‘Zen’ Is at the Center of This $45 Million Los Angeles Spec Home

A Los Angeles spec house with a live olive tree at its center is listing for $45 million.

The tree is surrounded by three glass walls and sits in a water feature on the home’s basement level, according to developer Shawn Kohen of Kohen Development Group. He bought the roughly ¾-acre lot in Holmby Hills for $7.65 million in 2019, records show.

The recently completed house spans about 17,600 square feet over three levels, Kohen said. The house has six bedrooms, two kitchens and two libraries, as well as a roof deck.

In addition to being beautiful to look at, Kohen said, the tree brings a “Zen” feeling to the house, he said. “You don’t see it every day.” He said he selected an olive tree because the species does well in the California climate and lasts a long time. The mature tree was brought in about five months ago. “They had to crane it in with two different cranes,” Kohen said.

Thanks to the glass walls, the tree is visible from all three levels, he said. There is also access to the base of the tree from the basement level, where there is a spa with a sauna, steam room, gym, massage room and hot and cold plunge. Outside, there is a round infinity-edge pool.

Kohen said the house was several years in the making, between design and construction. Visitors enter the L-shaped house via a glass bridge that leads to the front door. There is a two-sided fireplace with a three-dimensional stone design.

Kohen put a theater on the first level to function as a multipurpose entertaining space. The room has blackout shades, as well as huge pocket doors to the outside and a bar. “We always see theaters hiding in the basement. We made ours a focal point,” he said.

Aaron Kirman, Bryce Lowe, and Kirby Gillon of AKG | Christie’s International Real Estate are co-listing the property with Mauricio Umanksy and Zach Goldsmith of the Agency.

Overall, the luxury market in Los Angeles has slowed since last year. During the third quarter, listing inventory in Bel-Air and Holmby Hills declined annually for the first time in five quarters, according to real-estate appraisal firm Miller Samuel. The average price for a luxury single-family home in Bel-Air and Holmby Hills rose 12% year-over-year.

Last month, singer and actress Jennifer Lopez sold her Bel-Air home for just under $34 million.

https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/zen-is-at-the-center-of-this-45-million-los-angeles-spec-home-2ad0ad3e