Hotel Hollywood

Danish architect Christian Bay-Jorgensen is being praised by some for his idea to turn the iconic Hollywood sign into a hotel.

The iconic Hollywood sign is in danger of being obstructed by hulking mansions. There's fear that future generations will point toward Mount Lee and ask: Mommy, why can I only see the letters "OO" on the hill? If the demise of the view of the Hollywood sign were a movie, then Danish architect Christian Bay-Jorgensen is among the hopefuls auditioning to be the swashbuckling hero. His plan: Transform the sign itself into a hotel, each giant letter hosting guests marveling at the sweeping views of the Los Angeles basin. The hotel-letters would be about twice the size of the current 45-foot tall sign, and include amenities such as an observation deck. The ultimate goal, he says, would be to preserve an internationally recognized landmark while helping the city generate badly needed funding. "I'm a fan of the Hollywood sign and the unused spaces of America," Bay-Jorgensen, a Denmark-based architect, said Monday after visiting Los Angeles. "It could be interesting to make it a center for such events as the Golden Globes and Oscars. This could be the future of the sign."

Hit the link for more renderings of the proposal. The folks charged with maintaining the sign admit they are strapped for funding, but aren't too interested in the hotel idea.