Storer House, 1923

Built in 1923 for Dr. John Storer, this textile-block house is located in the Hollywood Hills and it grabbed our attention while driving by, even before we know who designed it (although Wright was our first and correct guess). For a Wright design, it's unusual in that respect, with more presence and curbside drama than Wright's philosophy of making his structures an extension of their surroundings usually delivered.

One of four textile block-style Wright houses in the Los Angeles Area, Storer is unique among them because of its multiple block designs, four in all. The house is about 3,000 square feet, with three bedrooms, three baths, den, kitchen, dining room and two outdoor terraces, but the living room is its focal point, two stories tall and facing the street, with views of Hollywood. It has no formal "front door." Instead, entry is from the rear.

Motion picture producer Joel Silver acquired the Storer House in 1984 and undertook an extensive restoration, led by Wright's grandson Eric Wright. Silver sold it in 2002 and it remains a private residence.

In a piece of interesting little trivia, the Imagineers down at Disneyland used the textile block design of the Storer house as inspiration for a structure in California Adventure's Backlot area, a restroom. We wonder what Wright would have thought of that.

You can see an original drawing of the house here which shows what it looked like when built and see some of the original drawings here.

8161 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA
Private residence, no tours given