A Harry Gesner-Designed Beverly Hills Estate Lists for the First Time in 20 Years

It’s not often that a well-preserved midcentury home designed by prolific architect Harry Gesner comes to market. But for the first time in 20 years, the Erenhault House in Beverly Hills’s tony Trousdale Estates enclave has listed for $28 million. The midcentury modern property was previously only available for rent, and after two decades, its current offering marks a rare opportunity to own a piece of architectural history.

The late decorated World War II hero and self-taught visionary made his mark on Southern California architecture through his signature coastal-inspired design elements, such as curved, sculptural rooflines, timber structures, organic forms and materials, and indoor-outdoor layouts. His work is site-specific, with each structure built around the existing Californian landscape while bringing the outdoors in at every opportunity, whether through large windows or strategically placed skylights. An avid surfer, Gesner drew inspiration from the ocean for much of his work, most notably the iconic Wave House in Malibu. The Erenhault House, commissioned in 1968 and completed in 1970, is no exception.

Situated at the end of a private cul-de-sac on more than half an acre, the home spans 6,500 square feet and has six bedrooms and six full baths. It was built directly on natural stone and seamlessly integrated into the landscape. In true Gesner style, the home is built to maximize views of the city, canyon, and coastline through oversized, grandfathered windows thanks to its hilltop position in one of L.A.’s most sought-after areas.

An open, high-ceiling living room anchors the property, featuring a sunken seating area and a built-in fireplace with a curved stone surround. The open-plan space also features a dining area with mirrored walls and another seating alcove with views of the mountains. Stone floors throughout reinforce Gesner’s commitment to organic materials and also create a connection to the outdoors. The most recent update is a redesigned Poliform kitchen beneath a glass atrium.

Six private, en-suite bedrooms are placed throughout the home and feel more like suspended bungalows, with most opening onto terraces. Finally, the main outdoor area features a pool, hot tub, and generous lounge space with uninterrupted city views.

“It doesn’t feel like the home was placed on the land; it feels like it grew out of it,” seller Mezhgan Hussainy tells Galerie. “There’s a softness to the architecture, seen in the curved, wave-like lines throughout the home, and it gives it a sense of movement and flow you don’t often see. There’s a real artistry to the architecture, and it’s something worth preserving.”

The property is listed with Trey Alligood of the Alligood Group at Douglas Elliman.