Hollywood homes are known for their swimming pools, private cinemas and sprawling entertaining spaces, but Marvel showrunner Andrew Guest is selling something a little different – a secluded Los Angeles compound with its own contemporary art gallery.
The writer and producer behind Disney+ series Wonder Man has listed his unconventional Topanga Canyon retreat for US$2.4 million (approximately A$3.43 million), offering buyers a property that combines nearly a century of California architecture with an unusual artistic history.
Located in in Topanga’s sought-after Post Office Tract, the four-bedroom, four-bathroom compound sits on approximately 0.31 hectares beneath a canopy of more than 30 mature oak trees, with a seasonal creek, footbridges and winding stone pathways connecting its collection of buildings.
Originally built in 1935, the property includes a rustic main residence, studio cottage, barn and a 1970s geodesic dome that has served as both an artist’s retreat and a contemporary art gallery.
Andrew purchased the property in 2022 for US$2.75 million (approximately A$3.93 million at current indicative exchange rates), meaning the latest asking price is US$350,000 (approximately A$500,000) below what he paid.
From Marvel to the mountains
Andrew has spent more than two decades working in television, with writing and producing credits including 30 Rock, Community, Suburgatory and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
He also worked as a consulting producer on Marvel’s Hawkeye before becoming co-creator, showrunner and executive producer of Wonder Man, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley.
While his career has largely unfolded on Hollywood sets, his Topanga property has developed a creative identity of its own.
In February 2024, the compound became part of Los Angeles’ contemporary art scene when its geodesic dome hosted an exhibition during the city’s annual Frieze Week celebrations.
An art gallery in the backyard
The dome’s transformation into an exhibition space was part of the Encina Artist Residency, an independent program established by Los Angeles artist and curator Dani Tull.
The residency offered visiting artists an opportunity to escape the city and spend time working in the property’s wooded surroundings, without paying for accommodation.
By April 2024, six artists had participated in the program, with visiting creatives contributing artworks to the owners’ collection.
For prospective buyers, the dome represents an unusual point of difference in a market where celebrity properties are more commonly marketed around luxury finishes, views and resort-style amenities.
It also reflects Topanga’s longstanding reputation as a haven for artists, musicians and writers seeking an alternative to life in central Los Angeles.
A slice of Topanga history
The property has evolved considerably since its original construction in 1935, with its various buildings reflecting different periods of the canyon’s architectural history.
The main residence retains its rustic character, while the geodesic dome captures the experimental design movement associated with California’s countercultural era of the 1970s.
The surrounding grounds are equally distinctive, with more than 30 mature oak trees providing privacy and shade across the compound.
A seasonal creek winds through the landscape, crossed by footbridges, while stone pathways connect the residences, creative spaces and outdoor entertaining areas.
Expansive decks, fruit trees, gardens and rose arbours add to the property’s retreat-like atmosphere, with evening lighting illuminating the trees and pathways.
The compound is also close to the walking trails and open spaces of Topanga State Park.
The property is being marketed by Nina Kurtz of Compass.
View the listing here.