On Hollywood Boulevard between Western and Vermont there is a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW.) Are you as surprised as me?
The Hollyhock House was FLW's first house in Los Angeles and since the city of Los Angeles owns it, the public can visit.
The house itself is under renovation and you can only view the inside on one of their guided tours. Our docent clearly loved this house and FLW's work. She began the tour by passing out cards with her favorite FLW quotes.
I feel coming on a strange disease - humility. Frank Lloyd Wright
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| The play of light in the entrance-way. |
FLW designed this house for Aline Barnsdall, granddaughter of a wealthy oil man, between 1919 and 1923. She wanted a house inspired by her favorite flower, the hollyhock.
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| Frank Lloyd Wright's interpretation of the hollyhock, with wild hollyhocks growing in the courtyard. |
Aline lived in this house with her daughter, Sugartop, for only 6 years and then donated it to the city with the land. As with most of FLW's houses this one has issues with drainage and leaks during rain. The maintenance costs were too much for Aline and since she left, the house has been used by a few different organizations including the California Art Club and the USO.
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| Frank Lloyd Wright designed stained glass windows in Sugartop's playroom at the Hollyhock House. |
Many of the windows are original, but since there have been so many uses of the home most of the furniture is missing. They did create replicas of the living room furniture and that room is definitely the standout on the tour. Originally there was a small pond in front of the fireplace, although it had to be drained because FLW didn't take into consideration the algae created by the hot LA summers. It is definitely a showstopper with high ceilings and a dramatic fireplace. You can't take pictures inside so you'll just have to believe me.
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| The view of Hollywood from the Hollyhock home. |
The house sits in at the top of the hill in Barnsdall Art Park. While there you can visit the Municipal Art Gallery for free or check out the Junior Arts Center and take some art classes. From the top of the hill you get a nice view of the Hollywood sign and the Observatory. The area around the house is a nice park to take a picnic and enjoy the sun if you are in the area.
Hollyhock House
Cost: $7 for the tour; free to walk around the outside and the art gallery
Time: The tour took over an hour, but give yourself some time to walk around the house and the art gallery.
Location: Seriously, it's right in the middle of Hollywood. On Hollywood Blvd between Western and Vermont.
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