Villa Carlotta

Villa Carlotta is the winner of a 2018 Preservation Design Award. Award recipients are selected by a jury of top professionals in the fields of architecture, engineering, planning, and history, as well as renowned architecture critics and journalists. In making their decision, the jury stated: “It is important to recognize rehabilitation like this that keeps so much, including the original bathrooms and kitchens, etc. Great work!”

The Award will be presented on Friday, October 19, 2018 at a gala dinner and awards ceremony at Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Tickets and sponsorship options are available at californiapreservation.org/awards.

About this project

The Villa Carlotta was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument for its architectural qualities and historic associations. Constructed in 1926, it is a prime example of a Spanish Colonial Revival apartment building. Although the building had fallen into a state of disrepair, it was remarkably intact at the outset of the project. The exterior of the building features cast plaster and stone details, wrought iron window grilles and balconies, and wood casement windows and French doors. The entrance vestibule and lobby are highly ornamented spaces.

The building is also significant in the context of the entertainment industry for its association with the original owners Thomas and Elinor Ince and as the home of numerous celebrities. Elinor Ince (née Kershaw) was an actress who married Thomas Ince, a pioneering movie director and producer in 1907. Thomas Ince founded three studios during his career. Following her husband’s death, Elinor took charge at Ince Studios to ensure that any unfinished business was taken care of, from fulfilling contracts to releasing films. Elinor then turned her attention to real estate. In 1926, she commissioned Arthur Harvey and the Luther T. Mayo Company to design and build the Villa Carlotta on land she had owned since 1919.

All too often historic buildings like the Villa Carlotta are either neglected or over restored. This project is noteworthy for striking the perfect balance between updating, cleaning, and repairing the character-defining features, while allowing them to show their age.

In 2014, the once glamorous Villa Carlotta apartment building in Hollywood’s Franklin Village was purchased by the current owners. When it was completed in 1926, the building was filled with hand-painted details and outfitted with the most luxurious amenities of the day. Over the decades, the paint began to fade and the tenants began to make the place their own, for better or worse. Inspired by the history and architecture of the building, the current owners embarked on an extensive rehabilitation that began with the identification of the character-defining features. Original features were preserved and carefully restored, while non-original and deteriorated features were removed and replaced using extant historic fabric or historic documentation as a reference. Some of the project’s major challenges included accommodating new electrical, plumbing, and mechanical services, restoring decorative features, and updating kitchens and bathrooms, all while maintaining the patina of the building.