Long Beach Historic Architecture

Architectural Long Beach

Bill of Rights for Historic Buildings

American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright strolling the decks of the Queen Mary

Frank Lloyd Wright
on Architecture:

"Beautiful buildings are more than scientific...They are true organisms, spiritually conceived; works of art using the best technology..."

"The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own we have no soul of our own civilization."

"The room within is the great fact about the building."

"It is quite impossible to consider the building as one thing and its furnishings another."

"Each material has its own message and, to the creative artist, its own song."

"Form follows function - that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union."

"If you foolishly ignore beauty, you'll soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you wisely invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life."

The Villa Riviera
The 16-story, French Gothic Villa Riviera is one of Long Beach's most recognized architectural treasures with soaring spire and green-patina copper roof.
At the cost of 2,000,000., the Villa Riviera was completed in 1929 by the Los Angeles firm of Kinne & Westerhouse. Architect Richard B. King was awarded the Grand Prize at the Paris Exposition of 1930 for his outstanding design.
The building narrowly escaped demolition in the mid-1980s. Homeowners collectively spent more than its construction cost to preserve and bring the structure into compliance with new fire and earthquake codes. The Villa Riviera has served as a condominium since 1993 which was the builder's original concept.

Villa Riviera is now a condominium community.

Featured Stories

A 1907 Bell... Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2002	...Gothic Walls... Thursday, June 12, 2003
Architectural Gems... Sunday, Nov. 14, 2004	More masterpieces When published

First National Bank
Today, L'Opera restaurant occupies the lobby of the stately First National Bank, built in 1906 by the architectural firm of Train & Williams.

This beautifully crafted structure was built according to Masonic specifications. The predominately maize-colored brick is embellished with ornate frieze and cornice; broken pediments accent upper level windows. Classical revival and Beaux Arts influences create a genteel impression.

Exuberant art deco motifs enliven the buildings of Long Beach's historic district.

Art deco ornamentation enhances this Pine Avenue store front.

The Walker Department Store The former department store is now a series of artists' lofts.
The Art Deco Walker Building, formerly a department store, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Magnificently creative decor graces interiors of contemporary Walker lofts.

Front of Masonic Temple on Pine Avenue Sunset mural can be seen above staircase in Masonic Temple
Imposing and symmetric, the three gables of the former Masonic Temple command attention. The Masonic symbol of compasses and square is framed by the center gable. This structure now serves as a designer furnishings store, Z Gallerie. Upstairs, the sunset mural can still be seen in the room where membership rites and meetings were held. Perhaps the song written by poet mason, Robert Burns, was heard within this sacred chamber, "Within this dear mansion, may wayward contention, or withered envy ne'er enter; May secrecy round be the mystical bound, and brotherly love be the centre!"

...Our souls have mingled in the tunes
that echo through your frames
It seems as though I built you
and you still know my name
My hands have traced your metal plates
composed of bloodless steel
and yet, a message animate,
convinces me you feel!
—Diane Rush,
Encomium to a Cunarder, copyright, 1995


The Art Deco Walker Building, formerly a department store, is on the National Register of Historic Places.	Magnificently creative decor graces interiors of contemporary Walker lofts.


Imposing and symmetric, the three gables of the former Masonic Temple command attention. The Masonic symbol of compasses and square is framed by the center gable. This structure now serves as a designer furnishings store, Z Gallerie.	Upstairs, the sunset mural can still be seen in the room where membership rites and meetings were held. Perhaps the song written by poet mason, Robert Burns, was heard within this sacred chamber, "Within this dear mansion, may wayward contention, or withered envy ne'er enter; May secrecy round be the mystical bound, and brotherly love be the centre!"

Architectural Long Beach

The Villa Riviera

Featured Stories

First National Bank

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