The LA Design Festival Kicks Off Today

Those with an interest in art and architecture should embrace the two-week Los Angeles Design Festival, which kicks off today.

There will be panel discussions, tours and parties at the third annual festival, which explores everything from decor to home tours to Peter Zumthor‘s new take on LACMA.

Most of the events take place downtown, including Dwell on Design at the Los Angeles Convention Center’s South Hall; DOD is the largest design event in America.

In a statement, LADF co-founder Michael Sylvester said: “LADF is a young festival that is only just beginning to scratch the surface, so to speak. It’s a reflection of the rich diversity of creative talent in this city and we can’t wait to see how it will continue to grow.”

A sampling of the Los Angeles Design Festival’s events can be found below:

Modern Skyline Walking Tour, June 15-29 at Pershing Square: Organized by the L.A. Conservancy, this tour winds through Bunker Hill’s plazas and skyscrapers as guides share stories of the area’s transformation.

Big City Forum’s “Independent Publishing and Print Culture in the Public Sphere,” June 19 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Standard hotel: This panel features artists, educators and musicians and is moderated by LACMA’s Head of Publications. The two-hour discussion will explore issues related to independent publishing in L.A. and address questions such as: “What are the collisions and intersections between visual language, print culture, and the social sphere?”

Dwell on Design, June 21-23 at the L.A. Convention Center: This three-day design conference is “America’s largest modern design event” and includes 400 exhibitors with 30,000 people expected to attend. It includes special installations such as “Dwell Outdoor” and the “Tech Zone.”

Downtown and Eastside home tour, June 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: This tour of Eastside homes is “self-drive,” meaning you control the pace when visiting five different houses and lofts. The meandering tour goes from La Canada Flintridge to Silver Lake, to Downtown’s own Patterson Residence & Colorola Studios. Tickets are $85 to $95 dollars and include a two-day pass to the Dwell on Design convention.

Like Haute Living Los Angeles? Join our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @HauteLivingLA. Want Haute Living Los Angeles delivered to your inbox once a week? Sign up for our newsletter.