Harry Gesner's Malibu 'Sandcastle' gets a $5m price drop

Nestled on the picturesque Malibu coastline, Harry Gesner’s architectural marvel, the ‘Sandcastle,’ pays homage to its dramatic oceanfront setting and the organic forms of undulating waves.

The Malibu property is named for its sand bucket-like tower and undulating roofline, inspired by the ripples of an ocean wave. It was designed by Gesner – who passed away last year at the age of 97 – for his actress wife, Nan Martin and their family in 1974, using all his hallmarks: reinforced concrete, hand-carved wood, plus salvaged materials such as old telephone poles, reclaimed maple gym floors, marble from a demolished public bathhouse, as well as windows and doors from an old Hollywood movie theatre and church.

Sandcastle’s shell-like form has unrivalled panoramic views over Watkins Cove and the rugged Malibu coastline from its 0.73-acre plot, which boasts 122 feet of beachfront. The iconic beach house is now for sale through the architect’s son, actor and realtor Zen Gesner of Compass, for $22.5m (after a $5m price reduction from its original May 2023 listing price of $27.5m).

The breezy California property has a free-flowing ground floor with floor-to-ceiling glass that opens up to the wraparound wooden deck. A massive fireplace, designed to resemble the Hollywood Bowl, with a polished concrete ‘stage’ in front, serves as the focal point of the interior, with seating areas, a dining room, and a kitchen branching off from it.

Gesner’s former studio was located in the tower, accessed via a spiral staircase with treads made from driftwood, and there are three bedrooms in the main house. The waterfront property also includes an ocean-view ‘treehouse’, a ‘boat house’ apartment, a ‘nest’ apartment above the outdoor cabana, a three-car garage, an outdoor shower, and surfboard storage.

Another Gesner jewel is located next door to the Sandcastle – his most famous residential project, the Wave House. Gesner designed the undulating home in the 1950s for his surfer friends, Gerry and Glenn Cooper, to resemble breaking waves, and the Malibu property is said to have inspired the Sydney Opera House. It was too recently listed for sale, asking for a staggering $49.5m.