Googie Architecture in Orange County, CA: What’s Left in 2022? — Orange County Insiders

The origins of Googie architecture

Googie Architecture is a style of architecture that originated in Southern California in the 1950s. It’s characterized by Space Age design elements. (The space race was a competition between the US and Soviet Union during the Cold War to achieve human spaceflight.)

Although laymen commonly refer to this style as “retro”, it was actually very futuristic at the time.

The name Googie was coined by architecture critic Douglas Haskell and is derived from “Googie’s Coffee Shop” on Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood.

According to this fascinating article, Googie was a consequence of Southern California’s booming post-WWII car culture. To attract the attention of speeding drivers, businesses relied on big, bold designs, which at the time, were considered garish.

Characteristics of Googie architecture

Large, colorful neon signs
- Check out our article on The Coolest Vintage Neon Signs in Orange County, CA
Sweeping roofs with turned up corners
Flying saucer shapes
Spires
Starburst elements
Brown boulder walls
Floor-to-ceiling glass windows

Googie architecture in Orange County, CA

Orange County was once home to many examples of Googie architecture, but over the years, these structures have gradually been removed in favor of new development.

Below are some examples of what’s left of the Googie architecture in Orange County.

(Click on the address to open its location in Apple maps.)