Frank Gehry's Benson House in Calabasas Listed for $1.7 Million

The Benson House, an exceptional early work by Frank Gehry located in Calabasas, California, is available for $1.7 million. Constructed in 1981 during Gehry's pivotal period in Los Angeles, this Deconstructivist residence was commissioned by Robert Benson, a professor emeritus at Loyola Law School. Despite financial constraints, Benson allowed Gehry creative freedom, leading to the creation of two distinct structures: a taller brown building for bedrooms and a smaller green one for communal areas, both featuring asphalt shingles reminiscent of working-class Queens. Spanning 1,719 square feet on a 0.35-acre lot, the home boasts concrete floors, exposed rafters, and skylights. Patricia C. Phillips noted the staircases' "vertebrae-like" design in 1988. Previously sold for $790,000 in 2013, Benson initially invested $120,000 to construct it. Gehry later referred to it as "one of my all-time favorite projects." The property is listed by Beyond Shelter. In May 2024, Gehry's Sirmai-Peterson House in Thousand Oaks sold for $2.4 million prior to its market debut. The Benson House is recognized as one of seven Historic Landmarks in Calabasas.