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He once told Oprah that architecture is a huge art piece you can actually live inside, something that lifts the soul and shapes the way you feel. He has said that working on a home taught him to let go of some ideas so the whole design could feel harmonious. the actor has spent years collecting, designing and restoring homes that speak to his love of architecture and thoughtful design While most people know him for his roles on screen. That belief shows up in the places he has chosen to call home. One of the clearest examples of his hands-on approach is the Hollywood Hills house he created with the architecture firm GRAFT. Pitt treated the project like a personal design lab. He focused on open spaces, natural light and materials that felt calm and connected to the landscape. The stone and glass structure became a place where every detail, from the flow of the rooms to the choice of wood, reflected his taste for simplicity mixed with quiet luxury. Pitt’s eye also turns toward older buildings with strong character. With Jennifer Aniston he renovated a large Wallace Neff mansion in Beverly Hills that dated back to the 1930s. Later, with Angelina Jolie, he bought a brick French Quarter house in New Orleans built in the 1830s, drawn to its original moldings and historic details.
In 2022 Pitt paid about $40 million for the D.L. Designed in 1918 by Charles Greene of the famous Greene and Greene firm, the Craftsman-style house is built from local stone and seems to grow out of the rock itself. The project was ambitious and faced real challenges later on, but it revealed how seriously he takes the idea that good design can improve everyday lives.
These places show his respect for craftsmanship that has stood the test of time. He does not just buy famous addresses. He looks for homes that carry a sense of history and then carefully brings them into the present. After Hurricane Katrina, Pitt’s interest in architecture turned outward. He founded the Make It Right Foundation to build safe, energy-efficient homes in the Lower Ninth Ward. He brought in well-known architects and focused on sustainable ideas so the houses could use less power and stand up to future storms. For him, architecture was never only about personal taste. It was also about what buildings can do for people who need them. James House on the Carmel Highlands cliffs.
It sits high above the Pacific with sweeping views and a sense of quiet permanence. The purchase felt like a natural next step for someone who has spent decades studying the work of architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Even as his life has changed, the pull of well-made spaces remains. Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day. Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.