Getting to the Getty

by SweisKloss
March 18, 2021

Who would ever think that “seeing red” would be a good thing? Moving from the Covid-19 purple tier to the red tier for Los Angeles is, in fact, a very good thing for many reasons. Most important and thankfully, cases are going down. We will have some sense of normalcy once more places open including our amazing museums. Announcements are coming out that a few museums are opening, with limited capacity, as early as April 1st. One of our favorite museums is the Getty Center, which is slated to open in phases starting mid-April.

Here’s why the Getty Center is at the top of our list. This may seem too obvious of a reason, but it’s the architecture, which is truly a work of art—how fitting for a museum of this caliber. Architect Richard Meier was inspired by the location and wanted to design a campus that reflected the surrounding nature and culture. Situated in the Santa Monica Mountains, the Getty sits on a hilltop where visitors can take in views of the ocean, the San Gabriel Mountains, and DTLA.

The complex has 1.2 million square feet of textured travertine stone from Bagni di Tivoli, Italy. The travertine stone, equaling 16,000 tons, contains fossilized leaves, feathers, and branches, which were revealed when the stone was split for construction. Curved design elements soften the linear grid pattern created by the travertine cladding and paving. Sunken gardens, terraces, and open floor plans provide fluidity between indoor and outdoor.

Natural light is a key architectural element in all the structures. The abundance of exterior glass walls allows for a flood of natural light to illuminate the interior. A sophisticated computer-assisted system of louvers and shades adjusts the light indoors. The paintings galleries on the upper levels of the different pavilions are naturally lit but with special filters to prevent damage to the artworks.

We are looking forward to getting to the Getty again. One SK staffer, who is an avid museum goer, is counting down the days. She describes her first visit there as an incredibly serene experience and was in awe of the organic, elegant design. When the Getty allows for it, we suggest doing their 45-minute architecture tour. Not only is it free, but admission to the museum is free; one only has to pay a nominal fee for parking. By the way, the tram ride from the parking structure to the campus is really fun. For more information about the Getty Center, click here.