Los Angeles is a city in California that has a lot of mislaid architecture. From the early real estate lush, to the mid-century Hollywood royalty masterpieces, most architectural designs have been destroyed because of development, greed and business. The personal homes were torn down to build high-rise apartment buildings and bigger mansions. Below is a list of the old houses of L.A.
Pickfair
Douglas and Mary Pickford, the famous royal couple of the young Hollywood, purchased this house in 1919. With the help of architect Wallace Neff, they changed it into a mock Tudor palace for the king and queen in them.
The Bivouac
The revival mansion designed by architect Jon Kremple was bought by the famous publisher and editor of the Los Angeles Times, Gray Otis. It was constructed in an overlooking hill fronting the known Westlake Park, now called MacArthur Park. When Otis died, the mansion was transformed to be a part of the Otis Art Institute, but was eventually torn down in 1954.
Grocer Fred Roberts and wife Florence, hired Paul R Williams in 1952 to design a modern house for them and the entire family at Solstice Canyon in Malibu. Fred had started purchasing land in the 1930s, and in the long run he owned almost 1000 acres. Williams custom-made the house, built it with wood, brick and stones, and made it a perfect fit for home-site waterfalls, lush vegetation and springs. Along the Solstice Canyon, the remains of the Ranch home was transformed into a public park in 1988, and is now governed by the National Park Service. The fish pond, landscape and grassy area overlooking the creek remain and serve as a memoriam of the Ranch.
What do you think about this news? Do you agree that the Los Angeles state government should do something to preserve the remaining parts of these homes? Leave your comments below.
