Hollyhock House in Los Angeles stands as a notable example of modern architecture and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Constructed between 1918 and 1921, the house is located on a hill in East Hollywood. It is one of eight buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that together received the UNESCO designation, marking the first time modern architecture in the United States has achieved this recognition. Other Wright-designed sites with this status include New York’s Guggenheim Museum, Taliesin West in Arizona, and Fallingwater in Pennsylvania.
The building’s history includes nearly being demolished in the 1940s before city officials intervened to save it. Hollyhock House was commissioned by an oil heiress who favored hollyhock flowers but parted ways with Wright before ever residing there. The property later fell into disrepair until restoration efforts led to its opening as a public attraction during the 1970s.
Upon receiving its UNESCO designation in 2019, Danielle Brazell, then head of cultural affairs for Los Angeles, said to the Los Angeles Times: “It’s a phenomenal moment for L.A. 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.”
Visitors today can take self-guided tours of Hollyhock House and explore Barnsdall Art Park for $12 per person. Guidebooks are available on site and docents are present to answer questions or provide further information about the property’s history and significance.
