Silver Lake is one of the lesser explored areas of Los Angeles. This is unfortunate because of all the area has to offer, including some political and cultural landmarks that allude to the city’s days gone by. Wonderful architectural creations from highly-regarded modern architects are spotted throughout Silver Lake real estate, including buildings designed by Rudolph Schindler, Richard Neutra, and John Lautner.
The Tierman House is a particularly important example of modernist architecture. It illustrates a movement that was taking place in the mid-nineteenth century to make great architecture available to those that were not members of a high economic bracket. A creation of Gregory Ain, The Tierman House is located on Micheltorena Street, along with building by Schindler and Lautner.
The Canfield-Moreno Estate is an example of Mediterranean Revival architecture. The home is upwards of 20,000 square feet and was built in 1923. Since then it has become a permanent feature in the Hollywood music scene. Famous musicians, such as John Mayer, Fiona Apple, and Gwen Stefani, have recorded in the building and Elton John and Sting have hosted parties in the building. Today, the Canfield-Moreno Estate is an official historic-cultural monument and is privately owned. The building is located at 1923 Micheltorena Street.
For a landmark of the social and cultural history of Silver Lake, the Black Cat Tavern was a prominent fixture in the 1960s for the fight for LGBT rights. In 1967, Los Angeles Police raided the bar and began arresting its patrons for lewd behavior, which was reported as homosexual couples kissing one another. This police action led to civil rights movements throughout the city. The bar, as such, is no longer open. Until 2012, Le Barcitos was open on the site but has since closed. The site can still be visited at 3909 West Sunset Boulevard, near Santa Monica Boulvard. In 2008 it was named a historical and cultural monument by the city of Los Angeles.
Other sites of interest include the Sunset Boulevard Bridge and the Silver Lake and Ivanhoe reservoirs, along with a plethora of other sites of architectural interest. Exploring the Silver Lake neighborhood is well-worth the trip!
