Winter real estate

Denise Abbott Hollywood Reporter

Century City: The Century, touted as "the evoultion of estate living," has homes designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and Marmol Radziner and Associates.

Forty-two stories above the bustling Avenue of the Stars, workers in hard hats are toiling away on Candy Spelling's new digs. The widow of TV mogul Aaron Spelling has set a record with her $47 million purchase of the top two floors at the Century, an ultra-luxury residential tower nearing completion next door to the Century Plaza Hotel. It may sound ludicrous that a $47 million purchase could signify a simplified lifestyle, but that's exactly what it means. At 16,500 square feet, Spelling's new home is less than a third the size of her previous residence but it offers, as she says, "ultimate luxury."

Although Spelling's purchase sets the bar, she's not the only Angeleno trading her sprawling estate for an elevated lifestyle that includes five-star service and abundant amenities. The luxury towers sprouting up like mushrooms around Los Angeles are all about downshifting in the fast line.

"The concept of luxury has changed," says Marty Collins, CEO of Gatehouse Capital, developer and co-owner of W Hollywood Residences, which is scheduled to open Dec. 3 after a three-year construction phase. "The opulence of yesteryear -- three people standing around watching while you eat rich French food -- doesn't resonate today. Ten years ago, the rich wouldn't think of driving their own Prius. Today's luxury is about security, sustainability, convenience, low-maintenance and amenities."

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