Walt Disney Concert Hall

Walt Disney Concert Hall opened to the public on 23 October 2003 and quickly became the architectural signature of Downtown Los Angeles. Designed by Frank Gehry, with acoustics by Yasuhisa Toyota, its curving stainless-steel exterior looks different from every angle and changes colour with the light. It is the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

You do not need a concert ticket to see it. A free self-guided audio tour, narrated by actor John Lithgow, runs daily, usually between 10am and 3pm, and needs no reservation. It covers the story of the building from concept to completion. Docent-led tours of about an hour are also offered, free for individuals and small groups; they cover much of the interior and the gardens, although the auditorium itself is not usually included because of rehearsals.

Do not miss the Blue Ribbon Garden, a rooftop garden of nearly an acre that wraps around the building. At its centre is A Rose for Lilly, a fountain Gehry designed in honour of Lillian Disney, shaped like a giant rose and covered in broken Royal Delft porcelain and tiles. The stairways up to the garden also give some of the best close-up views of the steel curves.

Hearing a concert here is the fullest way to appreciate the hall, especially the striking organ with its curved wooden pipes, which Gehry nicknamed the French fries. Tickets for the LA Phil season can be bought through the orchestra; if a concert is not possible, the tour is a good alternative for architecture fans, couples and anyone exploring Downtown on foot. Allow about an hour for the audio tour and garden.

A few practical notes. The audio tour can be affected by performances and events, so it is worth checking the LA Phil or Music Center websites on the day you plan to go. Bring sunglasses on bright afternoons, because the polished steel panels reflect a lot of light. The building is a short walk from The Broad, so many visitors see both in a single morning before heading down to Grand Central Market for lunch. The LA Phil season runs at the hall through the cooler months, while in summer the orchestra moves to the Hollywood Bowl, so plan accordingly if hearing the orchestra in this space is the goal. Concerts by the Master Chorale and visiting artists fill other dates.

The hall sits next to The Broad on Grand Avenue, and the Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill Metro station on the A and E Lines is close by. The Music Center, Grand Park and City Hall are all within a short walk, so it is easy to build a Downtown walking route around it.