{"id":24448,"date":"2020-07-31T09:22:35","date_gmt":"2020-07-31T13:22:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/?p=24448"},"modified":"2023-06-07T13:27:42","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T13:27:42","slug":"walt-disney-concert-hall-architectural-gem-of-downtown-la","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/walt-disney-concert-hall-architectural-gem-of-downtown-la\/","title":{"rendered":"Walt Disney Concert Hall: Architectural Gem of Downtown LA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The newest home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Walt Disney Concert Hall is now one of the landmark buildings in the city. Since the concert hall is only one block away from The Broad<\/a> (to the south) and Grand Park (to the north), you can easily combine the three destinations on your cultural tour of downtown LA<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, I\u2019ll share a bit about the architecture and even some \u201chidden gems\u201d of the building, including a rooftop garden and little-known gallery. I\u2019ll also cover why you should consider getting tickets to see the LA Phil in action, plus practical tips for your visit, whether you\u2019re attending a concert or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to See Inside and Atop the Walt Disney Concert Hall<\/h2>\n\n\n
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There is more to the Walt Disney Concert Hall than simply being a venue for musical performances \u2014 though you should try to attend a show here at least once. Beyond the music, here are the things you can expect to see at this famous concert hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Architecture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Boring, this building isn\u2019t. The asymmetrical concert hall is designed by Frank Gehry, the architect famous for his oddly shaped, postmodern buildings. The Walt Disney Concert Hall is no exception, and it\u2019s instantly recognizable as you drive by. Outdoors, the curved all-metal exterior creates the illusion of silver sails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside, the stage and auditorium are created from wood for the best acoustics. Don\u2019t miss the 6,134-pipe organ with a design reminiscent of French fries. It\u2019s hardly traditional, which fits perfectly with the design of this contemporary building. (See the video at the bottom of the post for a visual and some history.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Ribbon Garden<\/h3>\n\n\n
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In LA, we\u2019re all about rooftop fun. So yes, there\u2019s absolutely a rooftop garden at the concert hall. It\u2019s a lush acre that contrasts with the metal exterior of the building. The garden is also free to visit. There is seating available, so if you\u2019re tired after walking around downtown, come up to enjoy a break in the shade among the trees and flowers. You\u2019ll probably run into someone doing a photoshoot here \u2014 it\u2019s that gorgeous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the prettiest spots in this garden is the fountain, A Rose for Lilly, shown in the photo above. Gehry created the fountain as a tribute to Lillian Disney, the late wife of Walt Disney. Lillian gave the initial donation to build the concert hall \u2014 although it was unfortunately finished six years after her death. The fountain is made from broken pieces of Lillian\u2019s favorite Royal Delft Blue porcelain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ira Gershwin Gallery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not many know there is an art and music gallery inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The Library of Congress Ira Gershwin Gallery<\/a> on the second floor of the building features a rotating selection from its permanent collection and hosts special exhibitions such as the recent \u201cL.A. Murals\u201d photography exhibit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can visit the gallery while waiting to attend a performance or if you\u2019re taking a tour of the concert hall. You\u2019ll need a ticket to either a performance or a tour to enter the venue. Tour tickets are free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LA Philharmonic Concerts at the Walt Disney Concert Hall<\/h2>\n\n\n
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The best way to experience the concert hall, of course, is to attend a concert here by the Los Angeles Philharmonic (locals just call them the LA Phil).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lined with Douglas fir and oak, the concert hall is praised for its acoustics. The LA Philharmonic performs a wide range of music from classical to jazz. Commonly, the Philharmonic hosts performances at the Walt Disney Concert Hall from October to June and moves to the Hollywood Bowl in the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fun fact: LA Phil conductor Gustavo Dudamel inspired the main character in Amazon\u2019s \u201cMozart in the Jungle.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for Your Trip<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Planning to check out the Walt Disney Concert Hall? Here\u2019s some helpful info that will probably answer any questions you have left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you go inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Other than attending a concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, you can also take a tour of the interior. There are self-guided audio tours and guided tours offered most days, and both types of tours are free. You don\u2019t need to reserve the tours in advance for groups less than 15, but do check the schedule, especially for the guided tours. The audio tour is narrated by award-winning actor John Lithgow, so feel free to pretend he\u2019s guiding you on the tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the tour takes you through most of the interior, it doesn\u2019t include the auditorium since the space is constantly used for rehearsals and performances. For that, you\u2019ll need to see a show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where do you park for the Walt Disney Concert Hall?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Parking is available underneath the concert hall for a flat rate of $9 and is available two hours before performances (or all day on weekends). Beyond those hours, find parking at one of the paid lots in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not driving? Check out our guide on how to take public transportation in LA<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where can you eat near the Walt Disney Concert Hall?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You’re in DTLA, so there are plenty of options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sad to say, one of the most famous dining venues, the upscale restaurant Patina, located inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall for the past 31 years, is slated to close August 2020. You can still visit their sister restaurants around LA, including Ray’s and Stark Bar at LACMA<\/a> and, close to the concert hall, Kendall’s Brasserie at The Los Angeles Music Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking for another elegant dinner nearby, try Otium<\/a>. Next door to The Broad museum, Otium isn’t too fancy to serve chicken and waffles alongside quiche Lorraine \u2014 and curated cocktails with everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For something more affordable, there\u2019s also Au Lac<\/a>, which dishes up creative vegan Vietnamese food. Grand Central Market is another downtown LA must-do for local flavor, offering a variety of cuisines to sample, from tacos to Thai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Walt Disney Concert Hall: Downtown LA\u2019s Contemporary Landmark<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re visiting downtown LA<\/a>, the Walt Disney Concert Hall\u2019s unusual architecture is worth spending an hour to check out while you\u2019re exploring the city. Music lovers should consider attending an LA Philharmonic performance here, too, so you can see \u2014 or hear \u2014 for yourself what makes this place incredible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking for more cultural attractions in Los Angeles that won\u2019t break the bank? Check out our list of top free museums to visit<\/a> in the City of Angels.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The newest home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Walt Disney Concert Hall is now one of the landmark buildings in the city. Since the concert hall is only one block away from The Broad (to the south) and Grand Park (to the north), you can easily combine the three destinations on your cultural tour<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":24449,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24448"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24448"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24448\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33078,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24448\/revisions\/33078"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24449"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}