One of the Los Angeles skyline’s most instantly recognizable homes sold this spring. Following the unexpected death of its owner, the Hollywood Hills “hang glider” house — so-called because it’s perched atop one of L.A.’s highest promontories like a hang glider ready to take flight — came up for grabs. In better condition than ever, and with a covetable architectural history and some of the best views around, the place garnered lots of attention.
Sad circumstances aside, the listing was also timed perfectly, debuting right as the real estate market was at its white-hot peak, post-COVID lockdowns. The ask was $7.99 million, but it appears a fierce bidding war broke out among potential suitors, driving the sales price all the way up to $9.4 million. The all-cash buyer was Canadian tech guru Jacob “BA” Blackstock.
While he’s not exactly a household name, you’ve probably used a Blackstock-designed product. The 45-year-old comic artist is best known for cofounding Bitstrips, the company that makes Bitmoji — yes, those little smiley emojis. Bitmoji debuted in 2014 and became an overnight sensation; Snapchat took notice, snapping up the company in 2016 for $100 million, paying Blackstock in a mix of cash and stock. Blackstock subsequently joined the social media juggernaut as an executive, where he’s remained ever since. Today, the Toronto native is still CEO of Bitmoji, a subsidiary of publicly-traded Snap, Inc.
Built in 1975, Blackstock’s highly unique new house was designed by innovative maverick architect Harry Gesner. Known also for his iconic boat houses and Malibu’s Wave House, Gesner crafted this place for lumber mogul Mike Hyne, who wanted to show off his logs — so to speak — via a palatial new pad. That explains why the entire house appears crafted from a forest’s worth of wood, with hardwood-sheathed, log-crammed interiors reminiscent of a modern mountain cabin. That’s in stark contrast to most other Hollywood Hills mansions, which are primarily all steel and concrete.
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Image Credit: Noel Kleinman The roughly 4,500-square-foot structure was later renovated in 2014 by modernist architect Dean Larkin, who added walls of glass to complement the breathtaking vistas, before it was sold that same year for $7.6 million to Erick Morillo, a DJ and record executive best known for his 1994 hit “I Like to Move It.” Morillo died in September 2020 in Miami, the result of an accidental overdose
Effusively described in the listing as “the sexiest, most timeless and architecturally impressive estate in the Hollywood Hills,” the swoopy house is sited at the very end of a long cul-de-sac, behind gates and atop its own promontory. Views drink in the entire L.A. skyline, from the San Gabriel mountains to the Pacific Ocean and everything in between.
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Image Credit: Noel Kleinman There are three distinct levels — the main floor, with the public reception rooms, kitchen and various living areas is actually the home’s penthouse level. Guests are ferried up to the front door via a long staircase lit by with LEDs. A glass elevator leads to the lower level, which packs in the home’s bedrooms, including a primary suite with dramatic views of the city skyline. Out back, accessible only via a steep exterior staircase, lies a recording studio that’s reminiscent of a concrete bunker, hidden in the depths of the property’s retaining wall slabs.
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Image Credit: Noel Kleinman Other highlights include an attached two-car garage, plus a private motorcourt with space for several more vehicles. Though it spans nearly an acre of land, the yard is mostly maintenance-free, thanks to the installation of artificial turf and drought-tolerant plantings. Wraparound concrete decks and balconies offer numerous options for al fresco entertaining, while the requisite infinity pool boasts a big Baja shelf for watery sunbathing.
Jason Oppenheim at The Oppenheim Group held the listing; Josh and Matt Altman of The Altman Brothers Team at Douglas Elliman repped the buyer.
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