Introduction

Nestled into the verdant hills of Los Feliz, the Samuel-Novarro Residence stands as one of the most iconic early 20th-century homes in Los Angeles. Designed in 1928 by Lloyd Wright—son of architectural luminary Frank Lloyd Wright—the house is a singular synthesis of Mayan Revival architecture and the richly decorative language of Art Deco. Through bold geometric massing, innovative use of materials, and a sensitive relationship with its sloped site, the Samuel-Novarro House merges architectural virtuosity with Hollywood history.

Over the decades, the home has been owned or inhabited by a glittering cast of figures ranging from silent film actor Ramon Novarro to actress Diane Keaton, who oversaw a thoughtful restoration in the 1980s. Today, this Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument serves as a valuable case study in stylistic hybridism, residential modernism, and enduring architectural legacy.

Architectural Style and Design Principles

Style

The Samuel-Novarro Residence is a rare residential example of Mayan Revival architecture, a style that had a brief but impactful moment in the 1920s and 1930s. Inspired by ancient Mesoamerican temples, the building makes full use of abstracted motifs—including stepped forms, geometric banding, and fluted detailing—that evoke ceremonial platforms and monolithic stonework. Art Deco influences lend refinement through smooth decorative elements, symmetry, and integrated built-in furnishings. Together, these styles produce a residence that is at once exotic, modern, and unmistakably American.

On the exterior, white-painted concrete walls rise in graduated, temple-like tiers along the hillside. Oxidized copper trim—now bearing the green patina of verdigris—frames steel casement windows and defines roof lines, adding color and texture. The house’s planimetric clarity is enhanced by clean-lined projecting volumes and terraces that interlock across four levels, giving it vertical grandeur without sacrificing spatial intimacy.

Design Principles

Lloyd Wright’s design exemplifies early modern principles that would later come to define California architecture—chief among them, the seamless blending of indoor and outdoor living. By building vertically into a steep lot, he was able to carve out multiple terraces, viewing platforms, and open-air rooms sheltered by pergolas or overhanging roof decks.

This contextual engagement reflects a strong organic sensibility. Rather than sitting atop the land, the home appears to emerge from it. Carefully placed openings provide cross-ventilation, and each room connects directly to external garden elements or patios—a prescient move for climate-responsive design long before the term gained mainstream traction.

The central living room anchors the plan, framed by a series of casement windows and French doors leading to a dining terrace and lounge. Fluted columns, built-in seating, and polished concrete flooring speak to a meticulous attention to materiality and program. Every detail serves both form and function, consistent with modernist ideals but dressed in Wright’s decorative flair.

Building Techniques and Technical Specifications

Construction

The structural framework relies on reinforced concrete—a progressive choice for its time, especially in residential architecture. Concrete permitted both architectural expressiveness and structural performance, forming monolithic walls, cantilevered terraces, and overhangs.

Exterior surfaces were painted white, serving as a blank canvas for strong afternoon light and allowing copper architectural accents to stand out. Over time, the copper softened to a rich green hue, lending the house a weathered elegance perfectly in tune with its natural environment. Window surrounds, roof fascias, and water features all bear evidence of this oxidized finish.

Technical Details

• Size: Approximately 2,700 sq ft across four levels
• Rooms: Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a music room, plus interconnected living and dining areas
• Lot: 13,267 sq ft, terraced and landscaped into the hillside
• Glazing: Steel-framed casement windows and doors offer daylighting and natural ventilation
• Interior Features: Built-in casework, plaster moldings, custom furniture niches, original fireplaces
• Outdoor Elements: Fan-shaped fountain, copper-lined swimming pool, multilevel terraces and pergolas

Historical Context

Commission and Early Occupants

The Samuel-Novarro House began with scandal. Manager Louis Samuel commissioned the home and secretly funded its construction with money embezzled from silent film heartthrob Ramon Novarro. When the misappropriation came to light in 1931, Novarro seized the property and retained Lloyd Wright to enhance it with refined interiors, a new music room, and extensive landscaping. He also brought in Cedric Gibbons—iconic MGM art director known for pioneering Art Deco in cinema—to execute decorative details.

Novarro lived in the home until the late 1930s. Over the following decades, the property passed through the hands of numerous iconic cultural figures, including composer Leonard Bernstein, choreographer Jerome Robbins, and actress Diane Keaton. During Keaton’s ownership in the late 1980s, the home underwent a seminal restoration guided by architect Josh Schweitzer. This renovation modernized systems discreetly while preserving the visual integrity of Wright’s original design.

Preservation and Cultural Status

In recognition of its architectural and historical significance, the home was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (Monument #130). The restoration efforts undertaken in the 1980s ensured its long-term preservation and increased public awareness of its architectural value. Today, the Samuel-Novarro Residence remains one of the most photographed and written about private homes in Southern California—a living artifact that continues to shape the conversation around style, authenticity, and place.

Notable International Comparables

North America

• La Miniatura (Millard House) – Pasadena, CA (1923, Frank Lloyd Wright): Textile block system integrates ornament and load-bearing structure. Early example of site-sensitive design.
• Ennis House – Los Angeles, CA (1924, Frank Lloyd Wright): Also Mayan-inspired, this massive residence uses concrete blocks with intricate relief patterns to similar spiritual effect.

Australia

• Eltham Lower Park Homestead (1935, Alistair Knox): Organic forms and native materials define this regional modernist response to local topography.
• Rose Seidler House – Sydney (1950, Harry Seidler): Strong indoor-outdoor connection and open plan mark it as an early expression of International Style in Australian theme.

Europe

• Villa Savoye – Poissy, France (1931, Le Corbusier): Pilotis, ribbon windows, and free plan exemplify modernism’s utopian ideals via reinforced concrete.
• Casa Malaparte – Capri, Italy (1942, Adalberto Libera): A monolithic cliffside residence, Casa Malaparte’s bold form and concrete construction mirror the sculptural ambitions of Wright’s LA masterpiece.

Educational Takeaways for Architects and Homeowners

The Samuel-Novarro Residence yields several practical and educational insights for those involved in residential architecture:

• Site Integration: Challenging topographies can become design assets when structures are embedded thoughtfully into the land, enhancing views, privacy, and spatial drama.
• Material Innovation: Reinforced concrete and copper detailing were futuristic choices in 1928 and remain relevant today for their durability, sculptural flexibility, and aging characteristics.
• Indoor-Outdoor Design: The home exemplifies early experimentation with permeability between inside and outside—a hallmark of good environmental and experiential design.
• Stylistic Blending: The harmonious combination of Mayan Revival forms with Art Deco interiors makes a compelling case for thoughtful eclecticism in design.
• Preservation through Restoration: Adaptive renovations like Diane Keaton’s stewardship show how period homes can be revived and reused without sacrificing authenticity.

Conclusion

From its dramatic hillside perch to its rich architectural language, the Samuel-Novarro Residence is as much a sculptural artifact as it is a functional home. It exemplifies Lloyd Wright’s deftness in blending historical influence with emerging modernist principles, all while crafting a built form highly responsive to its site. For today’s architects, the house provides important lessons in material specification, stylistic integration, and contextual sensitivity. For homeowners and preservationists, it shows that beauty, function, and history can coexist fruitfully in the domestic sphere.

Nearly a century since its construction, the Samuel-Novarro Residence still exudes the same mystical modernism that has captivated generations of artists, actors, architects, and enthusiasts alike—standing as a testament to the enduring power of great residential design.