Most people don’t buy a limited-edition Damien Hirst silkscreen dusted with diamonds and stick it on the wall above the toilet in the bathroom of their man cave. Then again, most people don’t have a man cave on the top floor of the Four Seasons’ Aronson building, overlooking SFMOMA.
Rather than a lair with a mini-fridge, bean bag chair, and pinball machine, the nearly 2,800-square-foot, two-bedroom, three-bath condo functions as a private museum. It was built out specifically to showcase approximately $30 to $40 million worth of artworks from the owner’s collection.
There is another Hirst, an original from his “spot painting” series, on the brick wall of the living room, plus works by Chagall, Picasso, Renoir, and Warhol. The art is for sale, but there’s a catch: Only the buyer of the unit, which is on the market for $6 million, can make a bid.
A Damien Hirst “spot painting” from 2007 hangs on the original exposed brick in the great room. | Source: Brian Kitts
Listing agent Butch Haze of Compass said he decided to connect the art collection to the listing to give his seller — an international hotelier — a competitive advantage. Around half of the 146 units in the complex are still left to sell by the developer, an affiliate of Westbrook Partners. Luxury condos are relatively commonplace in San Francisco, but a curated collection that took decades to compile is much more rarefied.
“I shared with the seller that the only way we could compete with the developer is to potentially offer somebody a priceless opportunity,” Haze said.
It’s part of a trend in luxury real estate of going beyond selling just the property to selling a sophisticated lifestyle.
“The value of being able to walk in and instantly have taste is unique and not readily available in San Francisco,” Haze said.
In addition to the art, the unit’s bespoke furnishings are also available at an extra cost. Anything that doesn’t sell will likely be moved to one of the owner’s other homes.
There are other selling points that set the unit apart, including the original exposed brick wall and arched windows unique to the tenth story of the 1903-built building. The owner paid nearly $5.8 million for the condo in 2021 and invested millions more into bespoke upgrades — like a second bedroom with a Murphy bed tucked away behind Japanese-inspired paper screens.
The 10th-floor units in the Aronson building are the only ones with arched windows. | Source: Brian Kitts
The view from the primary bedroom takes in Yerba Buena Gardens and SFMOMA. | Source: Brian Kitts
According to Haze, the owner initially thought of the unit as a long-term investment, but his family ended up splitting time between New York and Beverly Hills instead. The owner stayed in his San Francisco home only a few times each year.
So far, the “elevated people” viewing the unit have been attracted by a combination of the art and the Four Seasons brand and amenities, Haze said. Those amenities — including lobby attendants, concierge services, and a full-floor private club with an expansive entertainment terrace — contribute to the nearly $5,000 monthly HOA fee.
The custom furnishings are also available for purchase. | Source: Brian Kitts
But Haze doesn’t imagine that fee will be a concern for the eventual buyer.
“It’s like driving a Ferrari and complaining about the cost of the windshield wipers,” Haze said.
It’s an apt metaphor, but it also could be quite literal. The buyer also has the option to purchase the homeowner’s green vintage model, conveniently parked in the garage below.