The massive home is located within the Blackhawk planned community. It was designed by a group of real estate professionals including developers, architects, landscape artists and interior designers.

The late owner of the home, Ken Behring, was a former owner of the Seattle Seahawks. He handpicked the lot at the top of Eagle Ridge, which overlooks Mount Diablo and the Blackhawk Country Club. It overlooks the popular 11,000-strong neighbourhood 40 miles east of San Francisco. Behling helped develop the Blackhawk community in the 1970s. He passed away in 2019.

A rare combination

"This estate represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," says Joujou Chawla, listing agent for Compass.

It represents a complete vision, a holistic approach to design that seamlessly blends exterior landscaping with interior design. There are waterfalls flowing into and out of the home. It's a trophy home, but it's also a cosy home - a very rare combination.

Chawla adds that the home is the work of a rare individual with vision.

Behring, who made his fortune in real estate, is a philanthropist who supports museums, universities and non-profit organisations; in 2000, he donated $80 million to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC.

He was the driving force behind the groundbreaking Blackhawk community. He purchased 4,000 acres of ranch land, donated half of it to Mt. Diablo State Park, and built 2,500 homes on the remaining 2,000 acres.

The development consists of seven gated communities bordering the city of Danville, California, and is known for its beautiful setting, country atmosphere and amenities, which include a country club, clubhouse, pickleball and tennis courts, football fields, fitness centre, two Olympic-size swimming pools, and two 72-hole championship golf courses.

In 1988, he and Ken Hoffman bought the Seahawks for $79 million. He later sold the NFL team to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 1997 for $200 million.

Ken co-founded the estate with architect Doug Dahlin, who founded the Dahlin Group and worked with him to develop the Blackhawk community.

The two also worked with Steve Chase, an interior designer whose work for celebrities has appeared in Architectural Digest, and Kimio Kimura, a master gardener from Japan known for his Kimura-style designs. Together they made every decision with the aim of creating a holistic indoor-outdoor environment.

The home was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's Pennsylvania masterpiece "Falling Water," the spirit of which is evident in the Belin estate.

But Chawla insists that the home is an original work and that no detail has been overlooked.

She notes, "Even the lighting was a very important consideration."

Craig Roberts, a lighting designer for private residences as well as prestigious public spaces such as the Four Seasons Dubai and the Grand Hyatt Nassau Baha Mar, designed the lighting with every element of the building in mind.

Decorated with "dozens and dozens of artefacts and artefacts from 6,000 B.C." and surrounded by contemporary masterpieces of art, "I have a 12-inch-thick loose-leaf binder detailing all of these artefacts", Chawla says.

Interested buyers will be able to see this binder, along with background information on every detail of the home's construction and artistic content, when they tour the home.

While specific details of most of the furnishings and artwork are unavailable for security reasons, some of this information is known to the public. These include the work of Bruce Johnson, known for his iconic mahogany sculptures; the work of Barry Flannagan, whose bronze animal statues are much-loved; and the work of renowned abstract artist Stanley Boxer's paintings.

All of the furnishings and artwork are included in the sale of the house because everything was designed or purchased for [the house], Chawla says.

The design team chose materials such as Brazilian teak, Idaho quartz and Utah flagstone, all to evoke a timeless quality, she says.

Upon entering the gated driveway, you wind around an 18-foot-tall, 17-tonne sculpture and water feature known as "Campobello Di Mazara" by Salvatore Pecoraro, which was designed specifically for the home.

Entering the interior of the home, you'll find a series of pathways connecting the multi-tiered koi pond, waterfall and spa. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning views of the surrounding hillsides.

There are also spaces for celebration and entertainment throughout the estate, including a 7,000-square-foot granite-floored ballroom with nine crystal chandeliers; a walk-in bar that rivals that of a nightclub; a trapdoor to a priceless car collection; and a wine cellar and tasting room with 10,000 bottles of temperature-controlled wine.

Living spaces include a formal living room, a family room with seating for at least 40 people, a pool and games area, and a home cinema with plush seating.

The dining room features a formal dining area, several dining tables, built-in cabinetry and a massive fireplace. There is also a chef's kitchen and a casual dining area with access to the kitchen garden and outdoor dining area.

Each of the four en-suite bedrooms features floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Mount Diablo. Nearby is another full kitchen (for late-night snacks, of course), as well as a spa and meditation area with retractable ceilings for stargazing. Secret access to the pool is available through a secret door.

There are also three en-suite bedrooms on the lower level. Other spaces include an office, a laundry room and two separate flats.