'Room to dream': David Lynch's Hollywood home and workspace is up for sale

For David Lynch, home was a place where dark dreams and creative visions came to life. It was also a spectacular compound located in the Hollywood Hills, which is now up for sale for $15 million (€12.7 million). 

The beloved director of Mulholland Drive, who passed away in January, moved to the property in 1987. Known as the Beverly Johnson House, it was designed by Lloyd Wright, son of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, in 1963.

“Recognized by Historic Places LA as an "excellent example of Mid-Century Modern/Organic residential architecture," the house embodies the drama of hillside modernism with bold geometry, walls of glass, and a seamless flow between indoors and out,” the listing by Zillow states. 

Over time, Lynch expanded this into a compound by purchasing two additional properties on Senalda Road, one of which became the hub for his production company, the other a piece of cinematic history as the residence featured in his 1997 film Lost Highway. 

He also collaborated on creating a two-story guest house and one-bedroom living space, and commissioned Eric Lloyd Wright, the grandson of Frank, to design a pool and pool house in 1991. Together, these form a fascinating collection of ancillary structures across 2.3 acres, all of which once harboured the works and life of a visionary artist. 

From drawers filled with prosthetic teeth, to walls decorated with surrealist paintings by Lynch himself, the listing’s photos are both fascinating and haunting; remnants from a truly unique mind. 

Despite the director evacuating the property shortly before his death due to the LA wildfires, it appears to remain in undamaged condition. 

Other properties connected to the director have previously made headlines. In 2022, David Lynch's former home in Philadelphia, where he first began making movies, went up for sale for $325,000 (€275,000). Meanwhile, the house used as Laura Palmer's in the seminal TV series Twin Peaks was sold for $500,000 (€423,000) in 2014. 

In a career that spanned almost 60 years, David Lynch crafted singular visions of the world that bewildered and enthralled audiences, often unfurling the dark underbelly of placid American suburbia. Alongside his cinematic works, he also painted, made furniture, and collaborated on music projects. He was first and foremost an artist, always looking for new and innovative ways to bring his ideas to life.

The sale of his house comes at a time when legacy tributes are still being conducted across the world. A dedicated David Lynch festival is due to take place in London, UK at the end of this month, while the British Film Insitute (BFI) is also preparing a Lynch season of screenings for early next year. 

While most fans are unlikely to have the spare millions to buy his home, even looking through its images is a reminder to make “room to dream”.