Pacific Design Center

Pacific Design Center Review

World-renowned architect Cesar Pelli's original vision for the Pacific Design Center was three buildings that together housed designer showrooms, office buildings, parking and more—a virtual multi-building shrine to design. These architecturally intriguing buildings were built years apart: the building sheathed in blue glass (known as the Blue Whale) opened in 1975; the green building opened in 1988. In 2013 the final "Red" building is scheduled to open, completing Pelli's grand vision all of these many years later. All together the 1.2 million-square-foot vast complex covers over 14 acres, housing more than 120 design showrooms as well as 2,100 interior product lines; it's the largest interior design complex in the western United States. You'll also find restaurants such as Red Seven by Wolfgang Puck, the Silverscreen movie theater, an outpost of the Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as a myriad of special events. Focused on the professional trade, some showrooms are open only to professionals such as credentialed decorators, but many other showrooms are open to the public. The PDC also has a Designer Service to help non-professionals shop and get access to certain designers and showrooms.

MOCA at Pacific Design Center. The Downtown Museum of Contemporary Art has a small satellite MOCA Gallery here that shows works from current artists and designers and hosts exhibit-related talks. 8687 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, 90069. 310/657-0800. www.moca.org.