“Frozen time.” That’s the feeling you get standing before the Baldwin Hills Motor Inn. This cozy Los Angeles lodging offers a unique glimpse into the past. It is located at 3020 South La Brea Avenue.
The Baldwin Hills Motor Inn was built in 1948. A major addition in 1972 cemented its swinging seventies style. It feels like stepping back in time.
The newer part of the motel presents a decorated wall to the street. Access is from the rear. The lightbox sign features a snooty fox. He wears a cap, bowtie, monocle, slippers, and uses a walking stick. Another motel called the Snooty Fox Motor Inn once existed. It also featured this mascot. Snooty foxes apparently convey upper-class hedonism.
The Baldwin Hills Motor Inn is unified by an overscaled red mansard roof. This roof defines the architectural style. Reyner Banham termed it the “Gourmet Mansardic”. He saw these mansards as small, steeply pitched false fronts. John Chase acknowledged their sullied reputation. By the end of the 1960s, the pop-up mansard symbolized cheapness. But at the Baldwin Hills Motor Inn, the pop-up mansard conveys earnest striving.
The Mansardic style alludes to colonial-era French cosmopolitanism. Designers used it to express sophistication. It is the same brand of worldliness seen in vintage Playboy magazines. The mansard sought to convey the sexy cool of Mad Men. It was a frequent choice for apartments and small retail centers. Liquor stores, dry cleaners, and dentist offices also used it. These places wanted to convey modernity without sacrificing tradition.
The mansard softens the building. It softens a hard-edged Modern building with casual historicization. At the time, the Mansardic device was modern. It was a contemporary way of using historical architectural language.
The Baldwin Hills Motor Inn’s mansard is finished with 2×4 battens over plywood boards. The rhythm of the battens gives a strong vertical emphasis to the mansard. The board-and-batten approach is honest. It appears to be what it is: battens concealing seams. The roof alludes to a metal standing-seam roof. This was common on true mansard roofs in the 19th century.
The northern wing is accessed by driving beneath the mansard. Balcony-access corridors lead to upper roofs. This portion appears to be of post-and-beam construction. Heavy timbers are on display. The building demonstrates a Modernist honesty-of-materials rigor. “Heavy timber” is a technical term. It defines a particular Construction Type. Buildings with timber beams and columns are fire-resistant. This was a high-quality method of construction for a motel of this size.
The motel designer accommodated bus stop users. They added a cantilevered concrete slab bench. A curved Flintstones rock wall lightly embraces the waiting rider. The lamppost has a giant circular head on a short post.
Vehicular access to the northern wing passes through a gatehouse-like aperture. It’s a passage from exterior to interior without leaving your car. Four materials come together here. The mansard and rock wall give way to plaster and tile. Wall-mounted light fixtures are like googly eyes around the opening. Twelve lamps are arrayed like a clock face. They create a sense of playful exaggeration.
The Baldwin Hills Motor Inn is a cozy lodging establishment. It offers comfortable and affordable accommodations. It is a convenient location with easy access to attractions. Guests can enjoy well-appointed rooms with modern amenities. You will get friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere.
Owners are polite and friendly. They give great rates. Staff checks in on guests. The location has diverse shops within walking distance. The Baldwin Hills Motor Inn: a unique and memorable stay in Los Angeles.