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Chic in LA: The Getty

by habituallychic

03 . 30 . 10

I didn’t spend all my time in LA shopping or visiting design stores, I did make time to visit the breathtakingly beautiful Getty Center museum. The museum was designed by architect Richard Meier and is perched on a hill overlooking the city and ocean, when you can see it through the smog, I mean fog. It’s probably the only museums that has views outside that rival the artwork inside! Christian of Maison21, my tour guide, told me a story about how the entire museum was supposed to be built out of Meier’s signature matte aluminum siding but the residents of the area had different ideas so most of the buildings were clad in travertine instead. The undulating museum connects better to the natural landscape and sits like a modern day Acropolis surveying the city below. It’s definitely worth a visit on your next trip to LA, in between shopping and design stores of course.


Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

18 Comments
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  1. maison21 March 30, 2010 | 1:52 am

    wow- your pictures turned out really pretty! mine all looked like crappy crap.

    love that mask too- so random.

  2. style chronicle March 30, 2010 | 2:32 am

    Isn’t it architecturally breathtaking? It is one of my favorite stops in Southern CA.

  3. Ms Smart March 30, 2010 | 3:16 am

    you did a great job capturing the spirit of the Getty. it is a great free place to visit in L.A. excellent photos!

  4. KatyO! March 30, 2010 | 3:51 am

    LOVE The Getty! By far the best thing in LA (well, in my opinion at least!!)

  5. Design Darling March 30, 2010 | 10:49 am

    i absolutely adored the getty museum when we visited. the natural scenery is just as pretty as everything inside it! great photos.

  6. Alice Olive March 30, 2010 | 12:53 pm

    Wow – stunning! What an amazing building!

  7. red ticking March 30, 2010 | 2:25 pm

    the getty is so amazing.. i love the plantings around and i just saw the mask… funny..

  8. the designers muse March 30, 2010 | 2:44 pm

    Great photos! I’ve always wanted to see Getty Museum. Your photos make me feel like I’m there. The views and the architecture are really breathtaking.

  9. darnie March 30, 2010 | 3:22 pm

    The reason the residents objected to an aluminum building is because the reflection from the sun would cause major accidents for the people on the 405 Freeway from the reflection glare.

    The Disney theater downtown is a pain for the people who work in office buildings near it. The glare from it causes peoples offices in the area to become blazing hot. I think they may have had to coat the aluminum with something to avert the glare.

  10. Open House LLC March 30, 2010 | 3:26 pm

    This was our only cultural stop on our design trip. What a show piece. Thrilled that you had the chance to see it.

  11. Tara March 30, 2010 | 6:34 pm

    I love the Getty & have to agree with KatyO, best place in LA. Next time you’ll have to visit Getty Malibu!

  12. Ryan Hines March 30, 2010 | 9:09 pm

    Darnie,

    The glare issue with this building and the Disney concert Hall are made up by people who generally oppose modernism and like to complain.

    The buildings downtown with the highest glare are the ones that are clad in mirrored glass. Even regular glass causes greater glare. But no one complains about those because they’re used to them!

    Lastly, I walked by the Disney every day for several years and I can promise you, it’s not any hotter than if I took Main St. instead of Grand.

  13. Barbara March 30, 2010 | 9:25 pm

    Great pics. Beautiful building and roof garden of succulents.
    bg

  14. Jaime @ La vie...J'aime March 31, 2010 | 12:01 am

    Next time I go to LA (which perhaps could be sometime soon? haha), I just have to go here! Great pics.

  15. Mrs. B March 31, 2010 | 2:01 am

    Fabulous pictures!!!!
    What kind of camera are you using…your pix look so professional!

  16. Habitually Chic March 31, 2010 | 2:16 am

    It was amazing and I loved the Getty! I can’t wait to visit the Getty Villa on my next trip!

    Also, I use a Nikon D40. It’s the starter Nikon but is easy to use and takes great photos!

  17. Maison Luxe March 31, 2010 | 2:25 am

    A neat fact about this building is that from the west facing balconies, you can see Richard Meier’s personal home just across the way.

    I love the Getty, great photos!

  18. 24 Corners April 1, 2010 | 3:31 am

    Oh, so glad you made it to the Getty! It’s definitely one of the most breathtaking places in LA, I never get tired of going there.

    The Malibu Getty and the Huntington Library are just as fabulous and will charm your socks off as well next time you visit!

    BTW – I also have a picture of that stunning rough travertine wall with the ethereal green water feature underneath…love it!