The Self-Taught Architect Who Became the “Modern Maverick of Malibu”

The Sandcastle was first imagined when Harry Gesner proposed to his wife, Broadway actress Nan Martin. He promised he would build a house on the sand in Malibu and created a round design inspired by a sandcastle and centered around a brick fireplace. He built the home himself using salvaged materials, including redwood and maple timber, telephone poles, and brick—an approach that draws on his sustainable beliefs.