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A mansion for the masses at Hollyhock House
August 27, 2010
Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons user danielwilliams
LOS ANGELES, USA – A quick glance at the real estate listings in the most exclusive pockets of Los Angeles will clue you in to the types of amenities that come standard with your average Tinseltown mansion: in-home movie theaters, grand ballrooms, domed glass spas, and even discoteques. These posh estates have clearly been built as private compounds where the rich and famous don’t have to venture out of their fortified gates for any of their extracurricular needs (and yet, judging by the celeb shopping on Robertson and cavorting on the Sunset Strip, they do anyways!).
Set against this modern backdrop, the Hollyhock House–designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1919 for oil heiress Aline Barnsdall–is all the more striking. Barnsdall’s original plans for the 36-acre parcel of land known as Olive Hill included a home for her and her young daughter, two secondary residences, a theater, a director’s house, a dormitory for actors, studios for artists, shops, and a motion picture theater. That might sound extravagant even by today’s standards…until you learn that Barnsdall meant for all of it (aside from the main house) to be for the enjoyment of the public.
Barnsdall was a prolific philanthropist with a passion for the arts. She intended to turn Olive Hill into a functioning arts complex. So, she invited her friend Frank Lloyd Wright to realize her vision. Apparently, financial and artistic differences ensued along the way (a little cryptic…hmmm…), and only the two secondary residences and the Barnsdall home, Hollyhock House (named after her favorite flower), were built.
But Barnsdall donated the house and the land to the City of Los Angeles in 1927, and today Hollyhock is still standing as part of Barnsdall Art Park. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re a Wright fan, or if you just want to check out some cool architecture and sweeping views of Hollywood. This was Wright’s first foray into Californian architecture and an early example of the style he later dubbed “California Romanza.” Incorporating California’s outdoor spirit into the design, he centered the house around a sunny courtyard and worked in a series of rooftop terraces and garden spaces.
Despite some careless and disorganized restoration work that has destroyed some of the original details, enough of Wright’s intention shines through to keep it interesting. (There seem to be several never-completed renovation projects dotted around–would be nice if those were wrapped up.) I especially dig the intricate hollyhock (floral) detailing, swinging Art Deco vibes, and Wright’s custom-designed living room furniture.
And it cheers me to know that despite the initial failure of Aline’s arts complex plans, her vision was ultimately realized. Today the Hollyhock house is surrounded by the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, the LA Municipal Art Gallery, and the Junior Arts Center, all part of Barnsdall Art Park. That pretty much puts all those Bel-Air and Beverly Hills estates to shame.
Hollyhock House
4800 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
(1) 323-644-6269
Website
Barnsdall Art Park
Map
RL contributed to this post
Learn more about Hollyhock House on The Purple Passport