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Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Iconic LA: Caltrans District 7 Headquarters

Caltrans District 7 Headquarters100 S Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90012


A fortress or Star Destroyer the building of little retreat houses Caltrans. I think the design by Thom Mayne is impressive, but it shouldn't have cost the people of LA anything. Paid by Caltrans with our money, this beast of a building blocks out the sun for those below.


Now doubt the building will make you stare, but for no reason as it houses nothing anyone from the public can enjoy.


I've always resented this place, yet find in awe inspiring, like a bad dream or a featured set from Giger or a post-apocalyptic society fortress the place is a huge waste of cash.  The damn thing lights up at night with neon, but no one can enjoy it, because everyone is done working and it's not in a public area!


 Other features include stairs that lead nowhere and nooks and crannies for secret compartments and doorways.
 I admire the building aesthetics, but wish it could've housed something the community could enjoy or even see, only a very niche amount of people see it or go in it. From the street, no one even questions it. Horrifying because it looks like a super villain lair right next to LAPD Headquarters, which I think it stands above , maybe a metaphor for what Caltrans does.



I've never seen the bicycle exhibit, but frankly they have enough room outside in this window, which runs the length of one side of the building  and more to feature the whole thing.


A place to hate, yet some more things should be filmed at.