By Megan Barrie
If you’ve wanted to take a step inside the work of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, you’re in luck, Angelenos. On February 13, one of Wright’s homes is opening its doors to the public — and it’s in Los Feliz. While he’s better known as the mastermind behind iconic works like the Guggenheim Museum and Fallingwater, LA is home to eight buildings designed by the twentieth-century architect. The majority of Wright’s projects are private residences tucked away on unassuming streets, keeping art and architecture lovers like me from getting a peek. However, the City of Los Angeles is providing us a rare opportunity to tour one of FLW’s first Southern California projects, the Hollyhock House.
Sandwiched between an imposing hospital and bustling Hollywood Boulevard in Los Feliz, the Hollyhock House is the centerpiece of the Barnsdall Art Park. Tours will reveal the house’s original design intention as a central space for arts and theater community gatherings. It boasts 17 rooms, central courtyards, water gardens, and rooftop terraces that have amazing views of the LA skyline. Since FLW built his homes with doors measuring only six-foot-two inches high, you also get to experience what it’s like to be an architect with a Napoleon complex. The Hollyhock House wouldn’t be opening to the public if it weren’t for Aline Barnsdall, the commissioner of the park, to donate the land to the city as a public art center. Barnsdall’s theater interests, support for radical causes, and self-proclaimed Bohemian beliefs pretty much make her one of LA’s first hipsters.
The opening of the Hollyhock House is a chance for locals and tourists alike to see Wright’s distinct Mayan Revival architecture and organic nature-influenced style in the flesh. Not only will public tours offer you the pleasure of stepping into the famous architect’s work, but also they will give you a glimpse inside an important and historical landmark. The house was also recently nominated as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site, which classifies the building among other famous structures such as the Taj Mahal and Sydney Opera House.
The Barnsdall Art Park is definitely one of LA’s hidden gems. Its premium location high on its own hill with views of the Hollywood sign, the Griffith Observatory, and the palm-dotted hills of Los Feliz make this a beautiful site on its own. But beginning on February 13, Barnsdall Art Park will be not only an ideal meeting spot for those who want a serene view, but also a place for Angelenos to gain some serious knowledge of architecture and history.
After its 24-hour opening on February 13, the Hollyhock House will be open to the public for “Walk Wright In” tours open from Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tours cost $7 for adults and $3 for students, seniors, and children. See you there!
Photos by Joshua White /JWPictures.com
