The Getty Center

So this past Friday (April Fool's Day to be exact) was my interview with the Research Center at the Getty for a summer internship. I don't find out for another week or two, but the anticipation is killing me! In any case, I'm really proud of myself to even be chosen for not one, but two of the few interviews knowing how competitive it is... Keep me in your prayers!
The Getty Center opened in 1997 and houses the J. Paul Getty Museum (rich oilman and art collector), the Getty Research Institute, Conservation Institute, Foundation, and Trust. Architect Richard Meier was chosen to design the Getty Center and took over 13 years to construct.

 I thought I'd share my trip to there on my blog and took some photos with my handy iphone4! After parking, you take the elevators to the Tram which take you on a short trip to the top of the Brentwood Hills above LA. I arrived about an hour and a half early taking into account the LA traffic since I drove down directly  from Santa Barbara. While I waited, I got a bite to eat and mentally prepared myself for the interview (I was pretty nervous, I mean the Getty's a pretty big deal!). The seating area had bright wooden table and chairs and interesting bare trees. The branches had a strange distorted stub-like quality to them. While I waited, I also wandered around the restaurant and got a glimpse of the amazing view.

After the interview, I quickly caught a portion of an architectural tour by a docent named Eftelle(sp?). She explained how Mr. Getty began his museum in his ranch house in Malibu (now the Getty Villa) and relocated after his collection started outgrowing the site.
Meier built the center in a modernist style and wanted to build in white, but received criticism from neighbors. The white surface of the structures would reflect an unpleasant glare from on top of the mountain and so it was changed to an off-white color (not much of a difference..). A grid pattern was laid out throughout the entire design from the floor, walls, and windows in a North/ South axis. 30x30 inch squares were used to construct this grid like pattern. Adjacent to the 405 freeway, this the grid alignment could be labeled as a "Freeway Grid". The photo on the right shows the circular helicopter landing zone (for firefighters quick access) with the 405 free way running along side. The left top portion of the image is the hilltop where Mr. Getty stood and looked upon where the center now sits and decided to build it here.

The docent explained that the vineyard (the only vineyard and winery left in the Los Angeles region) sold the land to Mr. Getty for the center to be built upon. The semi-empty space on the picture to the left is where the vineyard sits. The wine from this vineyard is sold in the Getty Restaurant (good business deal).












Stone was also asked to be incorporated into the architecture by the trust as well as neighbors. Over a 100 boatloads brought over ancient stone from Italy where it is now displayed in walls with an exposed 3D effect. Created by silt and organism stacking up and hardening, the stones display fossils of leaves and organisms from ancient times.

Sitting on top of a mountain, views were carefully framed by Meier in order to take advantage of the beautiful landscape of the city and it's landscape. In the far distance you are able to see downtown Los Angeles, Century City, and a glimpse of UCLA. The hollywood sign is not visible due to the topography of the mountain blocking it out of sight. The image the the left gives an example of a framed view created through architecture and the palm tree's below sit in a garden area specifically made for private faculty use. 





Places are marked public and private with the use of aesthetics in Meier's architecture. The curved entrance canopy is flipped up to invite the public into the buildings whereas the straight linear canopies depict a private, faculty only structure. I thought this is really interesting because it used design as a was to visibly define spaces. I love the image on the right.. the single support on the left beautifully holds up the cantilevering canopy with the grid pattern working throughout the entire surface.

Exotic plants surround the entire site. The Chinese Coral Tree is one example of the many exotic plants brought to the center. In addition, it is said that Meier brought in over 10,000 trees to the mountain site, all of which were able to flourish in the California weather. These tree too were planted with the grid-pattern alignment with a north-south orientation to follow the building forms. I left soon after this discussion to get back on the road (took me an hour to get back to my house in hollywood/koreatown)! While I was on the elevator down to the parking lot where I parked (complimentary parking, yes!) and took one last shot of my reflection. Sophisticated business attire and all.. I feel all grown up! Keep your fingers crossed!!!