Encino house suspended on wood poles aims for $5 million

A Japanese-style Craftsman suspended above the ground and supported by a succession of Douglas Fir poles is for sale at $4.9 million.

Although the sign above the gated entry reads “Oak Shadows,” the secluded 4,930-square-foot residence built by its late owner-architect Murray Siegel in 1984 is known as the “Pole House.” Listing agent Sherry Robbin of Sotheby’s International Realty said the architect used the 47 poles he handpicked in Washington state throughout his “dream house.”

Siegel designed the open-plan four-bedroom, five-bathroom redwood-clad home with multiple decks for himself and his wife, who died in 2001 at 74. Siegel died in January at 96.

The house sits on a three-quarter-acre lot in wooded Rancho Estates, a coveted neighborhood south of Ventura Boulevard, surrounded by a lush landscape of towering oaks, a seasonal creek, and two koi ponds separated by a Japanese-style footbridge.

These are some of the sights framed by the floor-to-ceiling glass walls in the combination living and dining room.

A hexagonal entry leads to that airy, light-filled space with its oversized stone fireplace and a wet bar. Behind the bar is the kitchen with an octagonal center island and abundant counter and storage space.

Other highlights include a family room with a loft library and a ladder, a home office, and a first-floor primary suite. It has two walk-in closets and a bathroom with a spa tub and a custom shower with a curved wall.

An arbor, a separate guest house and a two-car garage attached to the main residence complete the listing. Robbin said she will open the house for showings from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 8.

Siegel’s long career included leading the Calabasas-based architectural firm Siegel and Associates Inc. He was an emeritus member of the local AIA chapter, which named its annual scholarship fundraising golf tournament after him in 2019.

The Murray Siegel Classic was last held in December 2021.