Malibu's iconic 'Wave House' hits the market for $49 million

Malibu’s iconic ‘Wave House’ designed by architect who famously sketched plans for the home while on his surf board in the 1950s hits the market for $49.5 MILLION

• The iconic home was designed by late architect Harry Gesner, who died in 2022, after he and original homeowner Gerry Cooper ‘discovered a hidden cove’ 
• Gesner would then take his balsa board out into the sea, only equipped with a grease pencil and sketched the Wave House on the face of his board in the 1950s
• The Wave House put Gesner on the map and is said to have inspired the Sydney Opera House 

An iconic Malibu house designed by an architect to look like a wave has hit the market for nearly $50million. 

The iconic home was designed by late architect Harry Gesner, who died in 2022, after he and original homeowner Gerry Cooper ‘discovered a hidden cove with good waves for surfing several miles up the coast, away from the Malibu Colony,’ Gesner recalled in the book Houses of the Sundown Sea, written by Lisa Germany. 

‘True to my way of designing, I camped out on the spot where I would plan the house. I spent two days surfing the break, all the time designing all aspects of the house in my head. The cliffs and sand. The views and prevailing wind. The quarter mile of beach and surf. I checked out every point of view.’ 

Gesner would then take his 12-foot balsa board out into the sea, only equipped with a grease pencil and sketched the Wave House on the face of his board in the 1950s. 

‘It was exactly as it is now, in every way, thrusting out into the surf at high tide and nestled back in the sand at low tide,’ the late architect, who lived next door in a home called Sandcastle, said. 

The home has now hit the market for $49.5million and was previously owned by British musician Rod Stewart and most recently Mo Ostin, a music executive who worked for Warner Bros, Gesner’s son and one of the listing agents Zen Gesner told the Wall Street Journal. 

The iconic home was designed by late architect Harry Gesner, who died in 2022, after he and original homeowner Gerry Cooper ‘discovered a hidden cove with good waves for surfing several miles up the coast, away from the Malibu Colony’ 

Gesner would then take his 12-foot balsa board out into the sea, only equipped with a grease pencil and sketched the Wave House on the face of his board in the 1950s.

Inside the home, the living room features a deep conversation pit with a light gray, plush crescent-shaped couch that faces the bright blue sea and a large white fireplace. It is surrounded by windows, light wood flooring, and white shiplap vaulted ceiling, giving it a glamourous boat-like feel

The Midcentury Modern home, listed by Coldwell Banker Realty, is 6,200 square feet and sits on an acre of land and has six bedrooms. The home is largely still in its original state, except for a few minor updates inside the home and the exterior wood replaced with white finishes to blend in the environment surrounding it. 

Inside the home, the living room features a deep conversation pit with a light gray, plush crescent-shaped couch that faces the bright blue sea and a large white fireplace. 

It is surrounded by windows, light wood flooring, and a white shiplap vaulted ceiling, giving it a glamourous boat-like feel. 

Behind the living room is a curvaceous kitchen with a circular island and light wood counters. Off the kitchen, sits a large circular table that seats eight and faces the back deck that also has plenty of seating and a curved railing for the perfect Titanic recreation shot. 

Off the kitchen, sits a large circular table that seats eight and faces the back deck that also has plenty of seating and a curved railing for the perfect Titanic recreation shot

The railings weren’t added until the 1980s when Stewart owned the home. ‘He was very concerned that people at his parties would stumble and fall off the edge,’ Zen, Gesner’s son, said 

The Wave House put Gesner on the map and is said to have inspired the Sydney Opera House

The railings weren’t added until the 1980s when Stewart owned the home. 

‘He was very concerned that people at his parties would stumble and fall off the edge,’ Zen told WSJ. 

The home also has another indoor dining spot off the small courtyard on the side. 

The main bedroom is a sea of soft whites with a bay window, a sliding door that leads to a deck area, and plenty of space for a large bed and lounge chairs. 

The outside of the home is reflective like sea glass, with copper shingles that were later painted green patina sparkling in the brilliant sunlight. 

The Midcentury Modern home is 6,200 square feet and sits on an acre of land and has six bedrooms

The home has a beautiful view of the ocean off the coast of Malibu 

The Wave House put Gesner on the map and is said to have inspired the Sydney Opera House. The opera house’s architect Jørn Utzon even called Gesner to compliment him on the home’s stunning design, Gesner’s son revealed. 

‘My dad was totally blown away that this architect was going out of his way to reach out to him and compliment him on his design, because most architects are egomaniacs,’ Zen told WSJ. ‘They don’t tend to tip their hat to any other architect.’ 

Gesner’s own home, the Sandcastle, hit the market less than a month ago for $27.5million. 

Zen is certain both homes will maintain their architectural integrity by new homeowners.       

The Wave House is listed by Dena Luciano of Douglas Elliman, Chris Cortazzo along with Zen Gesner of Compass and Drew Fenton of Carolwood Estates. 

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