Downtown LA’s Historic Core is a story of contrasts. Next to yesteryear’s aging nickelodeons it’s no surprise to find a bustling boutique hotel, or to uncover a vegan-vending pizza stand among stalls of parked vehicles. It’s as if layers of the city’s history converge at its heart, creating a harmonious discord that excites, delights, and surprises just like its quivering quakes. Every nook and cranny must be explored to fully apprehend the mysteries and marvels that lie along the fault lines of this city’s teeming streets.
A pizza stall located in the middle of a generic downtown parking lot, perfect for late night eats.
Along a series of dilapidating structures is an unassuming office building built of crimson brick, sandstone, and terra cotta. Breach the arched entryway and be amazed by light-filled assembly of intricate iron work, terra cotta detailing, and an unadulterated skylight that stretches over the entire inner atrium, providing natural light to the building for most of the day. Constructed in 1892, the building’s materiality and aesthetic make it feel as if you’re stepping onto the Titanic - a complete atmospherical surprise after traversing buzzing and gritty streets of Downtown LA.
