Save Iconic Architecture Partners with Thermador to Spotlight History of Beverly Hills
The designer-led historic preservation advocacy nonprofit organization teamed up with historian Eric Evavold to host the Art of Preservation walking tour celebrating lesser-known aspects of the city’s heritage
Few places trigger a certain preset narrative like Beverly Hills. The municipality nestled in the center of Los Angeles is known for glamour, its association with Hollywood luminaries, and the power of reinvention, which ranges from admirable to dubious judgment. Save Iconic Architecture (SIA) co-founder and interior designer Jaime Rummerfield and local historian Eric Evavold recently found an opportunity to broaden and deepen an understanding of the city’s architecture and design heritage.
The two architecture aficionados and historic preservation activists got to talking about Beverly Hills—an area whose other claims to fame can eclipse its merit as a repository of important architecture—and realized there had never been a walking tour focused on its built environment. Evavold, who honed his tour guide skills as a volunteer with the Los Angeles Conservancy and as a steward of the Stahl House (AKA Case Study House No. 22), seized the opportunity to curate an educational and entertaining experience that had long interested him.
“I call it the ‘real Beverly Hills.’ It’s such a mix from old Spanish Revival to mid-century modern. That’s what makes it fun,” Rummerfield said about the resulting edutainment-spirited walking tour, which SIA hosted in partnership with Thermador on October 13. “We found that on walking tours, or even bus tours, you really see things that you go by quickly every day that you never digest, or fully remember or recognize as notable architecture,” Rummerfield said. “I’m guilty of driving,” Evavold added. “Once I got on foot, I started to look up, and it all came together.”
Rather than following an itinerary of supposed celebrity-owned homes noted on a star map, Evavold began the jaunt by pointing to a 1937 Streamline Moderne building on Canon Drive currently occupied by Rodeo Realty. From there, the group headed to Wilshire to appreciate an outstanding example of Post-Formalist architecture, originally built in 1968 for Glendale Federal Savings and Loan by architects Robert E. Langdon Jr. and Ernest C. Wilson Jr. The current Bank of America branch and office building, capped with a cornice composed of abstract stained-glass panels, stands in contrast to John and Donald Parkinson’s highly ornamented Art Deco office tower across the street.
Along the route centered within the Golden Triangle area, Evavold pointed to examples of work by the city’s leading design figures, such as Paul R. Williams, Walker & Eisen, Craig Ellwood, Ray Kappe, William Pereira, and Gin Wong, along with national icons including Frank Lloyd Wright and Edward Durell Stone, as well as lesser-known names and vernacular examples. The glass-brick-adorned storefront at Edelweiss, the chocolate shop whose conveyor belt inspired the I Love Lucy “Job Switching” episode thanks to Lucille Ball’s affection for the business founded in 1942, emerged as a favorite site.
After the two-mile trek, guests returned to the Thermador showroom to enjoy a spread prepared by the in-house culinary team. As at most SIA events, the mood was celebratory while acknowledging the urgent work needed to protect vulnerable historic resources throughout L.A. Raising awareness within the design community with like-minded partners is one such strategy. “We’re taking a moment to celebrate and appreciate the city’s historic architecture, because it is such a David and Goliath issue,” Rummerfield said. “We’ve found where we can really make a difference.”
“For 110 years, Thermador has helped shape the modern kitchen, and we’re proud to partner with an organization that shares our appreciation for craftsmanship, heritage, and preservation,” noted Tracy Haugh, senior marketing manager at Thermador. “Through the Art of Preservation walking tour, we had the opportunity to celebrate the remarkable architecture that has shaped Beverly Hills while highlighting the importance of protecting these landmarks for future generations.”