The Bradbury Building, Los Angeles: an architectural treasure

The Bradbury Building [Wikipedia]  is a polished gem of historic architecture in downtown Los Angeles, built in 1893 and famous for its awe-inspiring light-filled central atrium with rich details. Best known for being used in the film Blade Runner, the building got run down over the years, until a major renovation in the early 1990s brought the edifice back to its former glory. The famous interior is a symphony of polished oak railings, doors and ceilings; ornate black cast iron balustrades and columns; yellow glazed and flat   bricks walls; creamily-colored floor tiles; and maroon and white marble stair steps. Check out these historic photos on the Library of Congress website.

Here are some photos I shot in June 2007 of this spectacular interior atrium.

Below: detail of the railing on the second floor's mezzanine.

 Below: looking across the central atrium.

Below: the floor in the central atrium.

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