Pierre Koenig’s Final Masterpiece Hits the Market for $4.5 Million

The exterior of the 1994 Schwartz House by Pierre Koenig. Photo: compass

Perched on a hillside in sunny Santa Monica, this glass-and-steel jewel box is the final masterpiece of beloved Case Study architect Pierre Koenig, celebrated for his postcard-worthy homes that become emblematic of mid-century Hollywood glamor.

Completed in 1994, the 2,400-square-foot Schwartz House bears the hallmarks of Koenig’s modernist design style, elevated on four black steel columns that stretch like Serra sculptures towards the sky. Setting it apart from his more famous Baily House and Stahl House, however, are walls positioned at an angle within the steel framework, strikingly offset so as to maximize sunlight and ocean breezes.

Across the three floors—which are linked by an eye-catching yellow spiral staircase—are a trio of bedrooms plus two-and-a-half baths. Notably, the parcel also contains a “hidden” guest house equipped with its own bedroom suite and separate entrance.

The elegant dwelling appears to have stayed in the original family until 2021, when current owner, German entrepreneur Franc Arnold, acquired it and spearheaded a slew of updates, among them state-of-the-art kitchen appliances, a new roof, and refinished flooring. Now, Arnold is looking for a new steward to guide this prestige estate into its fourth decade.