Hollyhock House, 1921:
4808 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles
Hollyhock House is part of a complex of residences, theatres, shops and artist apartments designed for heiress Aline Barnsdall. While the entire complex was never realized, the house, two guest residences and a spring house were built. Wright described the architecture of Hollyhock House as "California Romantic", a cross between Prairie style and his later textile block designs. The interiors include a reproduction of Wright's original living room furniture. Hollyhock House is recognized by the American Institute of Architects as one of the seventeen Wright buildings that are representative of his contribution to American culture.
Barnsdall lived in the house until 1927, when she donated it to the City of Los Angeles. After years of renovation, Hollyhock House re-opened for public tours in 2005.
Ennis House, 1924:
2655 Glendower Avenue, Los Angeles
Built for Mabel and Charles Ennis and for a time called the Ennis-Brown House to honor its seventh owner, Augustus Oliver Brown, who donated it for public use, Ennis House is on the National Register of Historic Places, a Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Monument, and a California State Landmark.
Sited on a hillside overlooking the city of Los Angeles, Wright's last and largest concrete block house commands attention even from the street below it. Its commanding presence has not been lost on the Hollywood film industry and it has starred in many films, including Blade Runner, Black Rain and The House on Haunted Hill.
In Architectural Digest (October, 1979) Thomas Heinz writes: "The residence is one of the most unusual of Wright's California designs. In it, he combined elements from his past work with a new vocabulary created specifically for the sun-drenched, slightly rugged topography of Southern California. Aware that his client shared his affinity for Mayan art and architecture, he drew inspiration from that culture's highly ornamented and organized buildings."
After a retaining wall collapsed during the heavy 2004 rains, the Ennis House closed to the public. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the LA Conservancy and the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy have plans to restore the house and operate it as a museum. To speed their progress, you can donate online.
Freeman House, 1924
1962 Glencoe Way, Hollywood
The Samuel Freeman House, one of three textile block houses built in the Hollywood Hills in the 1920s, was built for two members of the Los Angeles avant-garde who met Wright at Aline Barnsdall's. They asked Wright to design a home for them with a budget of $10,000. Wright seized the opportunity to design a concrete block house based on a 16-inch square that was estimated to cost $12,000. The final bill was $23,000.
Harriet Freeman lived in the house until 1986, when she donated it to the University of Southern California. The Freeman House suffered earthquake damage and is not currently available for tours (although you might stumble upon an out-of-date page on the USC website that suggests otherwise).
Anderton Court Shops, 1952
333 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills
These shops are a little-known Wright design that is not generally recognized as one of his better works. The design is a series of small boutiques around a central light well, connected by an angular ramp. The tower is similar to the one at the Marin Civic Center. Today's canopy and signage are later additions, not consistent with Wright's original design. There are no organized tours, but the shops are easily accessible.
Other Frank Lloyd Wright houses located in the Los Angeles area but not open to the public:
- Los Angeles: Dr. John Storer House, 1924: PLEASE use this information courteously. The Storer House is a private residence located at 8161 HollYwood Boulevard. Follow the street to where it appears to end at Laurel Canyon Blvd. Turn right, make an immediate u-turn and go up the hill. The house is on the right, and you can see the front of it from the street. Before you do anything else, think how you'd feel if a stranger drove up in front of your house with a camera.
- Brentwood: George D. Sturgis House, 1939
- Malibu: Arch Oboler House, 1941
- Pasadena: Mrs. George M. Millard House (La Miniatura), 1923
More: Frank Lloyd Wright in California | Frank Lloyd Wright Structures in San Francisco | Frank Lloyd Wright Structures in the Rest of California
