Sunset Tower Hotel

Rising majestically from the Sunset Strip, the Sunset Tower Hotel stands as a testament to Hollywood's golden age ambitions. Designed by architect Leland Bryant in 1929 and completed in August 1931 for $750,000. This 15-story tower was originally conceived as a luxury apartment hotel catering to the entertainment elite. At 195 feet tall, it claimed the distinction of being the tallest apartment building in Los Angeles County upon completion, with its penthouse residents literally living at the same elevation as Los Angeles City Hall's tower. The building was strategically marketed to Hollywood celebrities with the tagline 'Faultless in Appointment—The Ultimate in Privacy... Hollywood's Most Distinguished Address,' establishing its reputation as the entertainment industry's premier residential destination.

This is the pinnacle of Art Deco architecture in Southern California, specifically the Streamline Moderne and Zig Zag Moderne styles that defined the era. Architecture critics David Gebhard and Robert Winter proclaimed it 'a first class monument of the Zig Zag Moderne and as much an emblem of Hollywood as the Hollywood sign.' The building's exterior showcases elaborate plaster friezes depicting an eclectic mix of imagery including plants, animals, zeppelins, legendary creatures, and Adam and Eve—a whimsical collection that captures the creative spirit of its Hollywood setting. As one of California's first high-rise reinforced concrete buildings, it demonstrated innovative construction techniques while its commanding location on the Sunset Strip provides sweeping views across Los Angeles.