401 W 5th St
Los Angeles, CA 90013, USA

Title Guarantee & Trust Building, 401 West Fifth St Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA

Designed by the prominent architectural firm of John and Donald Parkinson, Title Guarantee is one of the better examples of the zig zag style in Los Angeles. It is utilitarian office structure built to serve the needs of the expanding business community of the 1920`s. Although exterior architectural detail is minimized, the massing of the tower is a good example of how to combine Gothic and moderne forms successfully. The treatment of the lobby, although small in size, indicates sensitivity to the history of the area. The walls are decorated with a set of six paintings by Hugo Ballin. The first panel shows a prehistoric scene in the Brea Pits; the second depicts life in the Spanish and Mexican period; the third shows the signing of the Treaty of Cahuenga; the fourth, Lieutenant Ord and his survey; the fifth the coming of the railroad; and the sixth shows the City of Los Angeles during construction of the Title Guarantee Building.