In Los Angeles, the modernist masterpiece spans 60 feet above the canyon, suspended 60 feet above the ground. 

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Having lived in John Lautner's Garcia House for the first time, John McIlwee has been forever changed by his experience living there.

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McIlwee and his partner, Bill Damaschke, purchased the 1962 modernist masterpiece from Vincent Gallo in 2002, who told them the property would change their lives. It did, says McIlwee. According to him, Lautner has a kind of cult following among people of all walks of life. This has been a wonderful opportunity to be a part of a larger collective world of art and architecture. The torch is now being passed along-or, better put, the keys-to the new owner. 

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It is one of Lautner's most recognizable properties, a teardrop-shaped house designed by him, who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright and was influenced by his work. Located 60 feet above Mulholland Drive, the property's wall of windows overlooks Mulholland Drive from steel caissons that stand 120 feet high. 

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“The Garcia House is a notable architectural masterpiece that is renowned for its unique design, which seamlessly combines organic architecture with a modernist aesthetic,” Weston Littlefield, listing agent for the property. There are three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms in the home, which was expanded in 2008, along with a pool, terrazzo flooring, lava rock entryway, and a terrazzo flooring in the interior.

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Built for Russell Garcia, one of Hollywood's most well-known composers and arrangers, the home makes a unique architectural statement, as well as having a rich Hollywood history. It is known that previous owners such as Garcia, Gallo, and McIlwee and Damaschke, who all worked in the film industry, have all lived in the house, and that the house has even been featured in films, such as Lethal Weapon 2 in 2011. 

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“This is a true architectural masterpiece that is not only a functional home, but also a work of art,” Littlefield says. “The buyer should be someone who is not just looking for a house, but also a piece of history, a statement, and an opportunity to own something that is truly one-of-a-kind.” 

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AKG Christie's International Real Estate has listed the property for $16,000,000 with Littlefield, Aaron Kirman, and Dalton Gomez of Littlefield, Aaron Kirman, and Dalton Gomez representing the seller. The home has been in great shape since undergoing a major restoration in 2012, which was overseen by Marmol Radziner, according to Rich Report. “It may sound corny, but the house really opened our minds to so many different cultural opportunities,” McIlwee says. “I would tell the new owner to let the house be a vessel of creativity and to enjoy being part of the process. During our time there, we felt like we worked in tandem with the structure and creative design.”

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