Griffith Observatory - Los Angeles, CA
Posted by: 
silverquill
N 34° 07.108 W 118° 18.022
11S E 380077 N 3776054
The famed Griffith Observatory, built in 1935, overlooking Los Angeles, California, "is typically identified as Art Deco with both Moderne and Modified Greek influences and a Beaux-Arts influenced plan."
Waymark Code: WM5FEF
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 12/31/2008
Views: 28
From the official Griffith Observatory web site:
Architectural design for Griffith Observatory began in 1931 and was led by John Austin and Frederic Ashley, based in large part on drawings made by amateur astronomer Russell Porter. The architects had to alter their plans substantially as a result of the Long Beach earthquake of March 10, 1933. The Observatory's structural system was reinforced with additional steel rebar and thicker concrete walls, replacing the original design which called for the exterior of the building to be sheathed in terra cotta. The covering for the planetarium dome was also changed from the planned ceramic tile to the now-familiar copper panels. The official groundbreaking occurred June 20, 1933, and the Observatory's grand opening was May 14, 1935.
The original building, a 27,000-square-foot cast-in-place concrete structure, is typically identified as Art Deco with both Moderne and Modified Greek influences and a Beaux-Arts influenced plan. Because the building was built during the Great Depression, when prices for many goods and labor plunged, the funds from the Griffith Trust enabled the architects to select both elegant and durable materials for the Observatory. These selections contributed substantially to the building's longevity and guided both the architects and exhibit designers in their selection of materials during the renovation and expansion project.
The building exterior reflects a wide range of detail, including the Greek key pattern cast directly into the concrete, the elegant bronze and glass on the main entrance doors, the decorative metal window grilles, the copper-covered domes, and the federal Public Works of Art Project-funded concrete sculpture on the front lawn, the Astronomers Monument. The interior of the Observatory was designed with the finest materials of the day, including travertine, marble, ornate wood and bronze metalwork, and attractive signage. The design of the public spaces, particularly the alcoves, was clearly intended to convey a sense of monumentality and importance, consistent with the "cosmic" topics presented.
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