In a city as architecturally blessed as Los Angeles, a listing has to have something special to stand out from the crowd. That’s certainly no problem for this unique hilltop residence in the Glassell Park neighborhood that’s known as the “Domestead,” now on the market with an asking price of just over $1.7 million.
Completed in 1982 by Los Angeles architect William King, the home was commissioned by Dr. Joy F. Gaerdner, a Missouri transplant who worked at Los Angeles General Hospital. Two decades later, Dr. Gaerdner’s home was acquired by garden proselytizer and artist Fritz Haeg, who turned it into a hub for all manner of creative endeavors that were explored in a monthly series known as the Sundown Salons.
Haeg, who received a degree in architecture from Carnegie Mellon, also performed a series of renovations on the residence, which contains three distinct levels. In the “earth-sheltered” bottom level is an elevated living room and lounge with cave-like poured-concrete walls, a skylit sleep chamber, and laundry and storage area. Recent updates to this level include new terrazzo tile and sisal carpeting.
A steel staircase spirals up to the timber-framed kitchen with wraparound windows, cork-sheathed walls, built-in seating, and high-end appliances. Also on this floor is a half-bath with redwood ceiling beams and a sizable length of shellacked timber wood repurposed into a sink. Like the lower level, this floor has been kitted out with stunning new terrazzo tile flooring in a speckled black-white-and-grey pattern.
Topping the 1,787-square-foot home is a geodesic dome featuring triangular skylights and windows, built-in shelving, and panels painted in various shades of blue. The blue-hued hemisphere is encircled by a deck showcasing dramatic views of the city skyline, the surrounding hillsides, and the San Gabriel Mountains.
Along with a variety of fruit trees, California native plants, and low-water succulents, the bucolic grounds feature an outdoor shower and soaking tub, a large domed yurt on a wood platform, and terraced spaces suitable for al fresco dining, entertaining, or art happenings. Per the listing description, a separate, buildable lot is included in the sale.
The one-of-a-kind property is listed with Molly Kelley and Susan Irving of Nourmand & Associates.
