Frank Gehry to Design New Mixed-Use Complex on Sunset Strip

Frank Gehry has received approval from the Los Angeles City Planning Commission to build a new mixed-use development at 8150 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. The project, which faced a crowded public hearing, will consist of five interconnected buildings totaling approximately 31,000 square meters. The complex will include commercial spaces such as restaurants, shops, a bank, and a market, along with about 249 residential units, some of which will be designated for low-income families. Parking for 800 cars and communal green spaces are also planned. The buildings will range from three to fifteen stories and feature Gehry's signature curvilinear forms, here interpreted in a Gothic style to harmonize with the neighboring Chateau Marmont Hotel, designed by William Lee Douglass in 1929. The design pays homage to the Garden of Allah, a former resort for celebrities and writers originally purchased by actress Alla Nazimova in 1919, which previously occupied the site. Gehry remarked, "Architecture is rarely practiced in this city. I will do my best, responsibly, to make you proud." This marks Gehry's first major project in Los Angeles since the Walt Disney Concert Hall opened in 2003.