Frank Lloyd Wright's Influence in CdM

​Did you know…
Frank Lloyd Wright’s son, Lloyd Wright, designed a building along PCH in CdM? 

Retail Building at 2850-2854 East Coast Highway (Photo Credit: Ron Yeo)

Lloyd Wright

​A renowned architect in his own right, Lloyd designed the famous all glass “Wayfarers Chapel” in Palos Verdes as well as band shells at the Hollywood Bowl among other projects.  Lloyd originally designed the building at 2850-2854 East Coast Hwy for the Ensign Newspaper and it had a big floor pit that contained the large paper rolls for printing production.  The Ensign shut down in June 1989 after 41 years as “Newport Beach’s only home-based newspaper.”  Today, the Lloyd Wright-designed building is home to Bellissima Resale, Tony Florez Photography, Home Loans by Jeff Edwards, and California Closets.

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Wayfarer's Chapel in Palos Verdes

Sowden House

​One of the features that sets this building apart from the other storefronts along PCH are the diagonal masonry walls facing the western sun that protect the diagonal glass show windows.  

(Photo Credit: Ron Yeo)

​Another unique feature is the delicate wood eave pattern that was made of teak and has now been painted over in black.

(Photo Credit: Ron Yeo)

​The distinctive interlocking masonry corners can be seen at the start of the building on PCH by Bellissima or around the corner down Heliotrope at the back of the building.

(Photo Credit: Ron Yeo)

Special thanks to CdM Architect/Artist Ron Yeo for sharing this info and these photos with us.