In 2008, Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen bought 4 acres in LA's Brentwood and built with solar, composting and gray water. 4 years later, 90% of its materials were reclaimed

Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen wanted their house in Brentwood to be a place where they could live rather than just a grand showpiece. Having purchased four acres in Los Angeles in 2008, the couple decided to build a house that offered comfort alongside a strong emphasis on sustainability.

The outcome was a French Provincial style chateau, designed by the architect Richard Landry and having its interior decoration carried out by Joan Behnke; solar panels, a grey water irrigation system and composting were incorporated into the property, and reclaimed materials played a major role in the design, as per Architectural Digest and LA Times.

The house was built between 2009 and 2011 and in the end comprised 18,298 square feet; Bündchen also stated that 90 per cent of the materials used in constructing the house had been reclaimed.

What did Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen build on their Brentwood property?

Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen bought the four-acre parcel in Brentwood in 2008 and commissioned Los Angeles architect Richard Landry to design their home.

Construction took place from 2009 to 2011, creating a large French Provincial chateau with a total floor area of 18,298 square feet. The property, listed at 12780 Chalon Road, was designed as much around the couple’s desire for comfort as it was around its imposing scale.

The project was intended to be ecologically conscious despite its size. The couple’s approach was especially focused on reducing the home’s impact on the land and using resources more responsibly.

Architectural Digest writer Mayer Rus described the thinking behind the project, writing: "For Bündchen and Brady living well also means living responsibly. Bündchen is a global ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme, and the couple is acutely aware of issues related to the conservation of natural resources. One of their primary imperatives when building their home was to use as many recycled components as possible and to implement energy and water systems that would ameliorate the family’s impact on the land. In addition to composting, gray-water technology for irrigation, and environmentally friendly construction materials, the pair installed two substantial arrays of photovoltaic solar panels (one next to the garden, the other on the roof of the house) that would meet all of the property’s electricity needs."

How did sustainability shape the design?

Sustainability was not limited to one feature of the property. Solar power, water recycling, composting and reclaimed materials were incorporated into the home.

The house had two substantial arrays of photovoltaic solar panels, with one located next to the garden and another on the roof. The gray-water system was used for irrigation, while composting was another part of the couple’s environmentally conscious approach.

Bündchen also spoke about the amount of reclaimed material used in the project. In the Architectural Digest feature, she said, "90 percent of the materials used to construct our house were reclaimed."

The home’s design also reflected the couple’s preference for a comfortable atmosphere. Bündchen told Architectural Digest, "I like simplicity and coziness," while describing a property that was nevertheless enormous by any measure.

The Architectural Digest coverage also reported that the family grew 85 percent of its fruits and vegetables. The property included a chicken coop, allowing the family to get its daily eggs.

What did the massive Brentwood house look like?

The Los Angeles Times real estate reporter Lauren Beale described the estate in June 2014, writing: "The four-acre estate centers on a country French chateau reached by a winding driveway. A cobblestone motor court and a moat/koi pond add an Old World ambience to the mansion, which was designed by architect Richard Landry. Clad in limestone, the house features reclaimed ceiling beams, salvaged tile and antique doors. The 18,298 square feet of living space includes a center hall, a den, a library/study, a gym, a sauna, five bedrooms, nine bathrooms, loggias, covered terraces, balconies and garage space. There are seven fireplaces."

That description captures the contrast at the center of the property. The estate had the appearance and scale of a grand chateau, complete with a moat-like koi pond, limestone exterior and expansive living spaces, while its construction incorporated reclaimed and salvaged elements.

The home also had a professional-grade kitchen and a gym designed by Out-Fit, including custom-made wrought-iron monkey bars. Other features described in the supplied material included a lagoon-shaped swimming pool with spa, a wine cellar, a six-car garage, eight bedrooms, a nursery, a lift and a butler’s room. The two wings were connected by a bridge.

The gym was particularly important to Brady, described in the Architectural Digest coverage as a “dream part of the house” for the NFL star.

Who designed the interiors?

Landry Design Group was responsible for the architecture, with Richard Landry serving as the architect. Joan Behnke and Associates handled the interior design, with Joan Behnke creating the interiors.

The interiors were described as neutral-toned and richly textured. Behnke’s clients included Thomas Barrack, the billionaire founder of Colony Capital, and private equity billionaire Alec Gores, according to the supplied material.

Landry’s client list included Mark Wahlberg, Rod Stewart and Wayne Gretzky.

The project eventually became a major showcase for the couple’s approach to building a family home. Rather than relying only on luxury features, the design incorporated sustainability throughout the property.

What happened to the Brentwood estate?

After the home was completed, Brady and Bündchen eventually sold it to recording artist Andre Romelle Young Sr., better known as Dr. Dre.

In 2014, Dr. Dre purchased the house for $10 million under the asking price of $50 million. His purchase came after the sale of his Beats audio equipment brand to Apple Corporation in May 2014 for about $3 billion.

The sale gave the sprawling Brentwood estate a new owner, but the home remained notable for the unusual combination of its enormous size, Old World-inspired design and environmental features.

From the four-acre parcel purchased in 2008 to the finished chateau completed between 2009 and 2011, Brady and Bündchen’s project was built around an idea that luxury and sustainability could exist under the same roof.

The property’s solar arrays, gray-water irrigation, composting system and extensive use of reclaimed materials were central to that vision. Most strikingly, Bündchen’s statement that 90 percent of the materials used to construct the house were reclaimed remains one of the clearest details of how the couple approached their dream home.

FAQs

What made Brady and Bündchen’s home sustainable?

It featured solar panels, composting, gray-water irrigation and reclaimed materials.

Who designed the Brentwood home?

Architect Richard Landry designed the house, while Joan Behnke handled the interiors.