Finding Nirvana in Hollywood

Built in 1925, the Nirvana is one of the oldest apartment-hotel buildings in Los Angeles that recently underwent a massive restoration project that unveiled an extraordinary part of its original structure that had been concealed for decades.  The Nirvana was designed by architect E.M. Erderly in the Exotic Revival architectural style which became popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  This style blended western architectural elements with eastern architectural elements that drew inspiration from cultures like Asia, Egypt, and the Middle East.  

When the Nirvana was built, it had a beautifully painted entry and large lobby with colorful Asian inspired murals and motifs.  However, at some point the entire entry and lobby was painted and the lobby was converted into two apartment units. As years past, additional layers of paint further buried the original artwork that had inspired the building's Exotic Revival theme. But sometime in the 2010s, a tenant in one of the lobby-converted apartments noticed some images peaking through some chipped paint.  The tenant shared this information with the apartment manager, which eventually drew the attention of conservationists and the launching of a lengthy restoration project to return the entry and lobby to the original design. First half of the lobby was restored by dismantling one of the two apartment units because the second unit is still occupied by a renter. Then professional conservationists used surgical scalpels to carefully and very patiently chip away layers of paint that eventually unveiled the beautiful murals.  They also recast molds from one original piece that had miraculously survived and used old photographs to restore the lost splendor to the original magnificence.  By 2022 the lengthy restoration was complete.  Recently I took a tour of the building that was lead by one of the lead conservationist for this project, Elisabetta Covizzi Perfetti, who talked about the meticulous restoration work that was akin to an archeological expedition.  

On a side note, just a few blocks from the Nirvana there are three other very famous Exotic Revival inspired buildings: the Yamashiro (1914), the Egyptian Theatre (1922), and Grauman's Chinese Theatre (1927).  

The original sign with a pagoda.

The restored lobby that displays the original murals, motifs and restored light fixtures. 

The facade with the pagoda style roof. 

Western design influences include the brickwork.

The green patinaed copper seahorse dragon. 

Mythical images appear in relief sculpture.

The restored entry.

The restored lobby.

The original columns and motifs have been restored. 

Dismantling the apartment also revealed the location for the original light fixtures.

There sunflower light.

A restored interior window.

One original rectangular motif survived and was recast.

Now for a a tour of one of the apartment units.

The kitchen with original cabinets.

A restored bathroom.

One last peak at the beautiful lobby.