L.A. Art Collectors’ Stunning Midcentury Modern Aspen Home That Is ‘Filled With Surprises’ Lists for $15 Million

A spectacular midcentury modern mansion that is packed with an array of unexpected architectural details has hit the market for $14.97 million in Aspen, CO's exclusive West End neighborhood.

Despite being located in one of the world's premier ski destinations, the home is anything but the traditional lodge, offering a myriad of "surprising" touches that make it feel more like a personal wonderland than a family home.

Among those more unusual details is an indoor resistance pool, which runs along a narrow patch on the edge of the main living area, under a row of skylights that make it feel very much like you're swimming in the great outdoors—without the cold weather.

"This home has a lot of impressive features, but the indoor pool makes it really stand out," said listing agent Melanie Muss of Douglas Elliman. "It was a part of the home's original design, and the sellers use it all the time."

However, the home's lineage is also something quite special, having been passed on from one art lover to the next.

Los Angeles-based art collectors Dana Garman Jacobsen and James (Jim) Jacobsen purchased the property for $11,400,000 in June 2022 from former owner Joan Harris, the prominent Chicago philanthropist behind Aspen’s Harris Concert Hall.

Highlights found throughout the 4,620-square-foot residence include multiple entertainment spaces, expansive glass, custom millwork, and wood ceilings.

"There is also what we call a magical nook in the kitchen," Muss added. "The light, the layout, the kitchen banquette, and the kids' wing with lofts make this home feel joyful and livable while still architecturally special."

The sun-soaked space also has a wood-burning fireplace, a floating staircase, and radiant floors. One bedroom with garden access has a kitchenette and separate entrance that could be used as a guest suite or au-pair accommodations.

"I think the next buyer will be someone who can see the potential in this property," she said. "It is ready for someone to come in and put their finishing touches on it."

There is even a six-person outdoor sauna found in the fenced-in backyard.

Built in 1976, the five-bedroom estate nestled around the corner from the Aspen Institute is tucked away on a cul-de-sac providing extra privacy—without compromising proximity to the area's most "desirable" areas.

"It's located on an oversized 9,500-square-foot lot that is all above grade, which is nice, so it gets great light," Muss noted.

"It is also close to town and in one of the most special parts of Aspen's most desirable neighborhoods with no traffic, so you get privacy with proximity that is steps from the Rio Grande Trail and the Meadows."

The property is also ideally sited nearby skiing and many other outdoor activities, including hiking and biking.

"It's an all-season kind of home, and the ease of transportation is just so smooth," she said. "It checks a lot of boxes."

While the dwelling is currently being used as a vacation residence, Muss noted that it has plenty of potential as a full-time abode, should a future buyer want to immerse themselves in all four seasons of beauty that Aspen has to offer.

"The homeowners used it as a secondary home, but spent a good chunk of time here due to the L.A. fires," Muss said. "I could see the next buyer using it as a secondary residence that eventually becomes a primary when they realize what a great life it offers."

There is also opportunity to use the home as a rental property, with listing records indicating that it has previously been offered for as much as $68,000 a month.