Mayan Revival was a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican-inspired architecture style that was popular in the Americas during the 1920s and 1930s. As its name also indicates, this style draws inspiration from Mayan architecture and iconography, blending its elements with other Mesoamerican cultures. Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the most prominent architects of this style, and here are some of his Mayan Revival houses.
John Sowden House
Built in 1926 in the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles, the Sowden house has an iconic cave-like entrance leading to a narrow entrance. Then, all the rooms of the house open to a central courtyard designed like a Mayan temple. Although originally intended for open-air events and musical performances, the Sowden house is notorious for being the suspicious setting of the “Black Dahlia” murder in 1947.
Ennis House
The Ennis House is the last and the largest “textile block” house of Wright in Hollywood. Also being the most expensive design of Wright, the Ennis House has 27,000 patterned granite blocks on its exterior walls. The house also served as a set for several TV series and movies including Blade Runner, Twin Peaks, Rush Hour, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.