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historic Santa Monica estate, once a garage for Charlie Chaplin's fire trucks and later an artist hub for abstract expressionist painter Sam Francis, is now on the market for $12.5 million. The 8,000-square-foot residence, nestled behind repurposed 500-year-old monastery gates, has been transformed into a tropical-meets-modernist sanctuary.

    Originally built as Chaplin's garage in the early 20th century, the property was later converted by Francis into a vibrant studio compound where he lived and entertained art world luminaries like Ed Ruscha and Larry Bell. However, a devastating fire in 2007 destroyed much of the original structure, prompting architect Christopher Sorensen to design a new home that blends Balinese aesthetics with organic materials like teak and limestone.

    Completed in 2011, the estate features five bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and a flexible floor plan with the option to add more bedrooms. The primary suite boasts an expansive walk-in closet and kitchenette, while bathrooms throughout the home feature hand-carved Indonesian stone tubs and sinks. Outdoors, a lounge and dining pavilion flanks the swimming pool, accessible through bulletproof glass doors off the kitchen.

    The property also includes a three-car garage, a nod to its earliest fire-truck roots, as well as an environmentally conscious solar setup with battery packs capable of delivering several weeks of off-grid power. The listing marks the estate's first public appearance in a decade and is held by Frank Langen and Lili Geller of Compass.

    Francis' artistic journey began during his recovery from a severe WWII injury, where he found solace and purpose in painting while confined in a full-body cast. His works were later displayed at prestigious institutions like MoMA, the Pompidou Centre, and Tokyo's Idemitsu Museum, gaining him international recognition as a prominent California painter.