So I visited this bitch yesterday. I’m still processing it.
My favorite part of FLW’s work is the dynamic and mystery. You never know what the hell is going on from the outside and you have no idea that it’s so soft (wood) inside when the exterior is so brutal (concrete). This long outside corridor with at the end front doors made of concrete opening up to a low ceiling entrance I mean, you have to live it to understand how sanctuary-ish that shit feels. I wonder if it gets old.
As much as the concrete doesn’t look so great when untreated, inside with its particular soft green color mixed with some gold, connecting with the wood… Concrete can be very cozy. The craft and detail cranked to 11 on every single item, surface in every single room definitely makes it a historic cultural monument. It’s amazing.
The main “attraction” is the living room:
The mantle’s art is awesome. Water was supposed to run at the bottom of the fireplace, connecting with outside ponds. The skylight was providing wind and light so basically you would have all the four elements in one place: Earth (mantle) Air (skylight) Water & Fire (fireplace). All those design decisions materialized, it’s so cool to see.
Sounds nice but obviously having a massive running water system in 1920 was insane and still is in 2015 in L.A. They never used it. The room is so big you barely see that there’s a hole though.
$7 to get in. Not a lot is open to public unfortunately, but it’s a good initiative in this city where everything changes so fast. Preserving and pondering guys, it’s important too.