Set to Entertain

Lush Nature Envelops THIS MANSION FROM THE ROARING ’20S

From its inception, this glittering Bel-Air property was meant to entertain on a grand scale

By Phil Butler

The iconic Bel-Air property at 620 Siena Way was designed by the original owner, Los Angeles contractor Arthur S. Bent, and famous American architect Gordon Kaufmann. Built in 1926, the English Tudor estate, with over an acre of lush nature surrounding it, was one of the first properties in Bel Air.

This trophy from the glittery past of Los Angeles is listed for $43 million. The home is unique in every respect, and like all of Kaufmann’s designs, it was meant as a place to entertain on a grand scale, both inside and outside. There are eight bedrooms, eight full baths, and four half baths in the 8,799-square-foot home. The formal living room is a good example of Kaufmann’s style, with its high beamed ceiling and grand stone fireplace. The mansion has a formal dining room, a gourmet kitchen, a library, and a three-car garage.

The landscaping at Siena Way was done by A. E. Hanson, the same designer responsible for the gardens of the University of Southern California, and the exclusive Rolling Hills and Hidden Hills gated communities. The grounds of the Siena Way property are one of its most compelling features. Hanson planted spectacular trees and created hidden meadows and cozy pocket gardens all around the main house. In the center of it all, an elegant in-ground pool surrounded by nature creates the effect of a world apart.

ABOUT THE ORIGINAL OWNER

Arthur S. Brent, who was a key Los Angeles contractor and developer in the early days of the city’s rapid expansion, was also an important figure in the city’s planning. The former head of the Chamber of Commerce, and the first president of the California chapter of the Association of American Contractors, he was considered a visionary. One of his most famous projects was his firm’s efforts in building the innovative Lake Hodges Dam. He was connected in one way or another, with most of the hydro projects in southern California.

Phil Butler is a publisher, editor, author, and analyst who is a widely cited expert on subjects ranging from digital and social media to travel technology.

620 SIENA WAY BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA

$43,000,000 • 8 BEDROOMS • 8,799 SQUARE FEET • 1.01 ACRES

KEY FEATURES: • SPECIAL NOSTALGIA • ULTRA-EXCLUSIVE LOCATION • PRIVATE GARDENS AND EXTERIORS • FAMOUS DESIGN

AGENT: JADE MILLS ESTATES STEPHANIE ZEBIK, MANAGING DIRECTOR 310-285-7508

The dining room at Siena Way is yet another classic from the time, a warm and inviting space with just the right luxurious accents. This room exudes a quiet reminder of the Tudor Revivalist movement popular in this era. The gourmet kitchen features colorful ceramic tiles from floor to ceiling, which was the fashion during the 1920s.

How could Arthur S. Bent have foreseen that Bel-Air would be a haven in one of the busiest places in the country? This trophy property from another era is a world apart, unique even in a neighborhood of the extraordinary.