Hauser & Wirth Downtown Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

Originally the site of the Globe Grain & Milling Company, this late-19th and early-20th century industrial complex was acquired by Hauser & Wirth and converted into a contemporary art center. Selldorf Architects led the design of the project alongside LA-based firm Creative Space who were the Executive Architects and Development Managers.

Located in the heart of the downtown Los Angeles Arts District, the former mill and food manufacturing facility spans more than 100,000 sf, with an original architectural motif of wheat sheaves and a steamship steering wheel that is still visible to this day. The design prioritized maintaining the integrity of the buildings’ architectural character as well as the specific decorative and functional details that reflect the site’s history of local production with national and international impact.

To connect the borders of the site, East 2nd and East 3rd Streets, a new breezeway was constructed, creating an interstitial space that effectively opened the site towards the city, melding public and private in unique ways.

The courtyard is frequently used for showing outdoor sculptures and as an informal gathering space with a scale that allows for the display of large installations and social events alongside a very vibrant local restaurant “Manuela,” which is also situated in the courtyard.

The galleries are varying in scale allowing for the presentation of paintings, sculpture, video, and immersive installations.

Hauser & Wirth makes a lasting contribution to the LA community through public engagement programs, building partnerships with local and international cultural organizations, non-profits, and universities, including the adjacent SCI-Arc campus.

(Photography credits: Brian Forrest, Joshua Targownik, Mario de Lopez, Noé Montes, courtesy of Hauser & With)