Walt Disney Concert Hall
The Walt Disney Concert Hall by Frank Gehry is a divisive but iconic fixture of deconstructive architecture in Downtown Los Angeles. According to Gehry being commissioned for the job felt like "the least likely thing to happen to me in my life."
Controversy wasn't far behind. The polished curved panels of stainless steel on the building's facade created intense hot spots around the neighborhood, not unlike sadistic children burning ants with a magnifying glass. Unconfirmed reports of bystanders roasting hot dogs in the reflected heat quickly became legendary. Blinding glare affected drivers passing the building. Nearby residential buildings noted an increased use (and cost) for air conditioning. City officials determined the building to be at fault and efforts were taken to "sand down" the panels to dull the reflective properties and mitigate the situation. Mr. Gehry defended his role in the design claiming he wasn't at fault because he had originally proposed the building be made of stone, but was overridden by his benefactors who insisted on metal. He warned them of the consequences.
Beyond creating a greenhouse effect in DTLA, the building's aesthetic was the topic of much conversation as their questions about how it "fit" within the architecture represented in the neighborhood at the time.
This shot was taken on an early lockdown morning. DTLA, which is not often a pleasant place to be, was quite welcoming in those days because it was pretty much a ghost town with no traffic. A lovely urban playground to frolic about and shoot. Here the sun is barricaded in parts and free in others creating sharp specular highlights on the stainless steel panels of the concert hall while creating a natural vignette for a chiaroscuro effect throughout the frame. The center framing and small human element for scale offer an imposing subject perfect for those who want a print with drama, contrast, and a little edge.
The Walt Disney Concert Hall by Frank Gehry is a divisive but iconic fixture of deconstructive architecture in Downtown Los Angeles. According to Gehry being commissioned for the job felt like "the least likely thing to happen to me in my life."
Controversy wasn't far behind. The polished curved panels of stainless steel on the building's facade created intense hot spots around the neighborhood, not unlike sadistic children burning ants with a magnifying glass. Unconfirmed reports of bystanders roasting hot dogs in the reflected heat quickly became legendary. Blinding glare affected drivers passing the building. Nearby residential buildings noted an increased use (and cost) for air conditioning. City officials determined the building to be at fault and efforts were taken to "sand down" the panels to dull the reflective properties and mitigate the situation. Mr. Gehry defended his role in the design claiming he wasn't at fault because he had originally proposed the building be made of stone, but was overridden by his benefactors who insisted on metal. He warned them of the consequences.
Beyond creating a greenhouse effect in DTLA, the building's aesthetic was the topic of much conversation as their questions about how it "fit" within the architecture represented in the neighborhood at the time.
This shot was taken on an early lockdown morning. DTLA, which is not often a pleasant place to be, was quite welcoming in those days because it was pretty much a ghost town with no traffic. A lovely urban playground to frolic about and shoot. Here the sun is barricaded in parts and free in others creating sharp specular highlights on the stainless steel panels of the concert hall while creating a natural vignette for a chiaroscuro effect throughout the frame. The center framing and small human element for scale offer an imposing subject perfect for those who want a print with drama, contrast, and a little edge.
The Walt Disney Concert Hall by Frank Gehry is a divisive but iconic fixture of deconstructive architecture in Downtown Los Angeles. According to Gehry being commissioned for the job felt like "the least likely thing to happen to me in my life."
Controversy wasn't far behind. The polished curved panels of stainless steel on the building's facade created intense hot spots around the neighborhood, not unlike sadistic children burning ants with a magnifying glass. Unconfirmed reports of bystanders roasting hot dogs in the reflected heat quickly became legendary. Blinding glare affected drivers passing the building. Nearby residential buildings noted an increased use (and cost) for air conditioning. City officials determined the building to be at fault and efforts were taken to "sand down" the panels to dull the reflective properties and mitigate the situation. Mr. Gehry defended his role in the design claiming he wasn't at fault because he had originally proposed the building be made of stone, but was overridden by his benefactors who insisted on metal. He warned them of the consequences.
Beyond creating a greenhouse effect in DTLA, the building's aesthetic was the topic of much conversation as their questions about how it "fit" within the architecture represented in the neighborhood at the time.
This shot was taken on an early lockdown morning. DTLA, which is not often a pleasant place to be, was quite welcoming in those days because it was pretty much a ghost town with no traffic. A lovely urban playground to frolic about and shoot. Here the sun is barricaded in parts and free in others creating sharp specular highlights on the stainless steel panels of the concert hall while creating a natural vignette for a chiaroscuro effect throughout the frame. The center framing and small human element for scale offer an imposing subject perfect for those who want a print with drama, contrast, and a little edge.