Art & Design Central

More than the heart of the entertainment industry, the city of Los Angeles is also a hot spot for design lovers to check out the latest in interior styles and architecture.

Seventy-one kilometres from north to south and 47 from east to west, Los Angeles or LA is such a huge metropolis that it is almost impossible to know every nook. This makes asking the locals for a list of must-see places all the more essential, especially if you are only going to be in town for a few days.

Admittedly, LA is not the type of city you fall in love with at first sight. That distinction belongs to the likes of Paris, Rome or Sydney. For the past years, however, LA has experienced a cultural boom, resulting in its current fascinating energy. The film and entertainment industry continues to burgeon, while artists, galleries and museums regularly move from the East Coast to the West Coast, where the sunny, warm weather welcomes beach goers all year round.

What’s more, all Angelenos (the natives of the city) appear to have an ultra-cool attitude that is reflected everywhere in the city. The beach vibes in Santa Monica and Malibu, the glamour of Beverly Hills and Hollywood, and the cultural richness of Downtown LA are some examples of what you can expect. Keen to check out the new spots? Here’s a round-up of eight destinations worth visiting when you are in the LA area.

THE BROAD

In the booming district of Downtown Los Angeles, the Walt Disney Concert Hall designed by Frank Gehry is no longer the only eye-catching building on Grand Avenue.

The Broad, a contemporary art museum named for philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, with its airy honeycombish white exterior, known as the veil, and vaultlike interiors, has everybody’s curiosity piqued.

Designed by New Yorkbased studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R), and built with 16 million kilos of concrete, a 32m escalator takes you to the top floor where a column-free gallery space of more than 48,438 sq ft with 7m high ceilings is bathed in natural light.