Historic

John Sowden House

Since 1926

John Sowden House, also known as the "Jaws House" or the "Franklin House", is a residence designed by Lloyd Wright and built in 1926 in the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles, California. The house is noted for its use of ornamented textile blocks and for its striking facade, resembling (depending on the viewer's points of cultural reference) either a Mayan temple or the gaping open mouth of a great white shark.

Why it's on the map

Opinions have since changed, and the houses built by the Wrights with textile blocks are now some of the most famous residential landmarks in the area, added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, and praised for their striking and innovative style.

This was the last residence built by the Wrights in this style, though the Mayan style roof line was also used by Lloyd Wright when he built the first "shell" for the Hollywood Bowl, constructed out of wood, which only lasted one year before being torn down.

Source: Wikipedia / Wikidata