Frank Lloyd Wright described Hollyhock House, his first Los Angeles commission (1921), as “California Romanza.” Intended to be the centerpiece of a 36-acre arts complex that was only partially realized, this Wright-termed “garden house” was the architect’s response to his radical client, a cinematic site, and its California context. A richly-illustrated talk will provide an overview of the original site design and the park’s evolution, a focused look at Hollyhock House’s garden rooms and terraces, as well as, insights into new interpretive approaches that engage the legacy of Hollyhock House as a harbinger of California Modernism and a distinctly regional expression. Currently underway is the development of new native gardens designed by Terremoto, 2025 National Design Award Landscape Architecture winner, which reanimate the exuberant landscape of Barnsdall’s storied property and provide new perspective on this “garden house.”

Abbey Chamberlain Brach is Director & Curator at Hollyhock House, part of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. She manages interpretation, restoration, and preservation, including a major restoration of the Residence A guest house begun in 2017. From 2012 to 2018, Abbey worked at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as part of the decorative arts and design department—contributing to exhibitions on twentieth-century design dialogues between California and Mexico, the Arts and Crafts movement, and Peter Zumthor’s design for LACMA. Abbey earned her master’s degree in American History at the University of Delaware, while working in the curatorial department at Winterthur Museum. She served as the Curator & Director of Education at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and the Assistant Education Coordinator for the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, operating El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park and Casa de la Guerra.

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Hollyhock House interior details, photo by Paul Cozzi, 2021. Courtesy of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs