Another Harry Gesner-Designed Boathouse Floats Onto the Market in L.A. for $1.7M

An opulent megamansion it is not. But this humble home in Los Angeles certainly is an attention grabber.

Designed by legendary modernest architect Harry Gesner and located on a privileged perch among the Hollywood Hills’ extraordinary views, this rare midcentury modern retreat is a smoking-hot commodity.

Only 12 of these distinctive dwellings, known as Los Angeles Boathouses, have been built. And when one comes on the market, as this one did recently for $1.7 million, it’s big news.

Lucky locale

The quirky abode is situated on the edge of a bluff in the Cahuenga Pass, a hilly area that separates Los Angeles from the San Fernando Valley. That positions it within about 10 to 15 minutes to movie studios and other major entertainment venues on both sides of the pass.

This boathouse, like all the rest, doesn’t look like much from the street, with a narrow entrance and a carport.

But all the drama is out back, where the home hangs over a cliff, supported by sturdy stilts, a style that is no longer permitted in the area.

Floor-to-ceiling windows across the back of the house and a deck that stretches the entire width of the home offer expansive canyon and city views.

Built by shipbuilders

They’re called boathouses because, in the late 1950s, Gesner took on the challenge of creating homes on what were previously considered unbuildable lots.

Deciding that a seafaring vessel style would work best, the architect brought in shipbuilders from Norway who reportedly used tools like hand axes, which were more suitable to boat building than home building.

The results were unlike anything else in the world. This particular model measures 1,136 square feet. It has two bedrooms and one bath, and it retains the modified A-frame design, handcrafted wooden beams, and mostly shiplap walls that typify the genre.

The bathroom and kitchen have been recently updated, the latter with stainless steel appliances; sleek, quartz countertops; and a skylight to keep things airy.

One of the most remarkable rooms is the primary bedroom, with its unique, slanted-glass wall that offers views unlike any other. But be warned: These homes are not for those suffering from vertigo.

Above the living room area, the boathouse features a loft, which could serve as a library, gathering place for guests, or a home office. It, too, has remarkable views.

Last sold in 2022 for $1.4 million, the home has held its value, and then some.

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