Master of the house

I just finished reading “Loving Frank,” a historical novel based on true events in the life of Frank Lloyd Wright. Nancy Horan’s book is a fictional account of his relationship with Mamah Borthwick Cheney. Because they were both married to other people, their affair was considered scandalous and ended tragically in 1914. I don’t want to give away the story, but let’s just say that if it had taken place in this decade it would have dominated the tabloids and there would have been several made-for-TV movies.

The drama was news to me, but it had me thinking about Wright’s work. His best-known homes are in Oak Park, Ill., Wisconsin and western Pennsylvania. Wright also designed a few homes in Greater Los Angeles and I visited one of them in April.

The Hollyhock House was Wright’s second project in Southern California, and it was built from 1919 to 1921. The home was designed for Aline Barnsdall, the daughter of a wealthy oil baron. It sits atop Olive Hill and has sweeping views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Hills. Barnsdall’s favorite flower was the hollyhock, so Wright used the flower pattern throughout the house. Over the years, the property has been used as an artists’ haven and a United Service Organizations facility, so the restoration is a work in progress. This is a kind assessment. I can’t help but wonder what Wright would think of all of the tarps and five-gallon buckets set up throughout the house to fight the water seeping in from the roof and foundation. The city of L.A. owns the Hollyhock House and it’s open to the public; volunteers offer tours of the home.

From the grounds, our guide pointed across Los Feliz toward the Griffith Observatory where another Frank Lloyd Wright house stood. The Ennis House was built in 1924 and may be recognized as a location in the movie “Blade Runner” and the TV series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” The house, built with concrete blocks, sustained heavy damage during the 1994 Northridge earthquake and 2004-05 winter floods. It’s been undergoing some major restoration projects. Sadly, the Ennis House Foundation announced in June that it was listing the house for sale to a private owner. There are no public tours, but if you have $15,000,000 the house could be yours.

At any rate, Mother Nature is sure putting two of Wright’s L.A. houses to the test. I hope they hold up and inspire Southern Californians learn about the famous architect.

Caption: The Hollyhock House was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2007.