Bel-Air: The Centennial by Silverman, David

A luxurious, oversized celebration of the great houses of Bel-Air, one of Los Angeles's most glamorous enclaves.

Meticulously researched and lavishly illustrated, the book offers an immersive exploration of Bel-Air's architecture, interiors, and landscapes--long considered the jewel of Los Angeles and one of the world's most coveted places to live.

Founded in the 1920s by oil magnate Alphonzo Bell, Bel-Air built its legacy on privacy, beauty, and understated opulence, blending the allure of Hollywood with the serene foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the decades, celebrated architects--including A. Quincy Jones, John Lautner, Richard Neutra, Paul Williams, and John Elgin Woolf--shaped the neighborhood with enchanting homes, grand estates, refined clubs, and landmark hotels that became havens for cultural icons from Alfred Hitchcock and Marilyn Monroe to Elizabeth Taylor and Beyoncé.

Drawing from a remarkable archive of vintage maps, brochures, and hundreds of never-before-published photographs, this volume brings Bel-Air's evolution to life--from its formative years in the 1920s and 1930s to the golden era of Hollywood glamour and into the present day, where renewed preservation efforts and inspired contemporary design continue to define its enduring mystique.

Author: David Silverman
Publisher: Rizzoli International Publications
Published: 09/29/2026
Pages: 400
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 6.40lbs
Size: 13.00h x 9.90w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9780847877614

About the Author
David Silverman is an author and architectural historian whose company, LA House Histories, creates privately commissioned illustrated books that document the histories of homes, commercial buildings, and communities in Southern California and beyond. He also conducts archival research on historic properties for homeowners, real estate agents, commercial real estate developers, architects, and interior designers. He has been profiled in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Town & Country, The Hollywood Reporter, and Architectural Digest. A native Angeleno and former entertainment attorney, Silverman lives in Los Angeles.