View: 626 N Robertson Blvd West Hollywood CA: RuskinARC™

Status of Historic Designation:

Not currently designated at national, state, or local level

Status Code:

5S3

Theme:

West Hollywood 1926 - World War II

Period of Significance:

1926 - 1945

Significance:

The Streamline Moderne style was popular in the 1930s in Southern California. Like the Art Deco style, it was part of a trend of architectural idioms that sought inspiration in the future rather than the past. It evoked the silhouette of ships, airplanes, and trains that had captured the imagination of the American public as these modes of transportation became more widely accessible. Architects around the country also took interest in the science of aerodynamics that was in its infancy during this time. The style was also therefore intended to invoke movement and speed. The Streamline Moderne style features of this building include the horizontal orientation, a flat roof, smooth stucco cladding, rounded corners and curved surfaces, and steel casement windows "punched" into walls with no surrounds.

Between the building's opening and the end of World War II, it hosted a variety of tenants such as Spin-A-Rain Manufacturing Co. which specialized in sprinkler systems, Ha-Wai-Ya Hammock Co. which was a hammock manufacturer, and Hyrdo-Aire, Inc. which was a production company for hydraulic, pneumatic, and fuel equipment as well as home-appliance items.

Evaluation of Potential Eligibility:

Individually eligible

Architectural Description:

This is a 2-story office building in the Streamline Moderne style built in 1940. The building is irregular in plan. Exterior walls are stucco. The building has a flat with parapet roof clad in replacement rubberized/asphalt composite. The primary elevation of this corner building faces Robertson Boulevard. Along the curved corner is a set of six steel fixed windows on each story stacked vertically. The primary elevation is symmetrically organized into three bays. The outer bays have entrances on the first story and a set of four steel casement windows, each with transom and awning, on the second story. The middle bay features steel casement windows divided by fluted moldings on each story. The secondary elevation facing El Tovar Place is asymmetrically organized and also features steel casement windows on each story. The building has one main entryway and two side entries. The main entryway is located on the north end of the west elevation and consists of a set of metal framed double doors with glazing and transom. Each side entry consists of a set of metal double doors.

* Date source: Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor

Description generated by RuskinARC^™.

Located in:

City of West Hollywood Cultural Resources

626 N Robertson Blvd West Hollywood, CA USA

626 N Robertson Blvd

Construction date: 1940*