Vintage Long Beach

While visiting my sister, we took a nostalgic drive through downtown Long Beach. My favorite building has always been the Villa Riviera. It was finished in 1929 and has lived several lives until finally being restored and returned to it's original beauty. It now houses residential condominiums. At one time, it was the second-tallest building, and the tallest private building, in Southern California. The 16-story French Gothic building has been called the city's "most elegant landmark" and a building that "has helped define the city."

The building is topped with a steeply pitched copper roof with a green patina, and was designed by architect Richard King who won a grand prize at an international contest for the design that he referred to as "Tudor Gothic." The structure features fierce-looking gargoyles perched along the ridges of the higher floors.

View from the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Pine Avenue.

Copper roof and gargoyles