Welcome to Unit 6 at the Hollywood Riviera, a 1954 mid-century modern landmark designed by Edward Fickett, FAIA, the celebrated Los Angeles architect who helped define the Southern California modernist aesthetic.
Enter beneath the soaring glass-walled facade, past lava-rock planters, lush tropical landscaping, towering palms and original Fickett-designed signage and the city seems to disappear. Just off the Sunset Strip, the Hollywood Riviera captures the optimism of classic mid-century Los Angeles through clean architectural lines, shaded breezeways, an open landscaped courtyard and a central freeform swimming pool.
At the heart of Edward Fickett’s design are thirty-eight residences arranged around the courtyard and pool, creating an intimate architectural community with the feeling of a private resort. Fickett’s signature pastel palette, carefully restored over time, gives the complex its distinctive glow while walls of glass and tropical landscaping reinforce the effortless indoor-outdoor character of postwar California modernism.
The Hollywood Riviera also carries a historic designation and participates in the Mills Act, a historic preservation program that can provide meaningful property tax savings for qualifying owners. Architecture critic and former resident Aaron Betsky praised the building in a 1994 Los Angeles Times tribute, noting the clarity with which its landscape, image and structure came together as Los Angeles architecture.
Unit 6: Poolside Mid-Century Modern Living
Quietly tucked into a private ground-floor corner just feet from the Hollywood Riviera pool, Unit 6 is a bright and airy 641-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bath residence that makes thoughtful use of every square foot.
The home pairs original mid-century character with comfortable, move-in-ready updates including a newly installed bathroom vanity and tile, stainless steel kitchen appliances and a ductless mini-split system providing heating and air conditioning. Generous storage adds everyday functionality while covered gated parking for two cars is a particularly valuable amenity in this sought-after location.
The open living room connects directly to a private back patio, creating a peaceful retreat set apart from the shared courtyard. Start the morning with coffee beside the pool, then end the evening relaxing or entertaining on your own patio. This is indoor-outdoor living in true Edward Fickett fashion and distinctly Southern Californian.
Hollywood Riviera on Film: A Cinematic Los Angeles Icon
The Hollywood Riviera has spent decades in front of the camera and its cinematic character is well earned. Edward Fickett’s architectural geometry, natural light, colorful palette and authentic period details have made the complex an enduring location for film, television, advertising and editorial photography.
The Hollywood Riviera appeared as Sara’s apartment in Steve Martin’s 1991 love letter to Los Angeles, L.A. Story, then doubled as Bill and Ted’s San Dimas residence in Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey that same year. It later appeared in The Limey and Rush Hour and more recently, has been featured in streaming productions including Daisy Jones & The Six and Palm Royale. The property has also provided a backdrop for television programs, commercials, fashion shoots and editorial productions drawn to its unmistakable mid-century modern glamour.
Few residential buildings capture the visual language of postwar Hollywood quite like the Hollywood Riviera. Its combination of architecture, landscape and light has allowed it to remain remarkably photogenic more than seventy years after it was built.
Edward Fickett: The Architect Behind the Hollywood Riviera
Edward Fickett, FAIA, was a fourth-generation Angeleno, a USC- and MIT-trained architect, a Navy veteran and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. After working with legendary Los Angeles architect Paul R. Williams, Fickett established his own practice and became one of the most prolific architects of postwar Southern California.
Credited with designing tens of thousands of Southern California homes, Edward Fickett became known as the “Architect to the Stars” while simultaneously shaping neighborhoods throughout greater Los Angeles. Better Homes & Gardens once described him as “the Frank Lloyd Wright of the ’50s.” He also served as an architectural advisor on housing to President Dwight D. Eisenhower and lectured nationally on modern architecture alongside Richard Neutra and Rudolph Schindler.
What distinguished Edward Fickett was the breadth of his ambition. While many celebrated modernist architects concentrated on singular commissions for affluent clients, Fickett designed luxury residences as well as thoughtfully conceived homes for Southern California’s expanding middle class.
His larger goal was to make good modern design accessible. Open floor plans, walls of glass, expressive rooflines and seamless indoor-outdoor connections gave even relatively modest residences a strong architectural identity. The Hollywood Riviera represents that philosophy at its most confident and joyful. It is sophisticated modernism designed not simply to be admired, but to be lived in.
Hollywood Riviera - Stylish Living Just Off the Sunset Strip
Set along a tree-lined street just a half-block from the Sunset Strip, the Hollywood Riviera by Edward Fickett occupies an exceptional location at the intersection of architecture, entertainment and Los Angeles culture.
Chateau Marmont, Trader Joe’s, Bristol Farms, restaurants, clubs and neighborhood shops are all close at hand. The Hollywood Riviera is also minutes from major studios and entertainment production hubs with convenient access to the San Fernando Valley via Laurel Canyon Boulevard.
For someone working within Los Angeles’ film, television, design, or creative communities, the location puts much of the city’s cultural and entertainment life within easy reach. At the same time, the courtyard setting creates a striking sense of separation from the energy outside. Residences in the Hollywood Riviera rarely come to market. A 641-square-foot ground-floor corner unit near the pool with a private patio, thoughtful updates and gated parking for two cars is rarer still.
Unit 6 offers the opportunity to own an authentic piece of Los Angeles architectural and cinematic history while experiencing the sunlit, indoor-outdoor California lifestyle Edward Fickett spent his career bringing to life.
Interested in viewing Unit 6 at the Hollywood Riviera by architect Edward Fickett? Contact us at 323-745-1160 to schedule a private showing or email livebeyond@beyondshelter.com. Find more Los Angeles mid century modern homes on our map search. architect-designed living, explore other listings including the Richard Neutra’s Mid Century Modern Granada Hills Home or the Gell-Mann Residence by William Blurock. If you’re considering selling your home, Beyond Shelter is here to partner with you. Through our personalized Ready. Set. Show. Plan, we will prepare your home for showtime and maximize its value in the marketplace. Find out more about our Seller experience here.
