Hollyhock House in Los Angeles, a building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The house was constructed between 1918 and 1921 on a hill in East Hollywood and is one of eight Wright-designed buildings to receive this designation. Other notable sites among the group include the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Fallingwater in Stewart Township, Pennsylvania.
The UNESCO designation for Hollyhock House was granted in 2019. At that time, Danielle Brazell, who served as head of cultural affairs for Los Angeles, told 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.”
Hollyhock House was originally commissioned by an oil heiress with an affinity for hollyhock flowers. After disagreements with Wright during construction, she dismissed him from the project and never lived in the home herself. In later years, after falling into disrepair and facing possible demolition in the 1940s, the city of Los Angeles intervened to restore it. The property eventually opened to the public as an attraction during the 1970s.
Currently, visitors can tour Hollyhock House and explore Barnsdall Art Park where it is located. Self-guided tours are available for $12; guidebooks can be used onsite and docents are present to answer questions about its history and architecture. The park also hosts events such as Barnsdall Friday Night Wine Tastings.
