Perched 600 feet above the Pacific Ocean, one of Southern California’s most distinctive residences is a standout of 1930s Modernism with ties to an acclaimed American travel writer who disappeared at sea.
The Hangover House, a modern three-bedroom home in South Laguna Beach, was designed by architect William Levy Alexander and completed in 1937. Composed of concrete and steel, the 2,500-square-feet dwelling was built on nearly half an acre for Richard Halliburton, whose documented travels included scaling Mount Olympus in Greece and flying to Mali’s Timbuktu.
Following multiple delays in the construction of his Chinese junk, a wooden boat he christened Sea Dragon, Halliburton set off from Hong Kong on a three-month voyage to San Francisco in March 1939. Just over two weeks later, a storm with gale-force winds struck, and Halliburton, his partner Paul Mooney, and roughly 12 crewmen disappeared without a trace.
Clean lines and a floating concrete staircase accent the front entrance.
Ollie Paterson
The home’s name reflects its dramatic position high above the Pacific Ocean and Aliso Canyon, with panoramic views up and down the coast. Appearing almost untouched by time, original details include a floating concrete staircase leading to the front door, a glass wall framing the ocean in the living room, and polished stone flooring throughout. The entire structure has been restored with new electrical and plumbing lines, thought the kitchen, bathrooms, and lower-level suite could benefit from additional updates.
The main living area opens to a balcony shaded by a towering tree.
Ollie Paterson
The home’s upper and lower levels open to generous outdoor spaces with views of the ocean and rugged landscape, with the main-level balcony incorporating of a towering tree into the exterior design and a cast-iron staircase winding up to the rooftop deck.
The property overlooking The Ranch at Laguna Beach‘s golf course comes with a neighboring lot of about 10,000 square feet, and permits for a glass guest house and infinity edge pool designed by architect Mark Whipple are also included with the sale. The Hangover House is now available for $7.5 million through Jeff Walker of Agents of Architecture.
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Click here for more photos of the Laguna Beach residence.
Ollie Paterson
Authors
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Demetrius Simms
Demetrius Simms is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. Following a brief stint in public relations, their work has now appeared in lifestyle and culture publications such as Men’s Health, Complex…