Designed in 1952 by Frank Lloyd Wright the Anderton Court Shops building on Rodeo Drive is special. Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy is huge in Los Angeles. He designed the Hollyhock House, the Ennis House, and the Storer House. But the Shops at Anderton Court is his least known Los Angeles work. More people see it every day than his other buildings combined. That is because it is on the world’s most famous shopping street in Beverly Hills.
Let’s explore the Anderton Court Shops. It stands out on a street known for being ostentatious. The three-story building is white-painted concrete. It is only 50 feet wide and 150 feet deep. The building is set back from the street. This gives it a welcoming courtyard feel. This contrasts with the glass and steel boxes around it.
The Anderton Court Shops building has a unique hexagonal floor plan. It is topped with a streamline moderne spire. Wright based the design on a diamond grid pattern. He called it an inverted V. This gives all shops significant window displays.
Wright initially planned four retail spaces. He also planned a penthouse apartment for the caretaker. Over time the shops were split up. There are now six smaller units. Three are on each side of the central walkway. The units are staggered a half-floor apart. Walking around the building’s central light well is a journey.
The complex is named after Nina Anderton. She was a wealthy Bel Air philanthropist. She commissioned Wright to design the retail shops. The resulting structure is notable. It is the only true retail structure Wright designed. It is the only non-residential building he designed in Southern California. It was also the last building he designed in Los Angeles.
The Anderton Court Shops opened in 1954. It still looks much like it did then. There have been some minor upgrades. These include subdividing the spaces and adding air conditioning. There have also been cosmetic changes. The building was originally sand-colored with copper accents.
Today most of the shops are empty. But it’s an interesting place to explore. Walking up the unusual oblong ramp is fun. Despite low ceilings and a narrow walkway, the space feels bigger than it is. From the top of the ramp under the spire, you get a great view. You can see shoppers on Rodeo Drive below. You can’t get this view from any other building on the street.
The Anderton Court Shops are on the National Register of Historic Places. Wright wrote to Nina Anderton that it was a little gem. The three-story building was shaped like an inverted V. This gave more front window space to each shop. The exterior walls were concrete sprayed over a metal form. Then they were covered in plaster. The tower was meant to draw shoppers’ eyes. The chevron pattern was echoed in the building’s design.
Originally, the exterior was light buff-colored with copper trim. Budget cuts changed the trim to plastic. To increase fire resistance, concrete was poured over wood beams. The interior beams were natural wood or Cherokee red. Some were covered in plaster. Each shop had a fireplace creating an intimate atmosphere. The Anderton Court Shops building is one of the few retail structures Wright ever designed. The building continues to house retail businesses.
So, as you stroll along Rodeo Drive take a moment to appreciate this gem. The Anderton Court Shops stand as a testament to Wright’s genius. It is a unique blend of form and function.