Samuel Freeman House, Textile block house in Hollywood, US.
The Samuel Freeman House is a textile block residence in Hollywood built with ornately patterned concrete blocks and expansive corner windows that stretch across glass-to-glass connections. The structure's horizontal lines and composition follow the slope of the natural terrain.
Frank Lloyd Wright designed the house for jewelry salesman Sam Freeman and his wife Harriet, a teacher; a building permit was issued in April 1924 and the structure was substantially completed in March 1925. It is the smallest of Wright's four concrete textile-block houses in Greater Los Angeles, alongside La Miniatura, the Storer House and the Ennis House. The Freemans lived there for over half a century, and Harriet donated it to the University of Southern California in 1984.
The residence served as a meeting place for artists, writers, and thinkers who gathered to exchange ideas and collaborate on creative projects. This social function shaped how people used and experienced the home throughout the decades.
The property sits on a hillside in Hollywood and is best approached on foot while exploring the residential neighborhood nearby. Substantial restoration work was completed after the 1994 earthquake to reinforce and stabilize the structure.
The patterned concrete blocks do double duty as both structural supports and decoration, displaying geometric designs across the entire exterior surface. This dual function was central to Wright's vision of blurring the line between ornament and structural necessity.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,482 contributors worldwide.