Mayan Influences: The Hollyhock House
Frank Lloyd Wright did originate many of the ideas he used in his architecture, but not all designs showcased Wright’s concepts solely. Wright often used elements of architecture from other countries and cultures. He is most famous for using elements of Japanese architecture and Mayan/Southwest architecture. This aspects were intertwined with his designs, and he was reluctant to admit to anyone that he borrowed ideas from someone else. In Franklin Toker’s Fallingwater Rising, Toker describes a story about how Wright rejected taking others’ ideas. “A scholar visiting Taliesin West spots a book on Mayan architecture and says, ‘Why, Mr. Wright, this temple looks just like your Barnsdall house,’ whereupon Wright darts over, slams the book shut, and declares: ‘Never saw that book in my life!’” (160).
The Barnsdall House, also know as the Hollyhock House, was owned by Aline Barnsdall. She was a very independent woman with feminist views, a great financial fortune, and was deemed the creator of modern architecture. She not only brought Wright to her home state of California, but architects Richard Neutra and Rudolph Schindler as well. During a troubling time financially for Wright, Barnsdall approached him with the idea of coming to California to design a home for her. Barnsdall and Wright seemed to collide with their respective ideas from the very start of the project.
In 1919, Barnsdall found a 36 acre plot of land in Loz Feliz, CA and purchased it for $300,000. The land was quickly nicknamed Olive Hill because of the abundance of olive trees across the property. Wright came to visit Olive Hill, bringing drawings for the proposed house and theater. A year after the land was purchased, Barnsdall threatened to go with a different architect because of Wright failing to fulfill his duties to the project. This pushed Wright to finally get his designs finished. The house was then completed a couple years later, but Barnsdall was disappointed with the outcome. Not wanting to live in the house, Barnsdall had to decide what to do with the property. The Hollyhock House was then given to the city of Los Angeles in 1923, but was not accepted until 1927.
Design
The Hollyhock House was given its name due to the hollyhock being Barnsdall favorite flower. Hollyhocks were integrated as geometric patterns throughout the project as ornamentation on the rooflines, walls, and other aspects. These patterns closely resemble elements of Mayan architecture. The massive home has 17 rooms with seven bathrooms. Nature is incorporated into the design through a central garden and multiple points of access to the outdoors. This included the use of glass doors, rooftop terraces, and porches. The house dominates over the hill and gives a regal feeling, which is very similar to architecture used in the Mayan temples of Mexico and Central America. The entrance to the house is very stylistic of Wright by being hidden to the outside world. To enter the home, one must find the opening and travel through a long, narrow tunnel to reach the front door. The living room includes many pieces of Wright designed furniture and fireplaces.
Renovations
Over the course of the Hollyhock House’s life, it has gone through many owners and been in many conditions. In 1946, Lloyd Wright, Wright's eldest son, was commissioned to do renovations on the quickly deteriorating house. Renovations were done on the kitchen as well as the exterior. The house was brought back to life and was going strong. Almost to its 90th year in existence, it was decided that the Hollyhock House needed a major restoration project. This project concluded in February of 2015, and the house is open to the public.
Works Cited
“About Hollyhock House.” Barnsdall Art Park. Department of Cultural Affairs City of Los Angeles, n.d. Web. 5 Nov. 2015. <http://barnsdall.org/hollyhock-house/about/>.
Cartwright, Mark. “Maya Architecture.” Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 20 Sept. 2015. Web. 5 Nov. 2015. <http://www.ancient.eu/Maya_Architecture/>.
Toker, Franklin. Fallingwater Rising. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003. Print.
