Elizabeth Taylor’s longtime Bel Air estate has escaped the wrecking ball, in an exclusive shared with the “New York Post.”
The 1.3 acre property will undergo a significant renovation done by famed builder Ardie Tavangarian. Tavangarian is no stranger to celebrity homes. The 67-year old architect is the founder of Arya Group, a high-end, design-build firm in Los Angeles where he’s helmed a number of high-profile projects.
In a wide-ranging interview with “Persian Real Estate Network,” his properties have been linked to a number of other household names in addition to Taylor, including Jackie Collins and business moguls Jeffrey Katzenberg and Peter Morton, while the designer has rubbed elbows with the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Tony Robbins. Tavangarian’s properties also come with hefty price tags, with sales ranging from $75 to $83 million as far back as 2019, and most recently the 5,000-square-foot Bel Air mega mansion, Villa Siena, which was reduced to $135 million from its 2024 list price of $177 million.
Renovation Plans for Taylor’s Home
GettyTavangarian has big plans for Taylor’s sanctuary with reports that this will be one of his final uber-luxury developments. However, he has his sights set on preserving as much of the original charm of Taylor’s home in the planned $47 million renovation.
The rehab will shore up the 60-year old frame of the ranch-style, 7,000-square foot home, with Tavangarian keeping the interior much as Taylor left it, including her infamous jewelry room. He also plans to modernize key parts of the house to serve as an “Elizabeth Taylor wing,” such as her master bedroom and bathroom, as well as build a gallery room to feature Elizabeth Taylor-inspired artwork.
“We’re trying to create something that is a continuation of Elizabeth Taylor and her legacy while creating a phase 2 to enhance the beauty that is already here,” Tavangarian said.
The second phase of the project will include a 12,000-square-foot buildout that will feature three bedrooms, a screening room, spa, and a 4,500-square-foot retractable roof for stargazing, which will expand the property over three levels.
As for the outside, Tavangarian plans to keep the exterior largely intact, including the landscaping, the koi pond and fountain built by her nephew, as well as the striking blue pool said to match the color of Taylor’s eyes.
Taylor originally bought the house from Nancy Sinatra for $2 million in 1981 and lived there until her passing in 2011.
Taylor’s Enduring Influence
Elizabeth Taylor rose to fame as an actress with such hits as 1944’s “Cats on a Hot Tin Roof” and 1963’s “Cleopatra.”
She quickly became a pop culture icon, and continues to influence many celebrities today, with Taylor Swift recently dropping the track “Elizabeth Taylor” on her latest album “The Life of a Showgirl.”
When Swift dropped the accompanying music video in March 2026, Taylor’s estate had nothing but praise for the singer, sharing in a statement, “What makes this piece so remarkable is its pure devotion to Elizabeth’s legacy.”
It’s with this in mind that Tavangarian wants to keep the home as an homage to Taylor, calling the project ““from the heart.”
