Named after Marie Antoinette's 'Petit Trianon' (which it in no way resembles), the Trianon Apartments are a real crown jewel in an otherwise non-descript neighborhood of Hollywood. According to architecture historian Laura Massino-Smith, the apartments bear a strong resemblance to the Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau in the Val de Loire. (I looked it up and they do!).
The Trianon is designed in the French Normandy or Chateauesque style. The apartments and its neon roof sign were designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1995 (No. 616). Architect Bryant also designed the art deco style Argyle Hotel (Sunset Tower) in West Hollywood. The Trianon is located at 1750-1754 Serrano Avenue in Hollywood.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Trianon Apartments, Leland E. Bryant, Architect 1928
Foy House, 1337-1341 Carroll Avenue c.1880
The residence of Mary E. Foy, the first woman to hold the position of City Librarian in 1880. The residence was originally located at the intersection of Figueroa and 7th Streets; then relocated to 633 South Witmer Street (1919-1921). It was moved to its present location in 1993. It was declared a Historic-Cultural Monument (No. 8) by the City of Los Angeles in 1962.
1343 West Kellam Avenue c.1883
Built in about 1887, this fine old Queen Anne is nearly identical to its next door neighbor at 1347 Kellam. Declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1979 (No. 220), it is our hope that it will one day be restored.
Ziegler Estate, Alfred P. Wilson & Charles Hornbeck, Architects 1904
Ziegler Estate, Alfred P. Wilson & Charles Hornbeck, Architects 1904, a photo by Michael Locke on Flickr.
Located in historic Highland Park, the Ziegler Estate combines Queen Anne, Craftsman and Shingle Style into an elegant statement. The mansion has 6 bedrooms and four baths and features an arroyo stone wall. It currently operates as a child day care center known as La Casita Verde.
The estate is located at 4601 North Figueroa Street next door tot he Casa de Adobe. It was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1989 (No. 416).
Widney Hall, University of Southern California, E.F. Kysor & Octavius Morgan, Architects, 1880
Widney Hall, University of Southern California, E.F. Kysor & Octavius Morgan, Architects, 1880, a photo by Michael Locke on Flickr.
The first building of the University of Southern California, built during the first year of the school's existence (1880). Over the years the building came to be known as Widney Hall, its facade was altered and painted, and moved to different locations on campus. It has survived as Alumni House, now located across from the Doheny Library.
Widney Hall is located on the USC Campus at 650 Childs Way. It was declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1970 (No. 70).
Forthmann House & Carriage House, Burgess J. Reeve, Architect, c. 1880
Forthmann House & Carriage House, Burgess J. Reeve, Architect, c. 1880, a photo by Michael Locke on Flickr.
Originally located at 629 West 18th Street and moved to its present location in the West Adams District in 1989, the Forthmann House remains one of the most imposing Victorian homes still intact in Los Angeles. The University of Southern California, located nearby, occupies the edifice as the University Community House.
The City of Los Angeles declared the Forthmann House an Historic-Cultural Monument in 1972 (No. 102). It is located at 2801 S. Hoover Street.
Second Church of Christ, Scientist, Alfred F. Rosenheim, Architect, 1907-1910
Second Church of Christ, Scientist, Alfred F. Rosenheim, Architect, 1907-1910, a photo by Michael Locke on Flickr.
Located at 948 West Adams Boulevard in the Historic West Adams District, the Second Church of Christ, Scientist is a most imposing edifice in the Beaux-Arts Classical Style. Authors David Gephard & Robert Winter in their authoratative work 'An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles' claim the church was inspired by the Mother Church of Christian Science located in Boston, Massachusetts.
The church was declared an Historic-Cultural Monument in the City of Los Angeles in 1968 (No. 57). Six massive Corinthian columns and a copper-clad dome are its most striking features.
The denomination closed the church in 2008, reflecting a declining membership and rising maintenance costs. In December 2009, it was purchased by the Art of Living Foundation, intending to use the facility as a center for meditation and 'raising social awareness.'
Britt Mansion and Formal Gardens, A.F. Rosenheim c.1910
Attorney Eugene W. Britt selected Architect Alfred F. Rosenheim to design the Georgian Revival style home in fashionable West Adams in 1910. Britt was one of the city’s more prominent lawyers, serving as President of the Los Angeles Bar Association in 1912 and as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1916. The house is a Los Angeles Historical-Cultural Monument (No. 197) and also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Located at 2141 West Adams Boulevard in the Jefferson Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.
