Hollyhock House in Los Angeles, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building, constructed between 1918 and 1921 on a hill in East Hollywood, is part of a group of eight Wright-designed sites that received the designation for modern architecture in the United States. Other buildings in this group include the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Fallingwater in Stewart Township, Pennsylvania.
The UNESCO status was awarded to Hollyhock House and the other Wright buildings in 2019. Danielle Brazell, then head of cultural affairs for Los Angeles, said at the time: “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.”
Originally commissioned by an oil heiress who favored hollyhock flowers, Hollyhock House has an unusual history. After disagreements with Wright led to his dismissal from the project, the client never lived there. The property later deteriorated until it was restored by city authorities and opened as a public attraction during the 1970s.
Visitors can now take self-guided tours of Hollyhock House and Barnsdall Art Park for $12. Guidebooks are available on-site and docents provide information about both the house and its grounds. Events such as Barnsdall Friday Night Wine Tastings are also held at the park.
