the richfield tower

The Richfield Tower was a twelve-story art deco structure completed in 1928 and served as the headquarters of the Richfield Oil Company until 1969. In 1966, Richfield merged with Atlantic Petroleum and formed the ARCO company. The tower was then dismantled and two new skyscrapers went up for the new company. To many however, the destruction of the building was arguably one of the most regrettable decision made in Los Angeles' architectural history. 

The building was designed by Los Angeles architect Stiles O. Clements with a black and gold facade to symbolize oil as being 'black gold.' The building was crowned with a tower that was suppose to represent an oil-well gusher. The tops were also lined with sculptures of angels sculpted by Haig Patigian.

There were forty angels that were salvaged but only a handful remain. The one above is now back in downtown. Four others are in a sculpture garden at UC Santa Barbara. Below are the elevator doors that were also saved.

The ARCO towers came the replace the building. Many people today detest these modern skyscrapers but at the time it was built, I am sure that people hailed it as progress. It was modern, sleek, shiny, and very tall. Very few people in the sixties were actually concerned about preserving older buildings and therefore, I think we should be fair to the people who designed and constructed these buildings. A good historian does not think with his or her own preferences and emotions and hopefully tries his or her best to understand the people of that time. And I think we should step away from what our contemporary senses tell us and enjoy it for what it is (Although as a modern person, I would also prefer to have the old building).