The Barry Building

The Barry Building is a landmark commercial mid-twentieth century modern building located at 11973 San Vicente Boulevard in the heart of the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It was designed by architect Milton Caughey (1911-1958) and completed in 1951. In 2007, the building was listed as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument,(Historical Cultural Monument #887),[1][2] making it one of the few mid-century modern commercial buildings to gain such status.[3] It was identified by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission as being a well-preserved and notable example of the California-style modern design.[4]

Barry Building
General information
Address11973 San Vicente Boulevard in the Brentwood neighborhood
Town or cityLos Angeles
CountryUnited States
Coordinates34°03′10″N 118°28′18″W
Current tenantsNone

The building's best-known feature is an unusual open courtyard which once housed Dutton's bookstore.[1] The building may soon be demolished as a part of the proposed Green Hollow Square development.

History

The Barry Building was commissioned by its owner David Barry and completed in 1951 as postwar development was beginning to redefine Brentwood's San Vicente Boulevard's commercial corridor. It is one of Milton Caughey's few commercial buildings.

The building's most famous tenant was the Dutton's Bookstore where for more than two decades authors such as Kurt Vonnegut and Isabel Allende held readings and signings.[5] Dutton's Bookstore closed in 2008.[6] It is now home to the Caffe Luxxe.

In 2006, ownership of the building turned over to investor Charlie Munger, Vice-Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Corporation, the diversified investment corporation chaired by Warren Buffett.[7]

Design

Architect Milton Caughey graduated from the Yale School of Architecture in 1938 and moved to Los Angeles where, after serving in the navy, he joined architect Gordon Kaufmann. Caughey later opened his own practice designing private residences as well as institutions and school buildings. Caughey was the winner of four Merit Awards by the Southern California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.[8]

Caughey was an early adopter of the use of indoor and outdoor space that is now associated with mid-20th century modern architecture in Southern California.[9] The building features a set of outdoor cantilevered stairs which curve down to a central, two-story courtyard. The flat roof and simple style are emblematic of Caughey's work, which was influenced by Corbusier and the International Style.[10]

Architecture

The Barry Building's use of simple lines and outdoor space exemplifies mid-20th century modern architecture in Southern California; its open plan shows the influence of Corbusier and the International Style.[11] The building features two cantilevered sets of stairs which sweep down to a central, open two-story courtyard. The interplay of indoor and outdoor space is emblematic of Caughey's work.[11] According to the recommendation report by the Los Angeles Department of City Planning, "The Barry Building embodies the aesthetics and stylistic features typical of the experimentation with new ideas that gave such vitality to the architecture of the period...[it] is one of the rare commercial buildings left in West Los Angeles that exemplifies the period of great inspiration and ingenuity in California architecture."[12]

Preservation

In 2007, the owners started plans to develop the site along with the surrounding property and moved to evict Dutton's Bookstore.[13] At the same time, preservationists requested a review of the building by the Cultural Heritage Commission for potential landmark status, a designation that does not require consent of an owner.[1] In 2007, with the support of Councilman Bill Rosendahl, the Barry Building was declared Historic-Cultural Monument # 887 by the Cultural Heritage Commission.[14] Nonetheless, landmark status does not protect a building from demolition.[15] Under the California Environmental Quality Act, however, the preparation of an environmental impact report (EIR) is required before the granting of a demolition permit for a historic landmark.[15]

In 2007, Charles Munger submitted a draft EIR to develop the site, which included numerous surrounding properties.[16] Called Green Hollow Square, the project was initially a 49,300 square-foot commercial center but was redrafted in 2011 and is now a proposed 73,000 square foot commercial space in three new, two-story buildings.[17][18] The final EIR was released in January 2012 in which the developers preference is an option with a retail and restaurant complex that would require the demolition of the Barry Building.[18][19] In addition, the FEIR includes a preservation alternative which would incorporate the Barry Building.[20]

See also

References
  1. Groves, Martha (13 July 2007). "L.A. Panel Backs Historic Status for Dutton's. Site". Los Angeles Times.
  2. "Los Angeles City Department of Planning Cultural Heritage Commission Recommendation Report". Application for the Barry Building CHC 2007-1585-HCM. July 17, 2007.
  3. http://www.downsizegreenhollowsquare.org/GreenHollowSquareFEIR-CHCLetter.pdf
  4. "Report from the Cultural Heritage Commission". Los Angeles City Clerk. July 17, 2007.
  5. Werris, Wendy (April 7, 2008). "Saying Good-bye to Dutton's Brentwood Books". Publisher's Weekly (Online). 255 (14).
  6. Groves, Martha (February 26, 2008). "For Dutton's Books It's the End". The Los Angeles Times.
  7. "Charles T. Munger". World's Business Leaders. Forbes.com.
  8. Koyl, George (1955). "American Architects Directory". R. R. Bowker. Archived from the original on 2009-12-15.
  9. Kaplan, Wendy (2011). California Design, 1930-1965: Living in a Modern Way. MIT Press, 2011. p. 360. ISBN 9780262016070.
  10. Gebhard, David; Robert Winter (2003). An Architectural Guidebook to Los Ángeles (Revised ed.). Gibbs Smith. p. 543. ISBN 9781586853082. ISBN 1586853082
  11. "Recommendation Report: CASE NO.: ENV-2009-1065-EIR HCM NO: 887" (PDF). Los Angeles Department of City Planning.
  12. "Los Angeles Department of City Planning" (PDF). Recommendation Report- Historic Cultural Monument Application - Barry Building. May 3, 2007.
  13. Teicholz, Tom (2008-04-29). "Dutton's Bookstore Closing: Where Will Booklovers Go?". The Huffington Post.
  14. Groves, Martha (14 May 2012). "Rosendahl Urges Developer to Preserve Landmark Brentwood Site". La Times.
  15. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Historical Resources
  16. Draft EIR
  17. http://greenhollowsquare.com/
  18. "Final EIR - Green Hollow Square" (PDF). Case No. ENV-2009-1065-EIR. January 24, 2012.
  19. Groves, Martha (21 August 2009). "Tear down Brentwood's Barry Building to save it?". LA Times.
  20. "DEIR Munger Dutton Project". VI Alternatives to the Proposed Project: Alternative 4 Preservation Alternative. February 2011. pp. Page VI–5.
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