Architectural masterpieces in LA devastated by intense wildfires

The wildfires that have been ravaging Los Angeles for nearly a week have destroyed prestigious architectural gems across the city. 

Multiple fires are currently ravaging the city, with containment of the largest blaze, the Palisades fire, at just 13%. Following closely behind is the Easton fire, the second largest, with containment at a mere 27%.

These fires have already charred a total of 37,830 acres of land, an expanse larger than twice the size of Manhattan, leading to the destruction of 32 structures deemed historically important by preservationists.

Experts fear this may be the single worst loss of such properties the region has ever suffered. 

Among the architectural casualties is the former residence of actor Will Rogers, boasting an expansive 31-room house complete with 11 bathrooms, a guesthouse, golf course, stables, and a corral located in the Palisades area.

Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry, the actor’s great-granddaughter, said in a statement: ‘The Rogers family is devastated by the loss of the California ranch and the overwhelming loss of the community. Our hearts go out to all those neighbors who have lost their homes.’ 

Also destroyed was Altadena’s Bunny Museum, an esoteric collection of nearly irreplaceable depictions of rabbits in the form of porcelain figures, clothing, artwork and much more. The museum, which sits on LA’s Lake Avenue, is said to have lost 46,000 objects. 

Experts told the LA Times that the loss of these landmarks was doubly frustrating, as many of them served as beloved community spaces. 

Destroyed historic buildings include the former home of actor Will Rogers, who built a 31-room residence with 11 bathrooms, a guesthouse, a golfcourse, stables and a corral in the Palisades

Will Rogers’ ranch before it was destroyed in the fire

‘It’s staggering and heartbreaking — I don’t know any other way to put it,’ said Ken Bernstein, principal city planner at Los Angeles City Planning’s Office of Historic Resources. 

‘This is widespread destruction of significant architecture and places that are cherished in our communities’, he added. 

‘It is a mass erasure of heritage,’ said Adrian Scott Fine, chief executive of the Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to historic preservation. ‘We haven’t seen anything like this before.’   

‘We are losing these touchstones — physical places in the world that mark our intellectual history,’ said Richard Schave, a preservation advocate and co-founder of Esotouric, a tour service in LA. 

Other buildings destroyed include the Zane Grey Estate in Altadena, built by architects Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey in 1907 for Chicago business machine manufacturer Arthur Herbert Woodward. 

Author Zane Grey, who wrote Riders of the Purple Sage, bought the property in 1920 before he and his wife built a 3,500-square foot addition. 

The building, which sits on the National Register of Historic Places, was put on the market for $4million in 2020, where it was listed as having eight bedrooms, four bathrooms, a commercial kitchen with a 15-foot ceiling, as well as a main kitchen, wine cellar and massive basement. 

Another notable loss was the Andrew McNally house, built by the founder of publishing house Rand McNally. 

Bunny Museum, an esoteric collection of nearly irreplaceable depictions of rabbits, was destroyed in the fire

The Bunny Museum, which sits on LA’s Lake Avenue, before the fire 

Another notable loss was the Andrew McNally house, built by the founder of publishing house Rand McNally

The Andrew McNally House before it was it was burned down 

Built in 1887 in a Queen Anne-style, it was registered on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. 

It was also home to the world famous Turkish Room, an ornately decorated octagonal room described as ‘one of the most beautiful spaces in the world.’ 

The Keeler House, built in 1990 by Ray Kappe for jazz singer Anne Keeler, was also destroyed. 

The 4,142-square foot home went on the market for $12million last April, and was designed by the founder of the Southern California Institute of Architecture. 

Janes Village, a cluster of historic English-style cottages built between 1924 and 1926 by  E.P. Janes, went up in flames. 

Janes built at least 270 English and Spanish-style cottages in the Palisades area, each one with six rooms and originally priced to be affordable to the average middle-class income. 

The planned homes of in Gregory Ain’s Park, a set of 28 Midcentury Modern homes that were built as part of a social experiment designed to improve the lives of working familes, was also destroyed by the fire. 

The area was designed to look like a park with no front lawns and continuous landscaping. 

And the Bridges House on the iconic Sunset Boulevard was also destroyed. 

The Keeler House before it was burned down 

Zane Grey Estate in Altadena before the fire

The Brutalist home, designed by Robert Bridges, stood on a perch on the iconic road. 

Bridges is a professor of real estate finance at the USC Marshall School of Business, where he is professor emeritus. 

Preservationists said they were expecting more and more challenges like this in the near future, with the inexorable march towards climate disaster. 

Bernstein said: ‘The quintessential historic preservation threat of the 20th century was symbolized by the bulldozer demolishing individual historic structures or communities for urban renewal. Today, it’s the extreme climate event. 

‘Wildfire, sea-level rise and extreme winds pose not incremental threat but constant threat of widespread destruction of our most cherished historical and architectural landmarks.’

Last night the death toll rose to 24 and locals were warned to brace for ‘life-threatening’ winds which could spur on the fires.

‘The general duration of this is not looking good,’ meteorologist Rose Schoenfield warned. 

The weather is expected to contribute to another stint of dangerous and potentially extreme fire conditions which could exacerbate the fires already burning and cause more new ones to pop up.

Janes Village, a cluster of historic English-style cottages built between 1924 and 1926 by E.P. Janes, went up in flames (pictured)

One of Gregory Ain’s Park planned homes before the LA fires 

The Bridges House on the iconic Sunset Boulevard before it was destroyed

Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said: ‘It’s very important that the community understands that these wind events are coming.’ 

These conditions have prompted a red flag warning until 6pm Wednesday. 

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said authorities won’t consider allowing displaced residents to return home until after that warning has been lifted.

Authorities are yet to confirm what caused any of the blazes, but vowed to conduct thorough investigations and alert the public.