Wolff House residential building designed by John Lautner in Hollywood Hills, was sold to Louis Vuitton’s Nicolas Ghesquière in a private deal, highlighting the property’s architectural significance and its integration of natural materials since 1961.
Nicolas Ghesquière, creative director of Louis Vuitton, has acquired the Wolff House in a private transaction for $11 million. The Midcentury residence, designed by architect John Lautner, was completed in 1961 and is positioned on a steep site above the Sunset Strip in the Hollywood Hills. The property was sold by Amanda Hearst, great-granddaughter of publishing figure William Randolph Hearst, and her husband, film director Joachim Rønning. The couple purchased the house in 2021 for $5.9 million, following its listing at $6.5 million.
The Wolff House is a recognized example of Lautner’s approach to modern architecture and materiality. The 1,700 square foot residence is arranged around a mature Eucalyptus tree that emerges through its central volume, embodying Lautner’s focus on architectural integration with nature. In 2006, the residence was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.
Lautner used stone, copper, and glass to frame spatial sequences that connect indoor living to the surrounding landscape. The living areas feature 16-foot floor-to-ceiling windows that open to expansive views of the city and adjacent foliage. A prominent interior feature is a curved stone wall enclosing a spiral staircase built from wood, reinforcing the geometric and sculptural clarity of the design.
The main structure includes four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms. A guesthouse, added in 1970 by the original owner, expands the program with three additional bedrooms and two bathrooms. The primary suite opens to a private terrace, and the lower level connects to a cantilevered swimming pool extending over the hillside.
John Lautner, a former apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright, developed a distinct architectural language that blurred the boundaries between form and environment. His body of work includes the Bob Hope House in Palm Springs and Silvertop in Silver Lake. Lautner’s own home was sold two years ago for $1.67 million.
Nicolas Ghesquière joined Louis Vuitton in 2013 after a celebrated period at Balenciaga. He was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2006. Amanda Hearst previously worked as an editor at Marie Claire. Joachim Rønning is a film director known for large-scale productions including Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. The couple were married in 2022 at Hearst Castle in San Simeon.
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