Coca-Cola Building, Bottling plant in South Central, Los Angeles, United States
The Coca-Cola Building at 1334 South Central Avenue is a bottling plant that architect Robert V. Derrah shaped in 1939 as a Streamline Moderne ocean liner, joining five existing industrial buildings into one hull-like structure. Its exterior carries portholes, a catwalk and a bridge, with steel and terrazzo detailing and Art Deco window frames and door surrounds.
Architect Robert V. Derrah designed the facility in 1939 as an exemplary work of modern American factory architecture. The project demonstrated how existing industrial buildings could be completely transformed with contemporary design thinking.
The building was designated as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument Number 138, showing how companies viewed their factories as places for bold design in the 1930s. Visitors can observe how industrial construction merged with artistic details.
The building is located on South Central Avenue in the industrial section and is easy to view from the exterior. Since it remains an active manufacturing facility, visitor access is limited to public areas and the outside of the structure.
The building was intentionally designed to resemble an ocean liner, complete with a flying bridge and promenade deck. This ship-like theme was an unusual choice for a factory located inland.
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