Randy’s by John Mueller is licensed under CC BY 2.0
You may already be familiar with this iconic building. Randy’s Donuts, located nearby the airport in Los Angeles, has been featured in numerous movies such as Iron Man 2 and Get Shorty.
It was designed by Henry J. Goodwin and built in 1953. At that time, buildings that resemble an object, known as programmatic architecture, were popular in the United States and especially California. This could have been due to the influence of Hollywood. Randy’s Donuts is technically not programmatic architecture as the building itself is not a donut but instead has one on the roof. However, it very well could have been inspired by the movement.
The donut is 32.5 feet in diameter. It is made from rolled steel bars and gunite, a cement and sand mixture.
Of course, an iconic location will not necessarily carry an establishment. Randy’s Donuts has been featured on numerous lists for best donuts in Los Angeles and the United States!
So if you are in the neighborhood and have a craving for a donut you can head over to Randy’s any time of the day or night to satisfy your sweet tooth. Just don’t copy Iron Man 2 and eat while sitting in the donut on the roof!
