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Hollywood Forever Cemetery Unveils Sunset Mausoleum: A Vertical Sanctuary of Architecture and Landscape

[Los Angeles, January 3, 2025] The iconic Hollywood Forever Cemetery has taken a transformative step into the future with the unveiling of the first phase of its Sunset Mausoleum, a vertical expansion that merges bold architecture with evocative landscape design. This monumental project, designed by Lehrer Architects LA under the leadership of Michael B. Lehrer, FAIA, with construction led by Roberto Sheinberg’s Arquitectura y Diseño, sets a new standard for how cemeteries can honor the past while serving present and future generations of Angelenos.

The mausoleum’s architectural and landscape designs are intricately interwoven, creating a space that honors both memory and nature. Leading the landscape architecture, Studio-MLA’s design brings a sense of serenity and life to the towering structure. The project builds on the cemetery’s historic 53-acre grounds, originally designed in 1899 by noted landscape architect Joseph Earnshaw. Studio-MLA’s approach draws inspiration from this legacy while innovating for the modern era, embedding nature into every level of the mausoleum, from its base gardens to rooftop terraces.

A Bold Architectural Vision
The mausoleum itself rises 100 feet, conceived as a vertical topographical landscape that saves precious ground space while reimagining the cemetery as a cultural and spiritual landmark. Its poured-in-place concrete design features decorative geometric patterns, contrasting quartzite crypt fronts, and deep open corridors that evoke a sense of awe. Cantilevered volumes hover over Gower Street, transforming an ordinary street into a significant urban boulevard.

Michael B. Lehrer, FAIA, describes the project as “about HOME—a place that shelters the body and nurtures the soul. It celebrates community, memory, and renewal in a profoundly Hollywood way, offering sublime Pacific breezes and endless views. It’s a vertical sanctuary rising proud in the heart of Hollywood.”

The design also reflects influences from Pop Art’s seriality, Eduardo Chillida’s solid-void sculptures, and ancient architectural forms like ziggurats. This interplay of inspiration creates a rhythm of dense interment towers balanced with expansive open spaces.

A Landscape That Grounds and Elevates
The landscape architecture takes center stage, setting the tone for visitors’ experiences. At ground level, calming water walls, evergreen trees, and carefully selected shrubs establish a tranquil entry. Vibrant Bougainvillea and low carpets of Rosemary climb the stepped garden façade, while iconic Italian Cypresses evoke a sense of permanence and timelessness.

As visitors ascend, intimate mid-level terraces provide pockets of green respite within the mausoleum’s corridors. At its summit, the rooftop garden offers panoramic views of Los Angeles, framed by earth-toned materials and an allée of Olive Trees, punctuated by towering Blue Palms. Over time, climbing vines will transform the concrete volumes into lush, city-scaled topiary hedges, merging architecture and landscape into a living monument.

Mia Lehrer, FASLA, president of Studio-MLA, explains: “We aimed to create spaces that draw visitors into quiet reflection, connecting them with nature—a reminder of the enduring and the ephemeral. Water features and planting layers evoke a sense of harmony and provide an experience that transcends time.”

A New Chapter for Hollywood Forever
Hollywood Forever Cemetery, long a cultural hub and final resting place for luminaries such as Judy Garland and Chris Cornell, has become an enduring symbol of Los Angeles. Sunset Mausoleum marks a significant expansion, with Phase 1 providing 5,000 crypts and 8,000 niches. Phase 2, set to begin in Spring 2025, will add 6,500 crypts and 10,000 niches, with Phase 3 completing the 400-foot-long structure.

Roberto Sheinberg, AIA, reflects on the process: “Our deep understanding of urban density and housing principles informed every decision, allowing us to balance the monumental architecture with open, park-like spaces that celebrate both life and our city.”

This collaboration between Lehrer Architects LA and Studio-MLA ensures that Hollywood Forever Cemetery continues to serve as a cultural and spiritual beacon for generations to come. By integrating architecture and landscape into a cohesive whole, the Sunset Mausoleum is not just a place of remembrance but a destination that invites visitors to connect with history, nature, and the community of Hollywood itself.

Photography: @Tim Griffith