Los Angeles County Hall of Records. 320 West Temple Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 (click to view)
Topographical Map is a 20’ h by 80’ w high-relief mosaic and granite mural located on the northern face of the Hall of Records. The mural depicts a bird’s eye view of the geologic features and water resources of Los Angeles County. Mountainous areas are black, valleys are brown, and the Pacific Ocean is a colorful mosaic of green and blue tile. Pinkish granite represents the County’s northern boundary at the Sierra Mountains.
Artist Joseph Young worked closely with the building’s architects, including Richard Neutra, to achieve a design for the wall. Young first designed the mural to portray only geological features and later added water sources to tie the mural together with the reflecting pool Neutra placed at the wall’s base. The mosaic’s map imagery was inspired by the records and maps kept within the Hall of Records.
In 2007, conservator Donna Williams was hired to clean and restore the piece while Internal Services Department (ISD) managed the restoration of the reflecting pool and the work’s fountain elements. All work was completed in 2008 and for the first time in 20 years, water flowed through the mural.
Text and images courtesy of: LA County Arts Commission