Best Reason to Leave DC for LA If You Have Money: Dennis Hopper's Compound

• December 22nd 2010

by UrbanTurf Staff

UrbanTurf is taking a week-long look back at the best that DC’s residential real estate market had to offer in 2010. From the best deals to the best renovations to, of course, the best listings, we believe we have sussed out the cream of the crop.

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At the end of May, the prolific actor/director/painter Dennis Hopper passed away after a battle with prostate cancer. Along with leaving behind a storied cinematic legacy, Hopper’s much-talked about Venice Beach home, known as Dennis Hopper’s Compound, also hit the market shortly after the actor’s death.

The compound consists of 15,550 square feet of living space, made up of a main house built of corrugated steel, a small bungalow and three townhomes that have enormous loft spaces meant to house some of Hopper’s larger pieces of art. To show off his other passion — motorcycles — Hopper’s garage opens into a large art space. Out back, there is a small yard and lap pool.

The properties are listed for $5.8 million, but if you are not interested in the whole package, the main house, bungalow and pool can be had for $3.2 million. Admittedly, the home, designed by Frank Gehry, may not be for everyone, but we like its strange exterior, wide open interior and, of course, the work of its former owner.

More photos below. For listing information, click here.

Previous Best Of 2010 entries:

• Best Additions of 2010: Capital Bikeshare, The Return of Housing Complex and the $5K Tax Credit
• Best Real Estate Question of the Year: Is The Rent Too Damn High?
• Best Renovation By A Local Firm: Studio 27 Capitol Hill Row House
• Best Real Estate Idea That Could Fail Miserably: The Dupont Underground
• The Best Listing of the Year (For Mere Mortals)
• Best Real Estate Resurrection of 2010: 425 Mass
• The Best Listing of the Year (For Well-Paid Lobbyists)
• Best Use of a Magic 8-Ball: The Neighborhoods of 2015
• Best Real Estate Mistake of the Year: The White House is For Sale
• Best Re-Use of a Restaurant as a Home: Tilden Gardens
• Deal of the Year: The Architect’s Three-Bedroom

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/best_reason_to_leave_dc_for_la_if_you_have_money_dennis_hoppers_compound/2788.