The Cole House was designed in 1957 by architect

Harry Gesner Harry Harmer Gesner (April 28, 1925 – June 10, 2022) was an American architect from California. Gesner principally designed houses in the Los Angeles area, especially along the coast in Malibu, California, Malibu. Following service in the US ...

for swimwear executive Fred Cole, in Los Angeles, California. In 1957 Gesner was introduced to recently-divorced swimwear manufacturer Fred Cole, who had bought a difficult site overlooking Hollywood and the Los Angeles basin, in the hills above the

Sunset Strip The Sunset Strip is the stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through the city of West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with the city of Los Angeles near Marmont Lane to its western border with Beverly H ...

. Cole wanted an exotic house that could serve as a set for photo shoots featuring his swimwear products. Built in six months to meet a deadline for the showing of the new

Cole of California Cole of California is a swimwear brand, known for innovations in fashionable swimwear Early history and swimwear Established in 1917 by F.L and Joseph Drane in Vernon, California, West Coast Knitting Mills made men's long knitted underwear and soc ...

collection, the house was described by contemporary writers as an "inverted V," resembling what later became known as the A-frame. Cole, who spent half of the year in Tahiti, wanted a house that combined the character of an island with a mountain lodge. This was in contrast to his previous houses, which had reflected the tastes of his former wife more than his. Gesner followed his by-now established practice of using

glue-laminated beam Glued laminated timber, commonly referred to as glulam, is a type of structural engineered wood product constituted by layers of dimensional lumber bonded together with durable, moisture-resistant structural adhesives so that all of the grain r ...

s on concrete piers with dramatic roof elements to enclose the space and direct views. In response to Cole's desire that the house be suitable for photo shoots with swimsuit models to support Cole's business, the house was designed with a generous plaza, with palm trees, a swimming pool, and a fire pit, all overlooking Sunset Boulevard. According to Gesner, "My assignment was to create an environment for a bachelor who had beautiful women coming in and out of his life all the time." Gesner was at the time working with

Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Considered one of the most influential actors of the 20th century, he received numerous accolades throughout his career, which spanned six decades, including two Academ ...

to redesign Brando's house on Mulholland Drive to more closely resemble Brando's island retreat on Tetiaroa. The house was built by a team of Norwegian shipbuilders who would go on to build Gesner's Hollywood Hills Boathouses on similarly difficult sites. The house, Cole, and Gesner received extensive publicity due to Cole's promotional activities, and the house was featured in '' True'' magazine.

References

{{authority control Harry Gesner buildings Houses in Los Angeles Houses completed in 1957