See The Amazing Iconic Malibu House Edward Norton Just Bought For $11 Million
By Susannah Breslin
Originally Published by Forbes
Academy Award-winning actor Ed Norton just bought himself a legendary beachfront property designed by architect John Lautner for a cool $11.8 million.
Known as the Stevens House, the 3,366-square-foot home, which was built in 1968, has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and 37 feet of ocean beach in uber-exclusive Malibu Colony.
Billed as an “architectural masterpiece” by listing agent Douglas Elliman, the landmark wood-and-concrete structure’s amenities include “a large beach deck, grassy yard and swimming pool.”
The arcing walls and curved windows and doors were designed to reflect the shapes of the waves crashing not far from the back door.
According to Curbed LA, the property had been on and off the market for four years. Norton bought the home from Michael LaFetra, a movie producer who “collects houses the way some people collect art” and who has restored other architecturally significant properties.
In 2007, LaFetra bought the house for $13.8 million and then restored it extensively, so he appears to have taken a bit of a hit in the sale. Back in 2013, he was asking an eye-popping $22 million.
The New York Times once declared the Stevens House “looks like an avant-garde boat that’s been hauled to the beach.”
In Malibu Colony, Norton will be right at home. Variety reports its starry history and lists some of Norton’s neighbors-to-be:
“Bing Crosby, Gary Cooper and Merle Oberon once maintained homes in the Colony enclave where current owners include Sting, Rob Reiner, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, John McEnroe and Patty Smyth, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Jane Leeves, Pam Anderson, and Paul Reiser.”
Suffice to say, he won’t be slumming it.
Last year, Architectural Digest featured another Lautner house in the ‘Bu with a Hollywood pedigree. Former Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner and CEO Jamie McCourt bought her Carbon Beach Lautner from Courtney Cox and David Arquette in 2006.
McCourt described the 7,000-square-foot house, which was built in 1980, as “one of my closest friends.”
Some years ago, I had the unique pleasure of visiting one of Lautner’s most famous projects, The Chemosphere. Constructed in 1960, it resembles a spaceship that has flown into the side of a mountain and features expanse views of the San Fernando Valley sprawling below.
I was there to interview its owner, art book publisher Benedikt Taschen, and it was, it appeared, like living inside a work of art.