why the Getty Center was spared

An ark which contains 125,000 works, the Getty in Los Angeles was the subject of all concern when the fires ravaged Pacific Palisades. The famous museum was spared and that is not a miracle.

In Pacific Palisades, the famous Getty Museum found itself surrounded by smoke, right in the middle of the area affected by an evacuation order. In Los Angeles, more than 12,000 buildings were destroyed by fires. The Getty Center is still standing, intact. Why was he spared?

Of course, the firefighters were particularly vigilant to protect the site, an arch which houses no less than 125,000 works, as well as, not far from there, the iconic Getty Villa, inspired by Herculaneum. But, above all, the entire museum is designed to resist fire.

To accommodate Rembrandts, Van Goghs and other Monets, the building was built like a real fortress, out of reach of flames or earthquakes.

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The entire construction is covered with 300,000 blocks of travertine, a rock that resists flames.

Like a submarine

Unlike Californian buildings whose walls are often made of simple wooden panels, the Getty’s structure is made of concrete and steel.

The roof is covered with a layer of crushed stone. It prevents embers brought by the wind from creating homes.

Inside, the ventilation system can switch to a closed circuit, blocking smoke from the outside to protect the works.

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The museum works a bit like a submarine: if a fire started in a room, a system of double doors would transform each space into a watertight compartment.

As for the gardens, the designers favored succulent plants and cacti, which are not very flammable. The irrigation network that runs through the basement is connected to a reservoir holding four million liters of water. Triggered, the sprinklers moisten the ground, embers cannot develop there.

It was the architect Richard Meier who designed the Getty Center, a billion-dollar jewel. Opened in 1997, the Getty has always proven its effectiveness in terms of security.