Arden Villa aka The Dynasty Mansion - ArdenVilla.com
— UPDATED FOR CURRENT LIST PRICE —
Local real estate lovers and soap opera devotees get ready for it! Early in May, the CW ordered a Dynasty reboot for the 2017 pilot season. And within days, Arden Villa (aka The Dynasty Mansion to the residents of Pasadena) hit the real estate market like one of those searing slaps from Alexis Carrington (Joan Collins). The estate achieved soap opera notoriety for being the site of the “Lily Pond Catfight” between Alexis and Krystle Carrington (Linda Evans) that left the feuding ladies drenched and faithful audiences dumbfounded. These epic TV drama and real estate announcements were nearly simultaneous.
Listed at a cool $28 million by Nicholas Cacarnakis and Jack Chang of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Arden Villa is one of those grand estates that is as private as it is infamous. Tucked away from prying eyes behind grand gates and under giant arbors, it rests on two parcels totaling nearly three acres. The main residence alone boasts approximately 13,000 square feet of living space with the requisite formal entertainment spaces.
“This place has a powerful and permanent presence. One might say it offers a royal lifestyle with an Olympian calm,” Listing Agent Nicholas Cacarnakis said. “Arden Villa exudes Palladianism, entertainment and largesse. And that is evident from its inception and all throughout its history since.”
The history of the estate dates back to 1913 when it was built for railroad heir turned mining tycoon, William Kennon Jewett and his second wife by the architectural firm of Marston & Van Pelt. However, the feeling of deliberate magnificence and elegant permanence at Arden Villa traces back to the 16th century and Venetian architect Andrea Palladio. He admired the opulence, glamour and presence of classical Greek and Roman architecture, and reinterpreted it for his own time. And as it turns out the future. He believed that his designs could be applied and retain their relevance indefinitely.
Photo Credit: Darwin Nercesian/DNA Images for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
The deliberate homage to Palladianism on behalf of the architects is evident. As they set about designing and constructing Arden Villa for Mr. & Mrs. Jewet, there’s no doubt Marston & Van Pelt foresaw a lifestyle of intrigue, opulence and largesse playing out at 1145 Arden Road. Vey much like what audiences saw on Dynasty.
Proving Palladio’s prediction that his style would endure and adding to its unique history, Arden Villa has been home to many prominent and infamous characters, both fictional and real. The estate has been featured in countless television and film productions, from Marx Brothers films to Academy Award winning films.
In addition to the epic and infamous lily pond, the other jewel of the exterior is the 100-yard tree-lined driveway that convenes into a motor court at the entrance of the main residence. Down the very same driveway, Dynasty’s Blake Carrington (John Forsythe) is about to be delivered to the main residence when his journey is interrupted by the sight of his ex-wife (Alexis) and new wife (Krystle) in the lily pond engaged in what would quickly become a celebrated battle of magnificent proportions (relive it by playing the video below).
“The CW is looking to return to the primetime soap arena in a big way with Dynasty,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. The original Dynasty series aired on ABC from 1981-1989 and became a smashing success when Joan Collins joined the cast in a Season 2 equally vicious and vivacious Alexis. The reboot has been a favorite with network executives and was picked up to pilot in the very first group, and early in May, it was the first new series picked up by the CW for the 2017-18 season.
The new Dynasty spins the focus to the battles between Fallon Carrington (Elizabeth Gillies), daughter of billionaire Blake Carrington (Grant Show), and Cristal (Nathalie Kelley), her soon-to-be stepmother. The requisite catfights, intrigue, opulence and romance appear to remain intact. But, with nearly 30 years between the two versions of Dynasty, change and diversity were to be expected (and hopefully embraced). The new Cristal is a Latina woman and Fallon’s gay brother Steven (James Mackay) is back with what seems to be a more prominent and complex role (watch the trailer below).
A world without Andrea Palladio’s legacy would be a “very depressing one”, Charles Hind, chief curator of collections at the Royal Institute of British Architects said to
Sadly, it appears that Alexis will not be making any appearances in the new version, but there’s always Season 2 again… It would be worth the wait for an Alexis-sized slap. And, perhaps then there would be a return to Arden Villa for a rebooted “Lilly Pond Catfight.”
Arden Villa – The Dynasty Mansion
1145 Arden Road, Pasadena, CA
Listed For Sale at $19,500,000 (UPDATED)
Nicholas Cacarnakis & Jack Chang
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
626-644-4262 & 626-818-1880
nickc@bhhscal.com & jackchang@bhhscal.com
For More Information Visit ArdenVilla.com
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