Located on the corner of Walden Drive and Carmelita Avenue, it is known for its fanciful, intentionally dilapidated design, and is a landmark included on tours of the area.
[1][2][3] The house was designed by Hollywood art director Harry Oliver, who went on to play a major role in Storybook architecture.
[4] It was originally built in 1921 to serve as the offices and dressing rooms for Irvin Willat's film studio in Culver City,[5] and was moved to its present location in 1926.
[5][6] The converted private home, with its pointy, lopsided roof, tiny windows and stucco with a distressed paint job were then surrounded by an intentionally overgrown English-style garden and a moat-like pond.
After tall, black fencing was initially placed around the lot, the owner received hate mail from people who thought he was going to tear it down.