When it comes to jaw-dropping views, it doesn’t get much better than this: a striking mid-century house floating on the edge of the hillside, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the San Fernando Valley.
And not just any house, but one of 17 unique homes designed by legendary architect Richard Neutra propped up over the side of the Beverly Glen Canyon.
The unique homes — that jut out above the steep slope of the valley below — are located on Oakfield Drive in Sherman Oaks, and are most commonly known as Neutra’s Platform Houses.
The 17 ‘stilt homes’ were built on massive platforms that cantilever out over the edge of a steep slope, looking down onto the valley below.
With their unique design, this famous strip of homes has been featured in countless movies and television programs over the years.
Offering a rich history of mid-century modern architecture in the 1960s, the gravity-defying homes feature sweeping views of the San Fernando Valley.
And one of these iconic seventeen stilt homes was listed for sale in 2022 asking $2.05 million (it later sold in March 2023 for $1,910,000, but more on that in a minute).
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Continue reading about the meticulously restored property that sits on the hills of Sherman Oaks and appears to be floating off the edge of the cliff.
The history of Richard Neutra’s Platform Houses
Originally designed by Richard Neutra, one of the most prominent modernist architects, the Platform Homes of Sherman Oaks were completed between 1962 and 1966.
While they look like typical mid-century modern houses from the street side, the Platform Houses are all supported by tall, narrow metal posts and offer stunning views across Beverly Glen Canyon and beyond.
With flat roofs, stucco, and wood cladding, the stilt homes not only offer breathtaking views, but a slice of architecture history in Los Angeles.
The seventeen homes — also referred to as the Stone-Fisher Speculative Houses — were originally designed by legendary architect Richard Neutra for the Stone-Fisher development company.
But after disagreements between Neutra and the developer, the legendary Austrian-American architect withdrew from the project and the houses were completed by architect William S. Beckett.
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All seventeen homes share similar plans: a one-story height with rectangular form, horizontal emphasis, long balconies stretching the full width of the house, and large windows to display the views.
The Platform Home that was recently offered for sale
One of the seventeen original Platform Homes hit the market in 2022.
Listed at $2.05 million, the 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom home has the bones of the original Neutra design but features high-end modern finishes.
After being tastefully modernized by its previous owner, acclaimed architect Donald M. Goldstein, the Platform House at 3707 Oakfield Drive in Sherman Oaks offered buyers a unique taste of Los Angeles history.
Exuding world-renowned architecture lineage, the property features remarkable upgrades as dreamed up by Goldstein who has lived in the unique home for two decades.
Hidden behind a custom cut and fit privacy wall, this unassuming gem includes custom wrought-iron doors and sweeping views of the San Fernando Valley through the colossal floor-to-ceiling windows.
Held up by structurally reinforced pillars, the unique estate creates the illusion of a floating vessel in the sky, from both inside the home and from the perspective of the street below.
Spanning 1,800 square feet, the posh property is complete with a chef’s kitchen, dining room for 10+, open living room, office/ flex space, and an outdoor sitting area perfect for an afternoon glass of wine or morning coffee.
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Some of the home’s notable renovations include pyramid skylights, raised ceiling and roof lines, 300+ bottle wine cellar, Roman soaking tub, and solar panels.
Not to mention, the infamous black metal exterior is coated with a 24-gauge Kynar finish.
Listed with Michelle Schwartz of The Agency, the unique architectural home ended up selling for $1,910,000 in March 2023. The buyer’s identity was never disclosed, but we hope they’re an architecture lover with a deep appreciation for Richard Neutra’s work — and hopefully, no fear of heights.
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