For sale: $11.5M La Jolla estate with a ‘private ecosystem’ for off-the-grid living

Now you can have your luxury and LEED it, too.

A mansion now on the market in La Jolla “isn’t just a luxury estate — it’s a private ecosystem,” according to real estate agent Tim Van Damm.

That means it’s designed to be capable of functioning entirely off the power grid.

The five-bedroom, eight-bathroom home, dubbed “The Modern Sanctuary,” spans 7,631 square feet at 6005 La Jolla Scenic Drive South and is on the market for $11.5 million.

The estate, certified LEED Gold (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) boasts what Van Damm and his North County-based Tim Van Damm & Associates with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices describe as “unparalleled ocean views, state-of-the-art technology and resort-style living.”

Its self-sufficiency is made possible through 80 solar panels, a large dual-fuel generator that uses natural gas and propane (a byproduct of natural-gas processing), a 1,000-gallon propane tank and solar-heated water.

Lauren Gilbert, an agent for Tim Van Damm & Associates, said there’s also space for batteries to store energy from the solar panels. The batteries are not included with the house.

Sustainability is further incorporated into the home’s design. Copper lining along the rain spout captures the water for use in irrigation.

Among the home’s other features are a 944-square-foot open-air atrium below a retractable roof, a 660-bottle wine room, handcrafted woodwork, a four-car garage, “smart” systems and more.

“The retractable roof, the self-sustaining systems, the handcrafted materials — it’s a true legacy property that offers both peace of mind and unmatched architectural appeal,” Van Damm said in a statement.

“The Modern Sanctuary” was completed in 2017. Local architect Bennet & Associates designed the estate, which previously occupied two acres but later was split in two. One plot was designated for resale and the other was designed as a “forever home” for the now-late wife of owner Theodore Barrow.

The house is on the market for the first time since it was built.

The home was laid out with a look toward the future, Gilbert said.

“He [Barrow] wanted to make sure if he was going to be in California that he took all the backup necessities if anything were to happen, like an earthquake, an energy shutdown, a fire,” Gilbert said. “He knew it was a risk, especially where we are, and he wanted to make sure he built this compound for his wife to be safe in.”

The commercial-grade generator is capable of “completely running” the house for more than a month, Gilbert said.

“There’s always a solution,” she added. “If one thing goes down, there’s another way to get energy.”

For more information, visit timvandamm.com.