The Schnabel House in Brentwood is one of Frank Gehry’s last single family residences and it was first created for former ambassador to Finland and the European Union, Rockwell Schnabel (hence the mansion’s name). His wife, Marna Schnabel, briefly worked as an architect under Gehry. As a child she always loved to imagine herself living in the Griffith Park Observatory, which explains the copper dome over the office building.
In 2006 Jon Platt bought the house and started remodeling it. The award winning producer of “The Book of Mormon” and “Angels in America” wanted to update this “gorgeous piece of art that happens to be a home” with modern features that would also please Gehry. Now the mansion is for sale for $13 million.
It is a 5,700 square foot residence comprising four separate buildings: the main house, the guesthouse, the office and the garage/gym. The predominant materials in each of them are wood, glass, stucco, copper and lead. The main building has a large, open living room, a family room, a master bedroom, two other bedrooms and a kitchen. For a little entertainment and unwinding, the house also features a media room and a sauna. You can take a peek at the Schnabel House below.