1325 West Carroll Avenue c.1890
The house originally stood on Court Street and was moved to its present location in 1978. The style has been described as "almost pure Eastlake, with some element of Stick style, exhibiting a most unusual arrangement of windows and roofline". Sadly it has been neglected for some time and is currently (September 2011) listed for sale. Declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (No. 109) in 1973.
Beaudry House c.1888
Built circa 1880, the house was originally located at 1145 Court Street. It is noted for the straight-forward arrangement of its windows and roofline. Victoriana sources claim the style is almost 'purely Eastlake, although it shows signs of Stick style.' Declared a Historic-Cultural Monument in 1977 (No. 176). The house was recently (2008) listed for sale for $1,734,00 and described as "Authentically restored, resplendent Victorian exquisite detail throughout with separate legal two bedroom carriage house." Located at 1321 West Carroll Avenue in the Angelino Heights section of Echo Park.
1407 Carroll Avenue, Joseph Cather Newsom, Architect 1885
Declared a Historic-Cultural Monument in 1978 (No. 189). Designed in the 'El Capitan' style by Architect Joseph Cather Newsom in 1885 .
Abbey San Encino, Clyde Browne, Designer 1909-1925
Clyde Browne began building his medieval abbey in 1909, reportedly using bits of discarded masonry from old ruined buildings and undoubtedly picked up some stones from the arroyo below. Browne, a printer and bibliophile, lived in the house which served as a repository for his rare book collection. His grandson, singer Jackson Browne lived here for a time; the house is now the music studio and residence of his younger brother, Severin Browne
Browne originally called his home Oldestane Abbey. It was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1972 (No. 106). Located at 6211 Arroyo Glen Street in the Highland Park Historic District of Los Angeles.
Judson Studios, Train & Williams Architects 1900-1909
The Judson Studios is one of the oldest surviving stained glass studios in America, founded in 1897. The original building was designed in 1900 by William Lees Judson, founder of the Los Angeles College of Fine Arts in an Islamic Revival style. After the roof was destroyed by a fire in 1910, Architects Train & Williams redesigned the studio in 1909. Designated a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument in 1969 (NO. 62). Located at 200 S. Avenue 66 in the Highland Park Historic Preservation Overlay Zone of Los Angeles.
James R. Toberman House, Oliver Dennis & Lyman Farwell, Architects c.1907; Fran Offenhauser, Restoration Architect 2003
James R. Toberman House, Oliver Dennis & Lyman Farwell, Architects c.1907; Fran Offenhauser, Restoration Architect 2003, a photo by Michael Locke on Flickr.
Architectural historican Laura Massino Smith describes the style of the house as "Greek Revival-Victorian characterized ty the triangular pediment, columns with scrolled capitals and dentil molding". It was the home of James R. Toberman, one of the most influential mayors of Los Angeles (1872-1874 and 1878-1882). During his tenure as mayor, the first telephone lines were installed in 1874, the first orange trees were planted along city streets, plans were laid for the city's water and sewer systems, the first street (Main Street) was paved, and the Los Angeles Normal School (which became UCLA in 1919) was founded among other acheivements. His name lives on at the Toberman House, the oldest charity in the city of Los Angeles founded in 1903. It is the oldest United Methodist mission project in the Western U.S. It was originally located in Echo Park, but moved to Boyle Heights in 1917, then San Pedro in 1937.
Dennis & Farwell were among the city's top architectural firms at the turn of the century, continuing up until the mid-teens. The Jans House (HCM# 227) and the Magic Caste (HCM# 406) both in Hollywood; the Erasmus Wilson Residence at Chester Place, and a Queen Anne style mansion for oil executive Charles C.L. Leslie in Westlake were among their many achievements. Preservation architect Fran Offenhauser, President of Hollywood Heritage purchased the house in 2003 and restored it to its former glory. The house was declared a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument in 2003 (No. 769).
The Toberman House is located at 1749 N. Harvard Drive in Los Angeles.
(Thanks to Laura Massino, Architectural Historian and President of Architectural Tours-L.A. and Donald Seligman, President of the Los Feliz Improvement Association; I relied heavily on their research before updating these details).
Los Altos Hotel & Apartments, Edward B. Rust, Architect 1925; M2A Architects (Restoration) 1999
Los Altos Hotel & Apartments, Edward B. Rust, Architect 1925; M2A Architects (Restoration) 1999, a photo by Michael Locke on Flickr.
