The Hollywood Forever Cemetery, a historic 53-acre landmark in Los Angeles, United States, has been a central part of the city’s cultural and social fabric since it opened in 1899. Originally known as the Hollywood Cemetery, it was designed by landscape architect Joseph Earnshaw (1831 – 1906) to embody the open, pastoral ethos of 19th-century lawn cemeteries. By eliminating fences and barriers, the site encouraged visitors to engage with its curving pathways, bucolic landscapes (albeit in an unconventional setting) and open views.

Rescued from near abandonment, the cemetery found new life in 1998. It is now a resting place for icons like Rudolph Valentino, Cecil B. DeMille, Judy Garland, Johnny Ramone and Chris Cornell. Over time, it has evolved into more than a resting place, becoming a venue for open events, including outdoor film screenings, cultural events at the Masonic Lodge, large scale concerts on the Fairbanks Lawn and the annual Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) celebration which invites thousands to honour departed loved ones through colourful altars, performances and music, embracing the rich traditions of Mexican culture. Now, it embarks on its most ambitious expansion to date, addressing the pressing need for burial space amid a densely packed urban environment, modernising its offerings with digital films of remembrance.

The Gower Mausoleum, the cemetery’s latest addition, is a vertical monument conceived by Lehrer Architects LA, led by Michael B. Lehrer—an AIA Los Angeles Gold Medallist—and realised in partnership with Roberto Sheinberg’s Arquitectura y Diseño. This innovative project reflects a forward-thinking approach to urban cemetery design, conserving ground space while creating an enduring architectural landmark. The mausoleum, located on the north end of the cemetery adjacent to Paramount Studios, will provide over 22,500 crypts and 30,000 niches for ashes upon completion, ensuring the cemetery’s functionality for another fifty years.

Initiated in 2013 to address the city’s critical shortage of burial spaces, the mausoleum reflects on three decades of the firm’s deep engagement with the city, from housing projects to public spaces. The design was conceived as a vertical topographical landscape, complementing the cemetery’s existing flat, park-like grounds. At 100 feet tall, the structure makes efficient use of limited land while offering an unconventional experience for visitors and the general public alike. Its poured-in-place concrete volumes are punctuated with geometric patterns, alternating between solid and void to create a dynamic façade. The resulting chiaroscuro of huge volumes brings to mind the haunting beauty of ancient ruins, offering an intimate yet immersive experience.

The design draws from a rich tapestry of influences, blending art, architecture and history to create a modern and ostensibly timeless structure. The serial repetition seen in American artists Donald Judd and Carl Andre’s minimalist installations and modular floor pieces, respectively, informs the mausoleum’s rhythmic geometric patterns. Andy Warhol’s stacked Brillo Boxes serve as a nod to the industrial and the everyday, reimagined here as an exploration of scale and permanence. Monumental forms of ancient architecture—from the terraced ziggurats of Mesopotamia to the stepped mastabas of Egypt and Mexico—inspire its verticality and perceived grandeur amid a somewhat somber setting. Additionally, the bold interplay of mass and 'emptiness' in Eduardo Chillida’s sculptures, where voids become as significant as solids, influences the façade design, where shadows and light create ever-changing visual narratives.

The interiors emphasise light, air and openness. Its corridors are lined with quartzite stones sourced from Brazil, chosen for their varied tones and textures, which aid in wayfinding and in creating an overall harmonious aesthetic. The building’s structural design too is remarkable: each floor contains eight crypts stacked on top of each other, supported by three-inch vertical and horizontal concrete slabs that form a robust honeycomb structure. With each floor rising 20 feet high, the mausoleum achieves both durability and an imposing sense of scale. Cantilevered volumes project dramatically over Gower Street, transforming the streetscape into an avenue of elevated architectural significance while maintaining the structure’s open design. The engineering, led by California-based firm Brandow and Johnston, overcame significant challenges in realising the original vision without compromising its openness.

Across its vertical edifice and within, the project integrates landscape design by Studio-MLA. Visitors entering the building are greeted by calming water walls and a selection of lush, evergreen plants, including Italian cypresses and rosemary. These elements create a serene transition from the bustling city outside to the contemplative space within. Vertical terraces along its corridors feature vibrant bougainvillea blooms and other greenery, offering moments of respite and connection. The rooftop garden, with its olive trees and blue palms, provides sweeping 360-degree views of the city, from the Hollywood Hills to the Pacific Ocean. Over time, climbing vines will envelop the structure, transforming its stark concrete facade into a verdant, living landmark.

The mausoleum’s design is not only functional but also deeply symbolic. Its alignment with the Hollywood Sign and proximity to Paramount Studios roots it firmly in the cultural and historical context of Hollywood and Los Angeles at large. By framing views of the cemetery grounds, the cityscape and natural landmarks like the San Gabriel Mountains, it becomes a place of reflection that connects visitors to the broader landscape within arm's reach of a global bustling capital. Its open-air design, with passive ventilation and natural light, fosters a sense of peace and continuity with the surrounding environment.

The landmark architecture project’s commitment to innovation extends beyond its physical confines. Since its revitalisation in 1998 under new ownership, it has embraced modern practices to serve a diverse community. It offers affordable burial options and digital memorials, along with hosting events that celebrate the cultural richness of Los Angeles. This addition builds on this legacy, providing a space that is both practical and inspirational.

The first phase of the mausoleum, completed over four and a half years, includes 5,000 crypts and 8,000 niches. Future phases, scheduled to begin in 2025, will add 16,500 more crypts and nearly 22,000 niches, culminating in a 400 feet-long, 160,000 square feet structure. Each phase reflects a meticulous attention to detail, from the selection of materials to the integration of architectural and natural elements. By combining the permanence of concrete with the vibrancy of greenery, the mausoleum further seeks to embody the duality of life and death, permanence and change, along more metaphorical lines of thought.

For Lehrer, the project represents more than just a solution to spatial constraints. “This project is about home,” he explains in the official release. “It is about community and the places that shelter the body and nurture the soul. Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a profoundly Hollywood place that is at once ephemeral and enduring. It is the full process of life, death and renewal rising proud in the centre of Hollywood”.

Sheinberg echoes this sentiment, emphasising the imperative balance of dense urban design with open, reflective spaces. “Our experience with urban projects shaped our approach from the beginning,” he notes in an official statement. “We aimed to create a rhythm of dense concrete towers for interments, thoughtfully balanced with open spaces that celebrate both life and our city.”

The Gower Mausoleum also reflects the broader ethos of Studio-MLA. “We aimed to create spaces that draw visitors into quiet reflection, connecting them with nature,” says Mia Lehrer, the landscape architect and president of Studio-MLA, in the official release. “The water walls remind us that water holds a particular resonance here in Los Angeles, and around the world, as a vital force that invites contemplation.” This collaborative effort ensures that the mausoleum is not only a functional addition to the cemetery but also a meaningful public space. It honours the memory of those interred while inviting visitors to engage with the landscape and architecture in new ways.

The Hollywood Forever Cemetery has always been more than a resting place. It is a cultural institution, a community gathering space and a reflection of the city it serves. The addition of the mausoleum continues this legacy, providing a space that respects the past while looking toward the future. Even as Los Angeles continues to evolve, Hollywood Forever remains a steadfast presence, with the Gower Mausoleum proving a thoughtful addition.