The Palmdale House was designed by architect Edward Fickett in 1948 for developer Elwood Bredell. This mid-century modern apartment building brought Fickett's modernist design principles to multi-family housing in West Hollywood during the post-war building boom.
The building features a distinctive curved corner element that projects forward like the prow of a ship, earning it the local nickname "Ship's Bow." Wraparound windows at the curved corner maximize natural light and create dynamic street presence. The multi-unit structure incorporates open floor plans, glass walls, and playful rooflines characteristic of mid-century modern apartment design. The building's form demonstrates how modernist principles of light, openness, and connection to outdoor space could be applied to modest rental housing.
