Frank Gehry's Santa Monica Live/Work Loft Just Hit the Market

Lucía Torres · 2026-10-02

Some homes give you a place to create. This one makes creativity part of the architecture itself. At 1643 12th Street #2 in Santa Monica, a live/work residence designed by the legendary late Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry — in collaboration with Los Angeles artist Charles Arnoldi — has just come to market. And it's the kind of property that doesn't show up very often. ### A Building With Real Architectural Pedigree Residence 2 sits on a southwest-facing corner of an intimate six-unit building. It's represented by The Agency's Brandon Assanti, and the roughly 2,565 square feet of interior space is currently arranged as both a private home and an art gallery. That dual purpose isn't a marketing angle. It's baked into the design. Seventeen-foot ceilings, expansive walls, and industrial-scale windows give the interiors their gallery-like feel. Skylights pull daylight deep into every room. Concrete floors and a restrained material palette keep the focus where it belongs — on the art and the furnishings, not the finishes. ### How the Space Is Laid Out The entry level pairs a dramatic double-height great room with an office or bedroom, a full bathroom, and a mezzanine. Head upstairs and the living and dining areas flow into a custom kitchen with concrete countertops and stainless-steel appliances. The uppermost floor is devoted entirely to the primary suite. City and ocean views come standard, along with a walk-in closet and a marble-clad bathroom. ### The Hollywood Chapter Here's where the story gets interesting. The residence's former owner was Robin French — a prominent talent agent whose clients included Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, and Richard Burton. He later served as Paramount Pictures' production chief. That connection adds a layer of Hollywood history to a property already distinguished by its architectural origins. > "For a buyer drawn to art and modern living, this Santa Monica residence offers an unusually compelling canvas." ### Who This Home Is Really For If you're the kind of person who thinks about where the light lands at 4 p.m., or who needs a wall big enough for a piece you haven't even bought yet, this one will make sense to you. - Roughly 2,565 square feet across multiple levels - Six-unit building with a southwest-facing corner position - Gallery-scale walls and 17-foot ceilings - Primary suite with ocean and city views - Live/work flexibility built into the architecture Gehry-designed residences rarely trade, and ones with a Hollywood backstory trade even less. For the right buyer, this isn't just a home — it's a canvas with a story already written into it. To learn more about or tour 1643 12th Street #2, connect with Brandon Assanti.