The Ark in Laguna Beach

Famous for whimsical details and bold “architecture-as-art” style, The Ark is designed to resemble its famous namesake and is one of Coastal California’s most iconic historic homes. Perched on the bluff above the idyllic sandy shore of Moss Cove with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, The Ark boldly faces the deep blue sea as if ready to cast off its mooring and sail to adventures over the horizon. This offering presents buyers with significant tax savings through the Mills Act property tax reduction program and the singular opportunity to become a part of the legend by owning a historical work of art with a rich history at the core of the Laguna Beach experience. The story of The Ark begins in 1923 when French architect Jean L. Egasse was commissioned to apply his famously individualistic vision to build a home befitting of this magnificent blufftop location. The design features ship portholes, carefully knotted ropework handrails, rough-hewn timber beams, a striking stacked stone fireplace tucked beneath the stylized ribs of an inverted hull, and colorful stained-glass windows crafted by one of Disney’s first female graphic designers. The layout includes an oceanfront sleeping porch, an artist’s loft, and the Crow’s Nest – a fully separate guest room with private bathroom located under a canopy of towering heritage Eucalyptus trees. Artists and writers have long turned to The Ark in search of inspiration, and there are numerous examples of locally created art featuring the home, vistas, and the gorgeous cove and beach below. And who wouldn’t find tranquility, or maybe the answers to life’s great mysteries, while gazing out the picture windows at a panorama of waves swirling around rock formations against a backdrop of sunset’s fiery glow? A visit to this magical property is an adventurous exploration, where unexpected details and ancient nautical treasures lie around every corner, and a collection of unique outdoor art installations and carefully curated specimen plants and trees frame the incomparably mesmerizing expanse of the Pacific Ocean. In recent years, the property has undergone renovations including a comprehensive overhaul to refresh the interior wood and to update the kitchen and bathrooms, installation of a new roof that mimics the historic original, and foundation bracing. *Mills Act property tax savings may be as much as $100,000 per year.