One of the last remaining octagon houses in San Francisco has just hit the market with an asking price of $8.6 million.
Deemed a historic landmark and noted as one of the oldest homes in San Francisco’s Russian Hill district, the Feusier Octagon House was built in 1852 following the guidance of Orson Squire Fowler, who wrote A Home for All; Or, The Gravel Wall and Octagon Mode of Building.
According to the Wall Street Journal, octagon homes became a gold standard of sorts after Fowler theorized that an octagon-shaped home could improve the inhabitants well-being because the design allowed for better light and ventilation. Apparently they’re always incredibly well constructed, given that the Feusier Octagon House survived both the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and a fire.
As noted in the listing, the three-level home features four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths across 5,200 square feet of living space. Additional features includes four salons, a detached carriage house with studio space, and a garden.
Of course the property comes with a storied history, as well. WSJ reports that the first known owner of the home was George L. Kenny, but it is actually named for it’s second owner, Louis Feusier, companion of Samuel Clemens—better known as Mark Twain. The home last sold in 1998 for $2.8 million.
Janet Feinberg Schindler of Sotheby’s International Realty holds the listing.