Built in 1954, it is known as the Honnold and Rex Research House, and is a classic specimen of midcentury architecture. It was a part of Architectural Products magazine’s experimental program, which sought to use new materials and design methods in home building. The home received a major remodel from famed architectural designer Xorin Balbes just before Meryl Streep bought it. Currently the sleek, two-story home features marble floors, an open walnut staircase, and a customizable security system controlled by smart-phone.
Alex Rodriguez has been headlining real estate news for some time. He recently sold his Miami Beach condo for $2.575 million after listing it for $3.2 million in December. He also used to rent a posh Central Park West apartment in New York City for $30,000 a month, but owners allegedly prevented him from moving back in, citing negative press the baseball star has been receiving as of late.
If A-Rod is at all homesick for his sunny Miami condo, Meryl Streep’s former home should work well for him. The house is full of light, with floor-to ceiling glass walls in many of the rooms, which look out onto the natural beauty of surrounding greenery. Skylights were also integrated into the design, intended to facilitate the display of fine art. The spacious, modern floor plan includes four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and has a pool and spa just outside.
Meryl purportedly bought the house for her son, but moved in herself shortly after making the purchase. Although it’s unclear if Meryl and husband Don Gummer, a sculptor, bought the house with the intention of flipping, it’s undeniable that they did not live in the home for long, selling after only about a year of ownership. Selling to the New York Yankees star brought them a $300,000 profit over their original investment, although it fell far short of what they’d hoped.
Alex Rodriguez was suspended from playing for the New York Yankees this year, following a scandal involving alleged use of the performance enhancing drug Biogenesis. The former third baseman appears to be focusing his personal and professional energies on the opposite side of the country for now, purchasing Meryl’s home in the prestigious Hollywood Hills neighborhood. He has also been spotted training at the UCLA campus.
The Research House was reported to have made quite an impression on the benched baseball star. Besides the architectural amenities, the deal also included all the house’s furnishings. The pieces feature clean lines, and retro midcentury styling. The airy living room includes a sleek fireplace built into a stone wall, which reaches from the ground floor to the top of the structure through the cut-away floor. The geometrical brick-work on the interior walls complements the house’s similarly designed, modern exterior. Alex had been looking for an L.A. area home for quite a while before discovering this one. Sotheby’s International Realty helped him seal the deal; Meryl was represented by the prestigious Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.
To tour celebrity homes in Beverly Hills and the surrounding areas, book one of the Starline Tours of Hollywood or purchase a StarMap Movie Star Homes Map & City Guide for a self-guided tour of Los Angeles.
