Griffith Observatory

Los Angeles, California

Pfeiffer Partners Architects

The architects' challenge was to maintain the iconic Art Deco integrity of this eminent landmark in the Hollywood Hills and add nearly 40,000 square feet of new gallery space. While the observatory's coelostat directs visitors' attention heavenward, the new spaces now also take them underground-the extended gallery spaces are tucked beneath the vast grassy landscape. A new café along the western edge boasts distinctive glass walls, futuristic pylons, and bronze ornamentation, enhancing the original structure's purpose.

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