An Art Deco Treasure, a Famous Mural, and a New Development
Built in 1931 as a retail location, the Attie Building sits at the southeast corner of Wilcox Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard, 6436 Hollywood Boulevard. Its eye-catching upper floor features finely detailed flora and fauna patterns, and elaborately carved panels. Recessed sash windows adorn the roofline, the frames painted a bright red that pops against the decorative tiles in shades of gray. H.A. Minton is listed as the architect. The original intent for the building was “Stores and Offices” and the building has been a commercial site for the entirety of its existence.
The architectural details on the Attie Building are reminiscent of a time when the street was filled with art deco buildings.
Today, the Attie building is most famous for its 20’ x 30’ “You Are the Star” mural by New Mexico artist Thomas Suriya, who painted the artwork that adorns one side of the old Art Deco building. The mural, which was featured most recently in the 2016 film “LA LA Land,” depicts famous actors including Richard Pryor, Laurel and Hardy, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and James Dean, sitting in a theater, their seats facing the street.
The story behind the mural is this: in 1983, Suriya was a budding artist living with his friend Michael Attie in an "alternative living space" near Nevada City, California. Attie's parents owned the structure, as well as a lingerie store, Playmates of Hollywood, on the first floor. When Attie went to Hollywood to take over the family business, he asked Suriya to come up with a mural idea for an exterior wall of the building.
Working on the project the year before the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles was a thrill, Suriya said, as film crews from all over the world followed his work. The mural, which has become a must-see for tourists and locals alike, is a testimony to the transformative power of art. The attention his nostalgia-infused mural generates might well be the reason why the Attie Building is going to potentially play a starring role in the Le-Frak organization’s latest mixed-use complex along the Walk of Fame.
The "You are the Star" mural on the west side of the Attie Building.
The Hollywood and Wilcox Project, named for its location at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Wilcox Avenue, would wrap the 1930s Attie Building with new construction consisting of 260 apartments and 17,800 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Urbanize LA states “the development would create a two-story building along Hollywood Boulevard - matching the height profile of its historic neighbor - and gradually step up to a larger 15-story, 160-foot tall edifice at the back of the property.”
GMPA Architects is designing the Hollywood and Wilcox project, which, according to Urbanize LA, would “mesh contemporary architecture with elements from nearby structures such as the Taft Building, the Pacific (formerly Warner) Theater, the Security Bank Building and the Equitable Building.” The building would feature a mostly white exterior, with accents of color that reference historic buildings nearby.
Numerous open space amenities are planned throughout the development, such as a fourth-floor courtyard and pool, a roof deck, a dog run, and other terrace levels. Interior spaces would include a gym, a theater, and a business center. Parking for up to 420 vehicles would be provided in an underground garage, according to Urbanize LA.
Snazzy rooftop terraces abound at glitzy hotels like Mama Shelter and the Dream Hotel nearby, injecting a new energy into Hollywood nightlife. The project is sure to contribute to the new trend of catering to Hollywood residents who desire live, work, and play in their own neighborhood.
Los Angeles is both muse and home for British-born culture journalist Richard Bence. His mission is to chronicle and unearth the hidden stories of Hollywood with a special focus on its heritage. He has a passion for preservation, loves all things midcentury and enjoys getting close to nature on a canyon hike or lapping up the architectural riches of the city he calls home. He contributes to Monocle, Monocle 24 and United’s Rhapsody magazine. richard-bence.com