Crossroads of the World
Crossroads of the World, Historic shopping district in Hollywood, Los Angeles, United States
Crossroads of the World is a shopping complex in Hollywood, California, arranged around a central building shaped like a ship. Small cottages in international style surround the main structure and form a series of low individual buildings along paved walkways.
Robert V. Derrah designed the complex in 1936 as one of the first outdoor shopping centers in the country during the Great Depression. The design combined modern architecture with international styling elements and inspired later shopping centers across North America.
The site served for decades as an office complex for film and music professionals, from actors to producers. The surrounding cottages housed agencies, sound studios, and small production firms that turned the district into a creative meeting ground.
The complex sits near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Las Palmas Avenue and can be reached from sidewalks. The site is currently undergoing redevelopment with residential and commercial space, which may change future access options.
A rotating globe tops the central ship structure and became a recognizable feature in the Hollywood skyline. The arrangement of cottages was meant to symbolize a journey around the world and brought international architectural references into a California outdoor setting.
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