View Full Version : [Los Angeles] Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels - Rafael Moneo


wizum
13-02-2006, 02:44
Moneo's Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, located in downtown Los Angeles, California. Designed by Rapheal Moneo, a Pritzker Price winner (http://www.pritzkerprize.com/secone96.htm)

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels is just down the road from Gehry’s Disney Hall on grand Ave. in downtown (see my thread of images of Disney Hall link (http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1165) ). These following images I took on the same day after spending several hours at Disney Hall. I knew that the cathedral was near by but didn’t know exactly where and how close until I was up on the terrace of Disney Hall and was able to bet a view east.

I visited the cathedral on a Sunday and services were going on but the access to the courtyard (the main way of entering the cathedral) was open from the street and so I had fairly open access to walk around and to even go inside while services were on-going.

I am not very familiar with Moneo’s work but I was impressed with this building and it is definitely one to check out if you are planning to head to LA.

Here are a few links for more information on the Cathedral and Moneo:

Moneo’s Cath. Of Our Lady of Angels article
http://www.arcspace.com/architects/moneo/cathedral_feat/
Moneo’s bio
http://www.arcspace.com/architects/moneo/moneo_bio.htm
homepage of cathedral
http://www.olacathedral.org/

Location:
Once you find yourself downtown the church sits on the corner of Grand Ave. and W Temple street... The site is adjacent to the 101 Santa Ana Fwy.

wizum
13-02-2006, 02:45
downtown location map

wizum
13-02-2006, 02:46
from google earth with models turned on...

wizum
13-02-2006, 02:47
kmz file...

wizum
13-02-2006, 02:49
This first image is what I saw when looking for the Cathedral when I was at Disney Hall...

wizum
13-02-2006, 02:50
image looking back at Disney Hall from corner of Grand & Temple where Cathedral sits...

wizum
13-02-2006, 02:53
approaching the cathedral from Grand Ave. walking from Disney Hall

wizum
13-02-2006, 02:54
turning corner onto Temple and viewing Cathedral toward the church's gateway

wizum
13-02-2006, 02:56
view of facade along Temple st.

wizum
13-02-2006, 02:58
along sidewalk walking toward gate to enter into main courtyard

wizum
13-02-2006, 02:59
gateway... design paying homage to old mission style that is historically significant with the catholic faith in california...

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:02
fountain that confronts you as you enter through the gateway. the courtyard has two distinct levels to it - one lower and one upper to signify the levels of sacred procession... this fountain sits in the lower courtyard...

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:03
close-up of fountain

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:05
stair leading up to upper courtyard... on axis with mainentry into cathedral

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:13
upper courtyard and building

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:13
upper courtyard and more of building

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:14
upper courtyard and the building leading over to the main entrance

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:17
a corner of building

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:18
building view as you are walking up stairs leading to the upper courtyard and the main entry

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:19
main entry and building corner seen from street sidewalk

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:22
view of building looking at the large windows that open to the cathedral space inside

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:24
entry way into cathedral

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:25
main entry hallway...

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:26
entry hallway computer model of design... always interesting to see the concieved idea and the actual idea built...

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:30
one of the alcoves along the main hallway...

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:32
inside the Naive space of the cathedral... this is along the wall on the side you enter on...

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:34
another view of a naive wall

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:35
skylights in naive space...

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:36
more of the naive space

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:37
opposite hallway leaving the cathedral space... looking out toward courtyard that leads to the Tower...

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:38
view of tower...

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:38
tower again

wizum
13-02-2006, 03:39
and another tower shot...

cacapis
13-02-2006, 16:35
Beautiful pictures. I see you're using your girlfriend the same way digdoi does for his photos. Am I right?

digdoi
13-02-2006, 16:48
Beautiful pictures. I see you're using your girlfriend the same way digdoi does for his photos. Am I right?

JAJAJAJAJA :P

Actually I think Kevin was the first to do that... :D


Great pictures Wizum! Thanks a lot. :cheers:

wizum
13-02-2006, 17:07
Well she is a model :D

not really but I had to use someone for scale and I woulda hated to ask everyone I took pictures of for permission to do so :) who knows, I could get sued for posting them LOL

besides I was dragging her all over the place to see architecture that she could probably careless about... but I do give her big points... she really seemed to enjoy this building and Disney Hall... she wasn't though so big on Moss's work in Culver City... I think it scared her :)

david p
13-02-2006, 19:33
interesting mix of projects with your LA trek. i always liked the work of Moneo. thanks for sharing.
:cheers:

shikatoi
16-02-2007, 00:10
One of my clients is M.L. Snowden, she is a master sculptor and created the sculpture for the main alter in that cathedral, the Angel Frieze. Here is a synopsis of one of her 3 books on that cathedral, pertaining to the altar itself:

THE GOLDEN ANGELS OF THE MAIN ALTAR
& the LOS ANGELES ANGEL FRIEZE FOR THE NEW LOS ANGLELES CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS, M.L. SNOWDEN SCULPTOR

Synopsis: An in-depth account of Snowden's works for the Cathedral which include the MAIN ALTAR for the sanctuary of the $200 million Los Angeles Cathedral as well as the half ton, LOS ANGELES ANGEL FRIEZE. The composition as well as initial inspiration for this commission is explored.

Hardbound
Text: Di Sulio
15 color photos; 42 pages
11 1/2" x 9"
Orlena Press
2003

attached is an image of the book cover.. and this link is to an exhibition of hers that I am creating for her website.

http://mlsnowden.com/exhibition/index.htm

kschetan
21-06-2007, 09:21
a panoromic view of the interior...

kschetan
21-06-2007, 09:31
interiors play of light

spadestick
21-06-2007, 16:59
thanks for sharing wizum - the place looks quite monumental.

one thing I can never understand... why is it that glazing done in Europe is always like 100% better than the ones done in the US - you can always tell the difference. I'm speaking the detailing of window mullions. There's something really wrong about them here. I think Moneo would think the same.

wizum
24-06-2007, 06:46
thanks for sharing wizum - the place looks quite monumental.

one thing I can never understand... why is it that glazing done in Europe is always like 100% better than the ones done in the US - you can always tell the difference. I'm speaking the detailing of window mullions. There's something really wrong about them here. I think Moneo would think the same.

It maybe the systems we have here in the states and the way they are detailed? Possibly there is just more options elsewhere? I don't know. I haven't been over seas so it would be hard for me to compare in general. Is that what you are referring to spadestick?