While I was in LA recently, I had to get my Frank Lloyd Wright fix. I’m a huge fan, and I recently won some blueprints of his at an auction. Since we don’t have any of his architecture in Australia, I had to make the most of my trip and see what I could. The only house in LA that is open to the public, is Hollyhock House, which sits on the top of a hill in a now public park. It remains an art precinct as it was originally intended, but now the home of the owner, Aline Barnsdall, is now an historical, architectural exhibit.
If you’re an architecture buff and you’re in LA, it’s worth checking out. Check the Hollyhock House website for details.
We also drove past the Ennis House in Los Feliz, which is a massive property with amazing views across LA. It was open to the public but restoration and maintenance became too costly so it’s on the market for $US15 million. We also went past the Storer House which is similar to the others, with the concrete block construction. While on Rodeo Drive, we spotted a little known shopping centre that he designed.
I think if Iwanoff’s Marsala House was in LA, there would be a stream of visitors to that too.
S. Tate
