Los Angeles’ Newest Historic-Cultural Monuments

As you can see from my articles here, here, and here, I appreciate all like kinds of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments, and am always looking for new buildings with unique architecture, historic significance, and exceptional angles to chronicle.

Currently, Los Angeles has 976 buildings that have been declared as Historic and/or Cultural Monuments–with the last eleven recently added to the list.

From the April 2010 Newsletter of the City of Los Angeles’ Office of Historic Resources:

Frank E. Hartigan Residence (1034 South Gramercy Place), HCM #969. Built in 1913, and located in the Wilshire area, this two-story Craftsman home was built by developer Frank E. Hartigan. Hartigan, who had a background in wood crafting, built Craftsman style homes throughout Los Angeles.

844 South Plymouth Apartments (844 South Plymouth Boulevard), HCM #970. Constructed in 1936, the two-story, four-unit Streamline Moderne apartment building is located in the Windsor Village neighborhood. The monument was designed by architects Charles Plummer, Welton Becket, and Walter Wurdeman. Becket’s firm designed other landmark buildings such as the Capitol Records Tower (HCM #857; 1956), the LAX Theme Building (HCM #570; 1961), and Pacific’s Cinerama Dome Theatre (HCM #659; 1963).

Villa Palombo-Togneri (2508 Mayberry Street), HCM #971. Built in 1927 and located in Silver Lake, this single-family residence was designed by Innocenti Palombo, an Italian immigrant who built the residence as a representation of a small palace of his hometown of Vicalvi, Italy. The Villa Palombo-Togneri embodies the distinguishing characteristics of the Mediterranean Revival and Beaux Arts styles and exhibits a high level of craftsmanship and integrity.

Shire Art House (2354 South Vista Gordo Drive) HCM #972. Constructed in 1938 and adorned with artwork, this two-story residence is located in Echo Park and is constructed in the Minimal Traditional style. Noted artist and sculptor Peter Shire and his wife purchased the subject property and re-sided there until 1988. Shire decorated his home with several prominent art pieces, including an elaborate porch-like aluminum framework and fiberglass roof sculpture.

Henry Shire Residence (2208 North Princeton Avenue), HCM #973. Built in 1949 and located in the Echo Park area, this one-story International Style home was designed by architect Josef Van der Kar, who was part of a second generation of Modernist architects and a close friend of architect Gregory Ain. He also collaborated with landscape designer Garrett Eckbo, who provided the landscape plan for the home.

Van Dekker House (19950 West Collier Street), HCM #974. Built in 1940 and located in Woodland Hills, this three-story Modern style home was designed by master architect R. M. Schindler (1887-1953), who is internationally recognized for his Modern designs. The home is composed of two separate volumes and features significant interior elements, including built-in furniture and cabinetry.

Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society Sanctuary ("The Onion"), HCM #975. Built in 1964 and located in North Hills, this one-story Modern style church sanctuary is circular in shape and plan. The space hosted several political events opposing the Vietnam War, including a speech by controversial anti-war activist William Kunstler in 1970. The dome-shaped structure was designed by architect Frank Ehrenthal, a Unitarian who studied under master architect Richard Neutra. The structure was designated as a valuable example of an ecclesiastic building designed in the Modern style.

Corbin Palms House (6118 North Jumilla Avenue), HCM #976. Built in 1955 and located in Woodland Hills, this one-story Modern Ranch style single-family residence features clerestory windows that stretch along the entire length of the façade, and an exposed vaulted ceiling at the interior. The Corbin Palms House was designed by architects William Krisel and Dan Palmer of the firm Palmer & Krisel, who designed several Mid-Century Modern neighbor-hoods and buildings.

Idle Hour Café (4824 Vineland Avenue), HCM #977. Constructed in 1941, the Idle Hour Café is a two-story, barrel-shaped building constructed in the Programmatic style and is located in North Hollywood. The building, which operated as a tap room, was commissioned in 1941 by its original owner Michael D. Connolly, a film technician for Universal Studios. The monument appears to be the last barrel-shaped building in Los Angeles, from the early 20th century period of Programmatic design.

Lankershim Reading Room (10940 North Sepulveda Boulevard), HCM #978. Constructed in 1904, the Lankershim Reading Room is a one-story, octagonal-shaped structure that is the last remaining building from the Lankershim Ranch, a 48,000-acre ranch originally owned by Isaac Lankershim, a prominent figure in the history of the San Fernando Valley. The structure was saved from demolition in the early 1950’s and moved to a church in Canoga Park, and subsequently moved again to the Andres Pico Adobe Park in 2001, where it’s been undergoing restoration by the San Fernando Valley Historical Society.

Venice West Café (321 South Ocean Front Walk), HCM #979. Constructed in 1922, and located on the Venice Boardwalk, this one-story vernacular commercial building is sheathed primarily in rough red brick with white glazed brick trim. In 1958, the poet Stuart Perkoff, opened the Venice West Café, which was acquired by John Hagg in 1962, and became a symbol of the growing counter-culture movement. Local artists displayed their work on the interior walls, and poets, such as Allen Ginsberg and musician Jim Morrison, read their work for its intimate audiences. The café reflects the cultural and social history of the community for its association with the creation of a Bohemian counter-culture in Venice.

I really have my work cut out for me–if I plan on visiting every single Historical and Cultural Monument; I’ve got 955 buildings left to go. But, than again, Big Orange Landmark is 230 monuments ahead! But, I’m game for the challenge.