Bonaventure Hotel
The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in Los Angeles is a 367-foot, 33-story building in which the elevators go to Floor 35 because no floors are numbered 7 or 13. The largest hotel in the city, designed by architect John C. Portman Jr., was constructed between 1974 and 1976. Portman brought his innovative “atrium hotel” concept to LA through this hotel. The unique structure evokes a 1970s vision of the future using circular shapes, massive forms, and the concept of space as experience. The four elevator banks are named by colors and symbols: Red Circle (the only one that goes to “35”), Yellow Diamond, Green Square, and Blue Triangle. The color-coded system of directions was a later addition, as visitors found the space confusing and hard to navigate. It has been featured in almost countless movies and television series.
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
Photographer: Andrew Schmidt