Storer House

Storer House. The Storer House is a notable example of Mayan Revival architecture and one of the earliest Los Angeles homes designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Located in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles, California, the house was built for John Storer, a University of Southern California administrator, and features a unique blend of Mayan architecture and Prairie School styles, influenced by Louis Sullivan and Richard Neutra. The Storer House is also associated with other famous architects, including Rudolf Schindler and Richard Neutra, who were influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright's work.

Introduction

The Storer House was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 1920s, during a period of significant architectural innovation in Los Angeles. The house is characterized by its use of textile block construction, a technique developed by Frank Lloyd Wright that involves using decorative concrete blocks to create the exterior walls of the building, similar to those used in the Ennis House and Freeman House. The Storer House is one of four Los Angeles homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright using this technique, which was influenced by the work of Bernard Maybeck and Greene and Greene. The house has been recognized for its cultural and architectural significance by the City of Los Angeles and the National Park Service, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with other notable Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, such as the Guggenheim Museum and Taliesin West.

Architecture

The Storer House features a unique blend of Mayan Revival architecture and Prairie School styles, with a focus on horizontal lines, organic architecture, and the use of natural materials, similar to the Robie House and Westcott House. The house is constructed using textile block construction, with decorative concrete blocks used to create the exterior walls of the building, influenced by the work of Antonio Gaudí and Louis Sullivan. The blocks are arranged in a intricate pattern, with a combination of smooth and textured surfaces, and feature a unique blend of Mayan and Art Deco motifs, similar to those used in the Charnley-Persky House and Martin House. The house also features a number of innovative design elements, including a cantilevered roof and a series of skylights that provide natural light to the interior spaces, influenced by the work of Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe.

History

The Storer House was built in 1923 for John Storer, a University of Southern California administrator, and was one of the first homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Los Angeles. The house was constructed using a combination of local materials, including concrete, wood, and stone, and features a unique blend of handcrafted and machine-made elements, similar to the Hollyhock House and Barnsdall Art Park. The Storer House was designed to be a model home for the Los Angeles area, and was intended to showcase the potential of Frank Lloyd Wright's innovative design techniques, influenced by the work of William Morris and John Ruskin. The house has been owned by a number of notable individuals over the years, including Joan Didion and Hubert Humphrey, and has been recognized for its cultural and architectural significance by the American Institute of Architects and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, along with other notable buildings, such as the Farnsworth House and Price Tower.

Preservation

The Storer House has undergone a number of restoration and preservation efforts over the years, aimed at maintaining its cultural and architectural significance, similar to the Taliesin and Fallingwater. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, and was designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1972, along with other notable Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, such as the Ennis House and Hollyhock House. The Storer House has also been recognized by the National Park Service as a National Historic Landmark, and is considered one of the most important examples of Mayan Revival architecture in the United States, along with the Aztec Hotel and Mayan Theater. The house is currently owned by a private individual, and is not open to the public for tours, but is occasionally featured in architectural tours and historic preservation events, along with other notable buildings, such as the Guggenheim Museum and Taliesin West.

Significance

The Storer House is significant not only for its cultural and architectural importance, but also for its association with a number of notable individuals and events, including Frank Lloyd Wright, John Storer, and the Los Angeles arts and culture scene of the 1920s, which included notable figures such as Dorothy Parker and F. Scott Fitzgerald. The house is also notable for its use of innovative design techniques, including textile block construction and organic architecture, which were influenced by the work of Louis Sullivan and Richard Neutra. The Storer House has been recognized for its significance by a number of organizations, including the American Institute of Architects, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the National Park Service, and is considered one of the most important examples of Mayan Revival architecture in the United States, along with the Robie House and Westcott House. The house continues to be an important part of Los Angeles' cultural and architectural heritage, and is a popular destination for architectural tours and historic preservation events, along with other notable buildings, such as the Farnsworth House and Price Tower. Category:Frank Lloyd Wright buildings