Castle Argyle

By Frances Anderton for FORT: LA

What is Castle Argyle?

The Castle Argyle Apartments, on Argyle Avenue at Franklin Avenue, just north of the 101 freeway, is a seven-story complex of 96 studios and one-bedrooms dwellings for seniors and disabled adults in a building that has gone through several lives since its opening as a luxury apartment hotel in 1928. The structure fell into disrepair and, on a change of ownership, The Bell Design Group team undertook an extensive rehabilitation, renovating the interior and exterior, seismic retrofitting, upgrading utilities and fixtures, adding custom art, new common-area furnishings, enhancing accessibility throughout, and adding a landscaped courtyard that provides respite from the ceaseless traffic and urban activity right outside. Tenants who wanted to keep their homes were moved into a nearby hotel and returned to a freshly minted units with new kitchens, bathrooms, windows, and AC, in a stately building that emerges from the roads and raised expressway that entangle it, like a white Persian slipping the clutches of a boa constrictor.

Rich History

The Castle Argyle Arms was a luxury “residence-hotel” built in 1928 by Dr. Alfred Guido Randolph Castles (a translation of his German name, Schloesser), a Chicago doctor and successful silver-miner, on the site of fantastical faux-Gothic pile with turrets and crenelations that Castle had built in 1912 called Castle Sans Souci (“Castle Without Worry”). Castle Argyle was designed by the San Francisco architect Leonard L. Jones, who also designed its twin, The Hermoyne, at 569 South Rossmore Avenue, and still luxury apartments.

Denizens of Hollywood resided there on month-to-month leases until success came knocking. Past occupants are said to have included Cecil B. DeMille, Clark Gable, and Howard Hughes. The “castle” was renovated after the war, and then, when the freeway crashed through its verdant hillside, its allure was dimmed but not out. By the end of the 1960s however, it had “deteriorated into a drug den,” reported the L.A. Times, and became affordable housing underwritten by HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development). From there it was turned into senior affordable housing, and then bought by Human Good Affordable Housing, an owner of senior housing facilities. The building was so dilapidated that some experts advised tearing it down, but the design and development team opted for surgical repairs coupled with a creative facelift.

What Makes it Awesome?

Perhaps the least expected attraction is the widened, zigzagging, wheelchair accessible ramp enabling residents easy access from Argyle Avenue. This turns out to be the area where residents hang out, have a smoke, or simply watch passersby. But this is just one of several open and enhanced spaces that make this “castle” feel welcoming, including an outdoor courtyard, a generous shared living room, and a wide corridor with open seating. The interior spaces are crowned with newly uncovered and expanded, coffered ceilings; the architects have added arched openings and a glass tile mural in the corridor, all adding to a grand hotel-like feel.

Staffers say they and their residents treasure the new space, the open layout and the art, though one 26-year tenant expressed nostalgia for their prior, less luxe, smaller community room (that was full of life, he recalls, though acknowledges this was perhaps because they were all younger). Architect Tima Bell says the lounge works just as intended. “They play cards, they play chess, they’ll watch TV, they’ll watch the baseball game.”

Added Extras

Since the building does not have a historic landmark designation, the design team were able to liberally mix old and new. To strengthen the weakened structure they sprayed concrete on the walls and painted them bright white, but added decorative foam friezes and other touches of ornamentation like the curlicued bas-relief design in the courtyard and the arches and chandeliers in the lobby.

They restored relics, like the historic “Castle Argyle” sign and the “Castle Argyle Arms” neon sign above the entry staircase on Argyle Avenue. Then they added two new murals, both designed and made in durable and vivid glass tile by Puerto Rico based artist Roberto Biaggi. One greets visitors as they enter the building; the other, highly visible to passersby on the parking structure wall facing Argyle, features portraits of a range of characters and buildings past and present meant to embody the “diverse history of Castle Argyle, its residents and the community.”

Old and New Hollywood

The central character in the outside mural somehow brings to mind Kim Kardashian, who currently graces a huge billboard not far from Castle Argyle. After all, this retreat is also just yards from Hollywood hotspots including Amoeba records, and the Pantages and Palladium theaters. In keeping with its place in Tinseltown, this “castle,” is like a grande dame of the stage who has had a little work done, but is aging well.

Call To Action

Learn more about HumanGood here, Bell Design Group here, read about past struggles to keep Castle Argyle affordable in this L.A. Times article here, read about Castle Sans Souci, here, and stay tuned for more on living well in older age coming up next year at FORT: LA, in our 2025 series, Sexy 4 Seniors.