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Hollyhock House was built for the wealthy oil heiress Aline Barnsdall from 1919 to 1921. The house is named after Barnsdall鈥檚 favorite flower - the hollyhock - which Wright uses as a central decorative theme throughout the house. In his autobiography, Wright expresses his desire to create a unique architecture for the location: 鈥淗ollyhock House was to be a natural house in the changed circumstances and naturally built. native to the region of California as the house in the Middle West had been native Middle West.鈥� The Hollyhock House is part of a larger site, Olive Hill, purchased by Barnsdall to also include a repertory theater company and public performance space. Wright was living in Tokyo, Japan and working on the Imperial Hotel while the house was constructed. He delegated the supervision of the project to his son Lloyd Wright and R.M. Schindler.

1924-1925: R.M. Schindler adds the fountain, flower box, wading pool, and pergola. 1927: The California Art Club remodels the home including the removal of partition and bathrooms between two guest bedrooms to create a gallery. 1946-1948: The first major renovation occurs under the supervision of Lloyd Wright for Dorothy Murray. The kitchen was remodeled, cabinets were built into west wall of the reception room, new stairs to new basement restrooms were added, trellis work was added to the east side of the loggia, a clerestory was constructed, and the playroom was turned into open porch. 1967-1970: The Recreation and Parks Department renovates the Hollyhock House after a substructure investigation found substantial termite and dry-rot damage. Much of the floor system was replaced. Exterior walls and many of the hollyhock ornaments were repaired. 1974-1975: Lloyd Wright renovates Hollyhock House for the City of Los Angeles in order to restore it to its original design at a cost of more than $500,000. 1990: Wright's custom-designed living room furniture was replicated and installed in its proper location. 2000: The Hollyhock House closes for a multi-year restoration costing $10 million. 2005-2007: Work continues on the house. Crews seismically retrofit the upper portion of home and repair leaky roofs.

The Hollyhock House is open to the public. The Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles manages Barnsdall Park and the Hollyhock House. Tours of the house are offered Wednesday through Sunday. Admission charged.

The Hollyhock House has undergone several major renovations to restore it to its original condition and improve its resilience to southern California鈥檚 weather and earthquakes.

Reflecting the Mediterranean climate of Los Angeles,