Spanish Colonial Revival style apartment building designed by Edward B. Rust in 1926. It has been the home of many notables including William Randolph Hearst, Marion Davies and Clara Bow. It is rumored that Judy Garland and Charlie Chaplin also lived here for a time. Architect Julia Morgan, designer of the Herald-Examiner Building and Hearst Castle in San Simeon designed the apartments for Hearst and Davies in the building.
M2A Architect's restoration of the residential hotel included the rehabilitation or re-creation of original light fixtures, hardware, carpets, awnings and ornamental iron work; concealed seismic work, and new fire/life safety systems. The project has been recognized with awards from the California Preservation Foundation, Los Angeles Conservancy and City of Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission.
Designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1925, the building is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Located at 4121 Wilshire Boulevard in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Blackburn Residence, Paul R. Williams, Architect 1927
Designed by Paul R. Williams, the 'Architect of the Stars' for Bruce and Lula Blackburn. (Mr. Blackburn's claim to fame is the invention of the rollup window screen). Williams designed the home in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, and set it in a lush tropical landsape in the hills of Los Feliz. Its most prominent feature is a two-story turreted tower. One of three residences located in Los Feliz that was honored with 'historical monument' status by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission in 2008, (the others are the Victor Rosetti Residence, also designed by Williams, and the Edward Petitfils Residence, also known as 'Los Pavoreales' designed by Wallace Neff in 1927).
The Blackburn Residence is located at 4791 Cromwell Avenue. Declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 2008 (No,. 913)
VDL Research House, Richard & Dion Neutra, Architects, 1932 & 1964
VDL Research House, Richard & Dion Neutra, Architects, 1932 & 1964, a photo by Michael Locke on Flickr.
The experimental home where the Neutra family lived in Silver Lake, known as the Van der Leeuw Research House (VDL) in honor of Neutra's patron, the young Dutch industrialist, Kees van der Leeuw. In the early 1930s, this home was the workshop for such distinguished architects as Gregory Ain, H.H. Harris, and Raphael Soriano all of whom served their architectural apprenticeship under the watchful eye of Richard Neutra.
The original house, built in the pure International Style, was partially destroyed by fire in 1963, The present structure was rebuilt by Richard's son, Dion Neutra on the original footprint. The house was willed by Dionne Niedermann Neutra, to the College of Environmental Design, California State Polytechnic University at Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona), which is charged with its restoration and maintenance, as well as a research center.
The VDL Research House is located at 2300 Silver Lake Blvd. in Silver Lake. It was declared an Historic-Cultural Monument in the City of Los Angeles in 1997. (No. 640). To arrange a tour of the Center, call the University at (909) 869-2667.
Villa Palombo-Togneri, Innocenti Palombo Design c.1927
A Beaux-Arts Masterpiece c. 1927. Popularized by the great classical architects of the time (like Paul Williams and Irving Gill), Mediterranean and Spanish style mansions were all the rage of the rich and famous of the period. Not much is known about the builder, however, it is said, that he hoped that in building this fine mansion others would follow suit. It must have been a little more than disappointing to realize the result. The house, located on Mayberry Street, is set in a neighborhood characterized by modest California bungalows, and yet it makes a statement. It is considered the 'Crown Jewel' of Mayberry Heights.
Set on the eastern reaches of Silver Lake, a visit to the mansion is a step back in time: hand-painted murals and ceilings with allegorical themes, authentic art deco light fixtures and inlaid hardwood floors; coved ceilings with crown moldings; a 1929 Studebaker Touring Car can still be seen parked in the garage.
Michael Togneri an immigrant from the small town of Coreglia Anteiminelli near Lucca, Italy purchased the home in the 1940s. Togneri came to the U.S. during the massive migration brought about the worldwide Great Depression. Arriving at Ellis Island, he moved on to Chicago, but found the weather depressing. Hearing that the Southern California climate would remind him of his home in Italy, he arrived in Los Angeles at the age of 21. He found employment washing window in the high-rises of downtown Los Angeles. The dangerous work fetched him the princely sum of 10 cents per window. Within a few short years the resourceful immigrant had his own business was able to send for his wife, Marina, who had remained behind in Italy, and their first child, Bianca, who was now seven years old.
The purchase of the house on Mayberry Street symbolized Togneri's acheivement in realizing the 'American Dream' of owning his own home, similar to the style he remembered from his youth in Italy, with room to grow grapes and make fine wine. His family grew to include two sons and three daughters. He worked well into his '70s and retired, enjoying cooking, gardening, tending to his fruit and olive trees (some of which still remain on the property). A huge wooden wine vat remains in the underground basement.
