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 residence in 1923 as one of four textile block experiments in Los Angeles, drawing inspiration from pre-Columbian art and architecture. The construction represented Wright's attempt to merge ornament and structure through patterned concrete blocks.
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.
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