By Elijah Chiland
This little Normandy-style cottage in the Hollywood Hills is right out of a storybook—and that sort of makes sense, as its the home that Forest Lawn Memorial Park architect Frederick Hanson designed for himself in 1926.
If you’ve ever been to the Glendale cemetery, you’ll be well familiar with Hanson’s eclectic, lovingly derivative style. His Wee Kirk o’ the Heather is a replica of the church where the legendary Annie Laurie worshipped in Scotland. His boxy, sprawling Hall of the Crucifixion-Resurrection houses the world’s largest painting. It’s not all that surprising that Forest Lawn was Southern California’s biggest tourist draw until the similarly kitschy, but less death-oriented Disneyland came along.
To read the full article click “Keep Reading” or visit their website here.
This house (Historic Cultural Monument number 1031) is one of several similarly whimsical cottages Hanson designed in the neighborhood. Certain features certainly echo his work at Forest Lawn, like the leaded glass windows and the cherub molded into the wall above the fireplace.
The two-bedroom home is quite compact—just 1,005 square feet on a lot that’s just a little over three times that size. Still, the elegant windows and dramatically vaulted ceilings give the place an airy feel—cozy rather than cramped—and the grounds include a pleasant-looking courtyard surrounded by eucalyptus trees.
Other features include an impressive arched entryway, beamed ceilings, and a recently remodeled kitchen. Asking price is $1.095 million.
