Roofs of the Sixties
The 1960s were a wild decade - Woodstock, the Summer of Love, the Vietnam War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and so much more. How familiar are you with the architecture of the times? The 1960s saw a rise in modernism in the architectural community, and this is reflected in some of the more extreme and outlandish designs of the buildings of the period. In today's article, we're going to have a look at some of the Sixties' most outstanding and famous projects.
The John Ferraro Building
John Ferraro was the longest-serving member of the Los Angeles City Council, with 5 decades of service. The John Ferraro Building, named in his honour, was originally called by the somewhat lengthy name of "The Department of Water and Power's General Office Building". The John Ferraro Building was opened in the year 1964, and is notable for its bright lighting, shining out of its many rectangular windows.
Century Plaza Hotel
Completed in 1966, the Century Plaza Hotel (also in Los Angeles) did not take long to become a landmark. In only one year, President Lyndon B. Johnson gave a speech at a Democratic fundraising event... accompanied by 1,300 police officers and 10,000 Vietnam War protestors. Despite the violence, the Century Plaza Hotel remained a popular and high-class venue, and has hosted numerous politicians and celebrities at their many events. It is notable for its curved shape, which we imagine resulted in some very tricky flat roof demarcation!
Queen Elizabeth Hall
A popular music venue to this day, Queen Elizabeth Hall was built in the South Bank of London and was opened with a concert from legendary composer Benjamin Britten. The building itself houses both the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Purcell Room, another concert venue, totalling 1260 seats together. The Hall was built in the brutalist style, an pragmatic and economic style inspired by post-war Soviet aesthetics. Since 2012, the Room for London structure has stood on top of the hall, a boat-shaped one-bedroom room precariously perched across the roof.
Hayward Gallery
Hayward Gallery is an art gallery situated beside the Queen Elizabeth Hall built in the same brutalist style. Built in the larger Southbank Centre, which features a number of prominent galleries and concert halls, the Hayward was opened in 1968 and was built by the same construction company as the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Hayward Hall is known for its liberal exhibition policy, featuring art from all different eras and styles. If you're interested in art, the Hayward Hall is definitely worth a visit!