about

GuestHaus Residency (GHR) was founded in 2011 by curator and writer Chloë Flores and builder Tim Lefevre as a resource for artists and scholars visiting Los Angeles for work on a project, lecture, or research with a local institution, non-profit organization, and/or artist-run space. Conceived as a long-term investment in cultural infrastructure and designed as an alternative economic and social model–GHR offered free housing and support for cultural producers, providing space to rest, network, and connect while easing the logistical and financial burden for partnering organizations.

Over 12 years, GHR supported more than 71 residencies in collaboration with over 40 local arts organizations. Beyond housing, the residency coordinated and hosted public programming, including talks, workshops, film screenings, post-event dinners, and informal gatherings that fostered dialogue, collaboration, and community exchange. These events served as extensions of each resident’s practice and deepened their engagement with Los Angeles’s cultural ecosystem.

The residency is located in Mount Washington, near Downtown Los Angeles and nestled in a lush setting with stunning southeastern views of the Los Angeles basin. The guesthouse was designed by Fung + Blatt Architects in a classic Los Angeles modern style. It has an indoor/outdoor sensibility with large windows, a sliding glass side door, and a private deck with a café table and chairs where one can take in the surroundings. The interior is furnished with a queen bed; writing desk and chair; nightstand and reading lamp; and equipped with a bathroom/shower; Wi-Fi Internet access; and an espresso machine. Residents were welcome to entertain visitors and had access to the kitchen in the main house.

GuestHaus Residency operated seasonally between January and November, offering stays of up to three weeks, and welcomed a wide range of artists and thinkers across disciplines and geographies.

Throughout its operation, GuestHaus Residency functioned as a collaborative and responsive platform, co-organizing events with both residents and institutional partners. Its model continues to influence how residencies are imagined and built. Flores remains an active consultant in the field of residency development, contributing to the design and sustainability of similar programs in Los Angeles and beyond.

GuestHaus Residency opened up private space to public possibilities.