The city of Los Angeles is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and in an ironic twist, it’s a Hollywood home that almost met the wrecking ball in the 1940s.
Hollyhock House, built between 1918 and 1921 on a hill in East Hollywood, is one of eight Frank Lloyd Wright buildings that collectively attained the UNESCO World Heritage Site status, and marks the first designation for modern architecture in the United States. (The seven other lauded Wright buildings include the Guggenheim in New York City; Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona; and Fallingwater in Stewart Township, Pennsylvania.)
When Hollyhock House received its UNESCO designation in 2019, it was hailed as a landmark event. "It’s a phenomenal moment for L.A.," said Danielle Brazell, then head of cultural affairs for the city of Los Angeles, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. "We now have a World Heritage Site in the heart of our city. It’s the highest international recognition, affirming that Hollyhock House holds universal value. There is no greater honor for a cultural site in the world."
Like many Wright creations, the Mayan-influenced Hollyhock has its own colorful backstory. It was commissioned by an oil heiress who was partial to hollyhock flowers; after clashing with the notoriously mercurial Wright, she fired him and ultimately never even lived there. When the house fell into disrepair, the city intervened, did extensive work on the property, and ultimately made it a public attraction in the 1970s.
Today, you can explore Hollyhock House and the grounds of the Barnsdall Art Park (which features live hollyhocks) via a self-guided tour for $12; guidebooks are available for onsite use, and docents are on site to provide insight and answer questions. Check the calendar, too, for events on the grounds such as Barnsdall Friday Night Wine Tastings.