‘House-sized Art’ of Dreams

Seaside living is something most of us just dream about, especially if it promises repose along one of the beautiful beaches of Malibu.

If we add to that mix an original piece of art and architecture with provenance courtesy of renowned California modernist architect Harry Gesner, things are apt to get even dreamier.

Which takes us to a recent, new Gesner development that's been making a SoCal splash: a rare slice of the architect's sea-loving, unorthodox design; the prestige of Malibu; and beachfront paradise all rolled into one. That home is now for sale.

A self-taught architect whose passion for the sea inspired his style, Gesner designed some of Malibu's most iconic homes. One of his most famous, the Sandcastle, was his family home, which sold in 2024, the same year that another Malibu Gesner, the heralded Wave House once owned by rock star Rod Stewart, also changed hands.

This new listing, on Malibu Cove Colony Drive, is a one-of-a-kind home with Gesner's personal touches skillfully intertwined with nautical detailing, and wooden decks suspended over the sea and sand.

Zen Gesner, the architect's son, represents the multi-level '70s home with realtor Chris Cortazzo of Compass Realty. Set at a price of $10,450,000, the home offers direct beach access from its exclusive location at 26902 Malibu Cove Colony Drive.

"I didn't even know about this house until the owners contacted Chris Cortazzo and I, and asked us to take a look," Zen says.

"But the second I stepped off the street onto the wooden bridge to the front door, I knew my father's spirit of design was all over this."

Citing his father's love of using reclaimed materials, Zen points out that many of the elements that went into this home also went into the Sandcastle, the architect's family home.

Zen immediately recognized the brick used in the fireplaces as "the gorgeous brick from downtown L.A., same as in the Sandcastle, and the beautiful hardwood that you see through rough-sawn cedar ceilings and walls."

Even the stained-glass windows were salvaged from the same historic Pasadena church. "It was like I was walking through a house with my dad again," Zen says.

Set in the quiet cul-de-sac end of Malibu Cove Colony's private road, this oceanfront estate is an extraordinary work. The multi-story, 2,644-square-foot structure features four bedrooms and five baths. Its inspiring geometries, craftsmanship, and walls of glass make it a true Gesner original.