Hidden in Plain Sight: The Story Behind Venice's Iconic Binoculars Building A Giant Pair of Binoculars? You’re Not Seeing Things
If you've ever driven down Main Street in Venice, California, chances are you've done a double take. No, your eyes weren’t playing tricks on you—that really was a giant pair of binoculars towering over the sidewalk.
Meet the Binoculars Building, one of Los Angeles’ most whimsical architectural gems. A striking mix of art and function, it stands as a playful reminder that in LA, even an office building can be a work of art.
👓 More Than Just a Quirky Facade
The building was designed by the legendary architect Frank Gehry, whose work you might recognize from other LA landmarks like the Walt Disney Concert Hall. But the binoculars themselves? Those were sculpted by artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, known for turning everyday objects into massive public art.
Originally commissioned for the pioneering ad agency Chiat/Day in the early 1990s, the building was meant to embody creativity in every brick (and lens). In fact, the main entrance literally goes through the binoculars—walking into the office felt like stepping through a portal into imagination.
After Chiat/Day, the space caught the eye of another titan of innovation: Google. For years, the tech giant used the Binoculars Building as one of its Los Angeles offices, a fitting home for a company that also values out-of-the-box thinking. Today, the space remains a creative hub, hosting design firms and startups that thrive in an environment where bold ideas are part of the architecture itself.
🌆 A Symbol of LA’s Imaginative Spirit
In a city known for movie magic, fashion, and innovation, the Binoculars Building is a perfect metaphor for what Los Angeles represents: a place where art meets industry, and imagination has no ceiling—or in this case, no standard doorway.
It’s not just a building. It’s a landmark of possibility, quietly reminding us that the most functional spaces in life can still be full of wonder.
"Only in LA can you walk through a pair of binoculars and end up in an office."
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