A mall turned inside-out—Gehry’s intervention is less ‘shopping’ and more a lesson in how to civilize a private megablock.
Shopping mall in California, United States.
Featured in Frank Gehry's definitive monograph, Building Art: Life and Work of Frank Gehry.
Visitor Guide
Ignore the stores. Walk the edges and rooflines: you’re here for the urban stitching, not retail therapy.
From the rooftop levels, late afternoon for oceanward light; for exterior, shoot the massing from 3rd Street Promenade at golden hour.
Free entry; individual venues have their own hours. Best experience is the open-air upper levels.
Gehry’s ‘soft’ moves are urban rather than sculptural here—canopies, terraces, and circulation are the real design.
45–90 minutes
Design & Structure
A retrofit/expansion design process: reworking circulation, bringing daylight and outdoor space into a retail typology, and coordinating envelope changes around ongoing commercial operations.
Metal canopies, glass, and stucco/stone: the palette is about glare control and coastal durability while keeping things visually light.
Structurally, the challenge is phasing and re-supporting a big commercial slab while carving openings and terraces without killing the building’s retail economics.
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Nearby in Santa Monica
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Santa Monica Place?+
Santa Monica Place was designed by Frank Gehry and completed in 1980. It is located in Santa Monica, United States.
Where is Santa Monica Place located?+
Santa Monica Place is located in Santa Monica, United States. Its coordinates are 34.0136°, -118.4937°.
When was Santa Monica Place built?+
Santa Monica Place was completed in 1980. It was designed by Frank Gehry.
Can I visit Santa Monica Place?+
Santa Monica Place is a real building in Santa Monica that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.