The “Safest House in the World” — A Los Angeles Modern Fortress

Obviously, this isn’t a Marina del Rey property — but it’s too interesting not to have a place on the site.

Located high in the Los Angeles hills on a granite-based ridge, the property became known as the “Safe House” for a very good reason. It’s an almost 8,000-square-foot modern residence designed to combine serious security with the amenities and views you’d expect from a luxury Los Angeles home.

I actually spent quite a bit of time in this house. An agent I used to work for, Bob Hurwitz, had the listing, and I showed the property a good amount. I loved driving up into the hills to show what was essentially a modern-day fortress. And the views were incredible.

Then Yahoo featured the house in an article asking whether it was “the safest house in the world.” The story sent so much traffic our way that it actually crashed our servers.

I had the best time working for Hurwitz James Company, and this was definitely one of the more memorable properties from those years.

Built Like a Modern Fortress

Built in 2002, the five-story residence was designed by a specialist in residential and yacht security. Its position on a promontory provides sweeping 360-degree views while also playing directly into the home’s security-focused design.

The residence reportedly includes approximately 8,000 square feet, five bedrooms, eight bathrooms and 32 rooms, along with a garage designed to accommodate six armored vehicles.

The primary suite pairs all of that security with panoramic views, a fireplace, a large bathroom and a custom dressing room.

Safe — But Still Luxurious

When it isn’t busy functioning as a fortress, it’s still a luxury home. Features include an elevator connecting the garage and living levels, a gourmet kitchen with granite countertops and commercial-grade appliances, two offices, a wine cellar and a home theater.

That’s part of what made the property so fascinating to show. Much of the security was incorporated into the architecture rather than making the house feel like a bunker.

Hidden Panic Rooms and “Safe Cores”

The home’s defining feature was its security system. In addition to extensive exterior surveillance and security measures, the residence reportedly included two hidden panic rooms and two architecturally concealed “safe cores.”

These safe cores allowed entire sections of the residence to be isolated from the rest of the house, creating protected areas where occupants could retreat during an intrusion, natural disaster or other serious emergency.

And perhaps the most intriguing part: the full extent of the home’s security features wasn’t publicly disclosed. Those details were reserved for the eventual owner.

That secrecy was part of the fun of showing it. You knew there were security features throughout the property — you just didn’t necessarily know what all of them were.

A Very Memorable Los Angeles Listing

I’ve been inside and shown a lot of Los Angeles homes over the years, but this one was different. Between the architecture, hilltop setting, incredible views and almost movie-like level of security, the Safe House was hard to forget.

And having a Yahoo story about one of our listings generate enough attention to crash the servers wasn’t exactly forgettable either.

Archive note: This post originally referenced a Yahoo Finance feature about the property. That article is no longer available at its original URL.