About

John Elgin Woolf was once known as the "architect to the stars." He gained fame by designing luxurious homes for Hollywood celebrities, including Judy Garland, Cary Grant, and Bob Hope. Woolf's style, known as Hollywood Regency, combined elements from 19th-century French, Greek Revival, and Modernist architecture, creating a glamorous and theatrical aesthetic. His interiors featured expansive glass, mirrors, and innovative design elements such as the "floating fireplace."

His projects were mainly centered around the Bel Air and Beverly Hills areas. Woolf “established a new vocabulary for glamorous movie-star living,” they synthesized 19th-century French, Greek Revival, and Modernist touches into a heady mixture that has since been christened Hollywood Regency, which foreshadowed aspects of postmodernism. Woolf's Hollywood Regency style stood in contrast to the modernist architecture prevalent in postwar Southern California. While drawing inspiration from classical sources, Woolf added his own innovative twists, avoiding pastiche. His designs often incorporated French mansard roofs, Doric columns, oval windows, and Neoclassical urns. Woolf's skill with scale and proportion, including his signature "Pullman door," created the illusion of grandeur within his buildings.

Despite Woolf's significant contributions to architecture, he received relatively less attention compared to his contemporaries. One possible reason is his lack of architectural licensure, despite holding a degree in architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Another factor may be the perception that the Hollywood Regency style diluted classical architectural elements. Woolf's houses, known for their comfort, livability, and dramatic entrances, continue to captivate owners and remain highly sought after in the real estate market.