First Gift of Architecture to LACMA Includes Endowment for Maintenance and Preservation of Historic John Lautner House, Gardens, and Contents, as well as Programming

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) announced that fashion and basketball aficionado James Goldstein has promised his John Lautner-designed home, its contents, and the surrounding estate to LACMA.

The promised gift, which is in a new area of collecting for the museum, includes a James Turrell Skyspace in its extensive landscaped tropical gardens, an infinity tennis court, and an entertainment complex. Mr. Goldstein’s extensive fashion collection, works by artists including Ed Ruscha, DeWain Valentine, Bernar Venet, and Kenny Scharf, architectural models of the property, and an iconic Rolls Royce Silver Cloud from 1961 are included in the gift.

The residence has been the setting for numerous fashion shoots and music videos, and has been featured in several movies, most notably as Jackie Treehorn’s house in the Coen brothers’ seminal film, The Big Lebowski (1998).

The Los Angeles t=Tiems reports that the museum has estimated the total value of the gift at $40 million, though Goldstein called that figure "conservative."

"For me it ranks as one of the most important houses in all of L.A.," said Michael Govan, the museum's director and chief executive. "And as one of the most L.A. houses, because of its connection to the view, that long view toward the ocean."

Read more in the Los Angeles Times.