Roman Gardens
 | This article's factual accuracy is disputed. (June 2026) |
| Roman Gardens | |
|---|---|
 The building in 1926 | |
 Interactive map of the Roman Gardens area | |
General information | |
| Type | Apartment complex |
Architectural style | Spanish Moorish |
| Location | 2000 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 34°06′24″N 118°20′13″W / 34.1068°N 118.3369°W |
| Completed | 1926 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Pierpont and Walter S. Davis |
| Designated | November 23, 1988 |
| Reference no. | 397 |
Roman Gardens, also known as Villa Valentino, is a historic 18-unit apartment complex located at 2000 N. Highland Avenue in Hollywood, California, United States. It is notable for its architecture and its alleged association with Rudolph Valentino. It was declared Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 397 in 1988.
History
[edit]Roman Gardens was designed by brothers Pierpont and Walter S. Davis and built in 1926.[1][2] Rudolph Valentino was said to use this building for secret romances, this despite him dying before construction was completed.[3][4] The building is known as Villa Valentino due to this association.[4]
The building was declared Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 397 on November 23, 1988.[5]
Architecture and design
[edit]Roman Gardens was designed with an appreciation for the local climate.[4] The facade features a wooden non-functional Spanish Moorish corner tower;[1][4] Italian, Spanish, and Moorish influenced bas-relief medallions; Roman busts; and animal heads that project from exterior walls.[4] The building is two stories tall[2] and features 18 apartment units.[3] It also features arched corridors, concrete walls, hand-made tiles, wood-beamed ceilings, French doors, and decorative grillwork.[1][4] Each apartment features high ceilings and a fireplace; outside of these, they are all unique, ranging from two-story maisonettes to ground floor units with inner courtyards.[4]
The building also features a forecourt consisting of three open courtyards.[4] The first courtyard also functions as a vestibule, while the third features an enclosed star-shaped pool.[4] The courtyards also feature numerous plants, a brick patio, brick-lined paths, and a brick-lined raised pond.[1]
Architecture historian Robert Winter has described Roman Gardens as "one of the most elaborate of Los Angeles's garden court apartments."[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Image / [Roman Gardens Apartment] (8 views)". Calisphere. University of California. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
- ^ a b Michelson, Alan. "Roman Gardens Apartments, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA (1926)". Pacific Coast Architecture Database. University of Washington. Archived from the original on June 12, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
- ^ a b Pool, Bob (July 28, 2009). "The discord is real at the Villa Valentino". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2026. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Exploring Hollywood's Historic Neighborhoods" (PDF). Hollywood Heritage newsletter. Vol. 32, no. 2. Hollywood Heritage. Summer 2013.
- ^ "Historical Cultural Monuments List" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
- ^ Winter, Robert (2009). An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles. Gibbs Smith. p. 175. ISBN 978-1-4236-0893-6.
- 1926 establishments in California
- Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments
- Hollywood, Los Angeles
- Moorish Revival architecture
- Rudolph Valentino
- Revival architecture in the United States
- 1920s architecture in the United States
- Buildings and structures in Hollywood, Los Angeles
- Residential buildings completed in 1926
- Apartment buildings in Los Angeles