Garcia residence for $16 million
Feb 13, 2023
Garcia residence for $16 million Los Angeles
By   Internet
  • City News
  • American Celebrity Homes
  • Los Angeles Homes
  • American Homes for Sale
Abstract: An iconic, mid-century modern home with a parabolic roof is on the market for the first time in decades.

Garcia House on Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles towers 60 feet in the air and appears to float among the trees.

 

The home may be familiar to some as it was featured on the big screen in 1989's Lethal Weapon 2.

 

"It was designed by world-renowned architect John Lautner, who listed the property with Aaron Kirman and Dalton Gomez, both of whom work for AKGRE," says Weston Littlefield.

 

Lautner-designed houses rarely come on the market because their owners are often not interested in giving them up, Littlefield notes.

 

The renowned architect completed the 2,596-square-foot house for music composer and arranger Russell Garcia and his wife Gina in 1962.

 

It is also known as the Rainbow House due to the house's gabled shape and colourful stained glass windows.

 

"The Garcia House is considered one of his most famous designs," Littlefield said." The shape of the house is not what you would expect from a typical house shape. It's unique and ahead of its time."

 

The house fell into disrepair until 2002, when Broadway producer Bill Damaschke and entertainment industry manager John McKelvey bought it for $1.2 million and extensively renovated it.

 

The result is a gorgeous three-bedroom, three-bathroom house that still towers over a V-shaped caisson with a lava rock entrance, original terrazzo floors, and a 55-foot wall of windows.

 

Architectural firm Marmol Radziner oversaw the renovation, which focused on retaining architectural details and features. The original owners planned to build a swimming pool, but never completed it and have now added another.

 

"My favourite thing in the house is when you're by the pool at sunset and you look back at the house," Littlefield says." It is such a work of art. When the light hits the house, it changes colour."

 

The two sellers of the house have lived here for the past 20-plus years, he said.

"They went through the most important time in their lives; they said the house changed their lives because of the people they met and connected with, just because of the creative aspect of the house," Littlefield explained." So they felt it was time to pass the torch to other people who appreciated the house and saw its value."

 

Littlefield says that many billionaires have shown interest in the house - understandably so given the price tag.

 

"Many of them use it as a place to entertain clients and friends," he said." Some people have mentioned it as a small bachelor pad for them. We've had people mention it as a potential office. Then others mentioned that they would just collect and hold it and just use it here and there."

 

For those who can afford it, it will certainly be an amazing piece of art to add to the collection.

 

"When you buy this house, you buy it because you appreciate the architecture and appreciate John Lautner," Littlefield said."

 

It's definitely like you're buying a piece of art. ...... you can live in it, entertain in it and actually use it, rather than just hang it on the wall."

 

Design fans may remember seeing the house famously dragged down a hill and 'destroyed' in Lethal Weapon 2.

 

Never fear, it was just a replica. Obviously, the real house is fine; but the dwelling in the film was used as an exterior set for some shots.

 

Lautner designed over 200 projects - mainly homes - many of them in California. He died in 1994 at the age of 83.

 

His personal residence was sold in 2020.

icon
+87
icon
 
icon icon
icon
banner
Garcia residence for $16 million
icon
icon
icon
icon