The Arts District holds special significance in Los Angeles. From its origins as a vineyard to a twice-dilapidated blight on the city, the Arts District is now the home of SCI-Arc, Hauser & Wirth and the locally beloved Bread Lounge. 

The Archinect Outpost - our retail initiative featuring a collection of small-run, independently published architecture and design publications - opened its polygal doors on June 15th with the intention of living up to the quality of its newfound neighbors in the Arts District.

Now available at the Outpost is our free guide of the Arts District, featuring a walking guide for those unfamiliar with the area. Our selection is based on the customer feedback we received during Archinect Outpost's first two months of operation, most of whom had never been to Los Angeles, and fewer still had been to the Arts District. Check out some highlights from our recommended walking route below.

The Archinect Outpost is under the same roof as the Architecture and Design Museum, which first opened in 2001 to celebrate and promote an awareness of architecture and design in everyday life through exhibits, educational programs, and public outreach. 

Heading East, the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) will appear on your left. In the corner of the parking is a stunning pavilion designed for student graduations by faculty member Marcelo Spina of P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S. SCI-Arc sponsors several lectures and exhibitions from its quarter-mile long building, the Santa Fe Freight Depot, designed by Harrison Albright.

On the way to the next destination, one might be struck by the abundance of street art on the majority of the area's buildings. This one by Colossal Media is painted on the façade of its own building, providing a bit of curb appeal in front of a soon-to-be apartment complex. 

Parallel to SCI-Arc on its East end is One Santa Fe, a new mixed-use building by local architect Michael Maltzan. On its ground floor is a number of spaces accommodating to the Arts District visitor, including Wittmore and Bulletproof Coffee, the bio-hacking company developed by Dave Asprey. The floors above contain apartment units of varying spatial dimensions and blood-red balcony walls.

Though there are many art galleries in the area, the same could not be said a few years ago. One of the newest to the Arts District is Hauser & Wirth, a Swiss art gallery specialising in contemporary and modern art. Exhibitions, events and an outdoor restaurant draw a large crowd to this multi-acre art campus. 

Traction Avenue is commonly understood as the 'center' of the Arts District, possibly due to its historical significance as the site of the first paved street in Los Angeles. There are many noteworthy shops and restaurants on this short street, including Würstkuche, Angel City Brewery, The Pie Hole, and the Arts District Brewing Company. 

Come to the Archinect Outpost for our free guide to the Arts District! We are located at 900 E 4th Street, in the same building as the A+D Museum. Our hours are 10 AM - 7 PM from Wednesday through Friday and 1 PM - 6 PM on Saturdays.