The Villa, which has been in the Togneri family for more than 60 years, was listed for sale in November 2008 for $990,900. It has five bedrooms, some with dressing rooms and cedar closets, a formal/parlor living room, formal dining room, breakfast room, a full basement and a level backyard, large enough for a swimming pool or tennis court.
The Villa was dedicated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monumnet in 2010 No. 971), located at 2508 Mayberry Street in the Mayberry Heights neighborhood of Silver Lake.
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William F. Gilbert Residence, c.1903
Late Queen Anne Shingle house with a nod to the Anglo Colonial, the lower half of the house is sheathed in Santa Barbara limestone while the upper half in shingles. Notable features include the round corner bay tower and the rounded open porch on the opposite end. Located at 1333 Alvarado Terrace in the Pico Union neighborhood of Los Angeles. Declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1971 (No. 85).
Tierman House, Gregory Ain, Architect 1940
Gregory Ain studied architecture at the University of Southern California during the years 1927-28. While the fashion of architectural training of the day was for the 'beaux arts', the movement towards modernism was beginning to make its impact at all levels of life, including architecture. These revolutions in our understanding of any human endeavor often have their beginnings on the campuses of the world's universities. As a youth, Gregory Ain was acquainted with Rudolf Schindler's Kings Road house, and this 'new style' of architecture definitely had an impact upon him.
After graduation, Gregory Ain went to work in the office of Richard Neutra in Silver Lake, already established as one of the 'young lions' of the emerging modernist movement. Early in his career, Gregory Ain developed an interest In group housing for low and middle income families. In 1937, he began the development of Dunsmuir Flats, which became his signature work, and which through the photography of the great Julius Shulman, established his reputation.
In 1940 Ain received a Guggenheim Fellowship for the development of low-cost housing. One of the most successful schemes was the Avenal Housing Project in Silver Lake, twenty attractive hillside units with private patios and living rooms with views, built for the members of a musician's union whos members worked in the film industry.
Tierman House, located at 2323 Micheltorena Street in the Moreno Highlands was designated in 1974 by the City of Los Angeles as a Historic Cultural Monument (No. 124) and noted for its 'architectural simplicity and elegance achieved through relationship between building and site.'
Other Gregory Ain homes in Silver Lake are Daniels House, 1856 Micheltorena Street and Orans House, 2404 Micheltorena Street. There is also an office building located at 2311 Hyperion Avenue in Silver Lake which was once the office of Gregory Ain and James Garrott, one of the few African-American architects in practice at the time.
Granada Buildings, Franklin Harper, Architect 1927
Granada Shoppes and Studios, also known as the Granada Buildings, is a Spanish Colonial Revival courtyard complex designed by Architect Franklin Harper in 1927.
When the architect announced plans for the $1 million project in 1927, the Los Angeles Times described the structure as "something entirely new in Los Angeles, resembling the design of European specialty shops". The complex was designated a Historic Cultural Monument (HCM # 238) by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission in April 1981 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
A courtyard running between four separate structures functions as both a pathway between the suites and a garden providing shade. Located at 672 S. Lafayette Park Place in the Westlake District of Los Angeles.
Raphael Residence, Sumner Hunt & Wesley Eager Architects c.1902
Raphael Residence, Sumner Hunt & Wesley Eager Architects c.1902, a photo by Michael Locke on Flickr.
Architects Sumner Hunt & Wesley Eager designed the English Tudor Revival style residence for R. H. Raphael, a prominent figure in the glass business in 1902. Declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1971 (No. 87). Located at 1352 Alvarado Terrace in the Pico Union neighborhood..
St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Charles A. Klingerman & Albert R. Walker 1948
St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Charles A. Klingerman & Albert R. Walker 1948, a photo by Michael Locke on Flickr.
Architects Charles A. Klingerman and Albert R. Walker designed the Byzantine-inspired cathedral with considerable financial support from theater mogul Charles R. Skouras, perhaps a good reason why the sanctuary is over-the-top in its opulence. Declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (No. 120) in 1973.
Located at 1324 S. Normandie Avenue in the Pico Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Thomas Butler Henry Residence, Althouse Brothers 1911
The Althouse Brothers designed the Mediterranean Colonial style residence for Thomas Butler Henry in 1911. Designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (No. 625) in 1996. Located at 1400 South Manhattan Place in the Arlington Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.
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