this design approach would gain more currency for commercial and residential uses. It's beautiful, flexible, aesthetically relevant, and practical.

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by Bunjee

What's interesting about the Capitol Records building isn't really its design but its function. Capitol Studios is legendary for its sound quality because of the underground bunkers, trapezoidal echo chambers designed by Les Paul that allow engineers to isolate and enrich sound. It's not just an office building or a landmark. It has form and architectural function. And any plans for condos or skyscrapers nearby could threaten those underground echo chambers and destroy its function.

I'd add the Ennis House, a Frank Lloyd Wright concrete block design. I wish this design approach would gain more currency for commercial and residential uses. It's beautiful, flexible, aesthetically relevant, and practical.

Have you heard about the plans to put in two high rises on the lots around it? If built as planned they would be the tallest in Hollywood, IIRC they are like 500 ft at least. Undoubtedly they will shrink in size, and I hope they do shrink especially considering the information you just shared. Though I can't think of anything worthwhile Capitol Records has put out in the last ten years

[BigCityDreamer]

For Washington, D.C.:

White House

Capitol Building

Washington Monument

Lincoln Memorial

Jefferson Memorial

National Cathedral

Pentagon (in Arlington)

Basically, most of the buildings everyone knows about in this city. You can't go wrong with any of them.

[2Easy]