The Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles's Hollywood Sign represents old-school glamour and the chance to make dreams come true—a blank slate to project one's desires on. When the hill that's home to the sign was in danger of being sold to real estate developers in April 2010, Danish architectural firm Bay Arch came up with a novel idea that aims to turn the equation around: The architects proposed creating a hotel complex in the sign itself—the ultimate insider's spot. A hotel would also generate much-needed cash to help the city preserve the landmark. Solar panels integrated invisibly into the letters would enable the hotel to qualify as eco-friendly, and the development would be a boon to hikers, who presently have to make do with substandard trails to reach the sign. Add to that a wellness center, spa, and movie theater, and guests could literally go behind the facade of the haute Hollywood lifestyle.

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