Harry Gesner’s Malibu Sandcastle Lists for $27,500,000

This property is on the market for $27,500,000, listed with Compass.

The West Malibu beachfront home of the late architect Harry Gesner offers the opportunity to own a piece of California’s architectural history.

Sandcastle was built in 1974 as the private home of Gesner and his fourth wife, the actress Nan Martin. He proposed to his wife on the bluffs overlooking Watkin’s Cove, telling her, “‘If you marry me, I’ll build your dream house”.

The Sandcastle was described by the architect as “a dream place, built with love…for two creative and very much in love adults, a baby boy and a Labrador retriever.”

The Malibu property is located next door to Gesner’s iconic Wave House, built in the 1950s for his friend and fellow surfer Gerry Cooper, and widely considered to have inspired the design of the Sydney Opera House in Australia.

Resembling a sand castle rising majestically above the beautiful shores of Watkins Cove, this distinctive cylindrical-shaped house has captivated generations with its charm and ingenious use of salvaged materials, long before sustainable build was in vogue.

The California architect built the Sandcastle using reclaimed lumber from a local high school, marble from public baths that were able to be demolished, windows and doors from one of Hollywood’s silent film theaters, and old telephone poles, which were used to support the tower that houses the architect’s former workshop.

The living room of the main 3-bedroom house has a concave brick fireplace designed to look like the Hollywood Bowl, with a large polished concrete hearth that doubled as a stage for performances by his actress wife.

The property comes with an ocean-view “tree house” apartment with 1 bedroom, a 1-bedroom “boat house” apartment and a 1-bedroom apartment “nest” above the indoor/outdoor cabana.

Offering 122 feet of beach front, the 0.73 acre property has an abundance of outdoor living spaces to indulge in the California lifestyle (including an outdoor shower and surfboard storage areas) and multiple vantage points to take in breathtaking sunsets.

The Sandcastle is more than just a stunning beachfront property; it is a testament to the late Harry Gesner's genius and his commitment to sustainable design.

All photos belong to the listing agency.