Archinect - News

LA's Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Hollyhock House to reopen on August 18th

2022-08-10T12:58:00-04:00

Los Angeles' historic Hollyhock House will reopen to the public on Aug. 18, city officials announced. LA City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell and the Department of Cultural Affairs will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony that day to celebrate the return of in-person, self-guided tours.

The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home closed its doors at the start of the pandemic in early 2020. During this time, LA's Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) embarked on “significant transformations” at the Hollyhock House and Residence A, a guest house (also designed by Wright) located at the same site. The property saw conservation work on its cast stone, art glass windows, woodwork, and landscape. In addition, the home’s prominent fireplace was restored, and two Wright-designed sofas were reinstalled.

Previously on Archinect: Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House to reopen once again in February

The reopening aligns with the centennial of the iconic home, which was constructed between 1919 and 1921. Wright’s first LA project, it is the city’s first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site .

The Hollyhock House has undergone a significant renewal before: From 2005 to 2015, it was subject to an extensive renovation process, which focused on restoring the home and its details to its origi...

"Virtual Accessibility Experience" created for FLW's Hollyhock House in Los Angeles

2020-05-12T13:28:00-04:00

Los-Angeles based architecture visualization firm AVA Inclusivity has created a new Virtual Accessibility Experience (VAE) for Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2019. According to Docomomo, AVA Inclusivity worked with members of the City of Los Angeles' Department of Cultural Affairs and Department on Disability to meet the City's standards and needs.

The VAE is intended to address the limitations the historical site presents to visitors with disabilities, such as stairs and narrow doorways that limit the freedom to physically experience the space for some guests. "AVA Inclusivity’s virtual tours are designed to be used on site with the inclusive interaction of a docent or educator but they can also be used off site with a WiFi or LTE connection," writes Docomomo.

The Hollyhock House Virtual Accessibility Experience can be viewed here.

Weekly News Round-Up for January 19, 2015

2015-01-26T20:46:00-05:00

Sunday, January 25:

Aaron Betsky To Lead Taliesin West: Effective immediately, Betsky will "set the intellectual tone or the School " as it undergoes a rough and potentially definitive funding period.

Friday, January 23:

Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House to reopen once again in February: So culminates a six-year and nearly $4.4M restoration project, to return the house to its early 20th century state.

Thursday, January 22:

Megataaaall Shanghai Tower enters final construction phase: It's 632 meters tall, symbolizes China's Future, and is flanked by two other skyscrapers repping China's Past and Present.

David Chipperfield pledges to carefully "optimize" Mies van der Rohe's Neue Nationalgalerie: Chipperfield also renovated Berlin's Neues Museum, and plans to "keep as much Mies as possible".

Wednesday, January 21:

'Can of Ham' skyscraper coming to London after all: Delayed since 2008 after the financial crisis hit, the hamscraper will sit in close company to London's Gherkin.

Monday, January...

Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House to reopen once again in February

2015-01-23T14:22:00-05:00

In the heart of Hollywood's Barnsdall Park, Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House will officially reopen on February 13, as recently announced by L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell, and the Barnsdall Park Art Foundation. This isn't the first time the iconic house has been restored, but the latest renovation focused on bringing back the house, and all its decorative details, to its original early 20th century state. The conservation effort took place from 2008 to 2014 and cost $4,359,000.

The Hollyhock House was Frank Lloyd Wright's first residence in Los Angeles. Pennsylvanian oil heiress and arts enthusiast Aline Barnsdall commissioned Wright to build the house -- which was named after her favorite flower -- as her own venue for producing avant-garde plays. It later became a performing arts complex including Barnsdall's private residence. Construction began in 1919 but came to a halt in 1921 when Barnsdall fired Wright, primarily due to costs.

Nonetheless, the hou...