Watts Towers of Simon Rodia (The Towers, 1957) California VISIONARY Architecture Fantasy Environment

http://shop.ebay.com/bayartwork/m.htm...
The Watts Towers of Simon Rodia in the Watts district of Los Angeles, California, is a collection of 17 interconnected structures, which reach heights of over 99 feet (30 m). The Towers were built by Italian immigrant construction worker Sabato Rodia in his spare time over a period of 33 years, from 1921 to 1954. The work is a fantastic example of non-traditional vernacular architecture and American Naïve outsider artwork. The Towers are located near (and visible from) the 103rd Street-Kenneth Hahn Station of the Metro Rail LACMTA Blue Line.
They were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1990.

Watts Towers of Simon Rodia (The Towers, 1957) Surreal Fantasy Environment

• Category

  Education

[jjsep06]

inspirational

[ohforshitssake]

I live in LA and am always saddened when people that have lived here longer than me have never been or even heard of these towers and their creator. Thanks for sharing.

[DinoJCione]

There was an Italian area in Watts many years ago. By the way his name is RO-DIA not Rodilla.

[3976iris]

プロセスの建築

[DetroitLove4U]

To think that an Italian lived in Watts is unfathomable by today's standards of this ebbed area.

[GuidoBatt]

I also noticed the similarities between the Sagrada Familia ans the Watts Towers; not only, but the ground floor and the tilings strongly recall (to me, at least) the Parc Guell. But I think it's a case of serendipity: this is how the SF looked like in 1920 flickr.com/photos/etecemedios/­2115619016/ ; plus, an illitterate Italian mason would not likely be a reader of architectural literature. They both got inspiration from natural structures.

[angellcorps1]

Haha I just went to see Simon's towers!!! They were awesome!

[Tony Rodia]

I like how he says "rodilla"... dumbass

[Edward P Campbell]

As any student of architecture will know, all art and architecture is derivative. Like homie music in the hood. The inspiration for this set of towers and the accompanying pottery, tile and glass inlays at the base is probably the church of Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona, Spain. He started to build it in 1882 (completion proposed for Gaudi's Centenary in 2026). His monumental Sagrada de Familia (Sacred Family) cathedral is like an upscaled version of Watts Towers. You bloods need to get out more.

[zacatetas]

you on tha computer nigger

[xmustanguyx]

I represent Art 160 @ Mjc...NOW WHAT!!!!!!! haha, just kidding!!!

Good luck to all you guys/gals trying to get that extra credit!

[Flashstick2005]

Yall writing shit anyway. Noone of you sukker ,frontin on youtube about towers and black and white, was ever threr 4 real. you all have to search a hobby. paralell life motherpukkas.