Nestled into the already breathtaking landscape of Joshua Tree, CA is a unique house that transcends traditional architecture. It appears to grow out of the boulders and ground it is built on like the ribcage of an ancient god. Sunlight glimmers on the glass that bridges the gaps between the twenty-six columns that create the exterior of the house.
On both the interior and exterior of the home, there are no traditional walls or windows. This architectural marvel exists in the desert outside of the Joshua Tree National Park and is occasionally open to the public via Airbnb Luxe. The otherworldly structure is the handiwork of acclaimed architect Kendrick Bangs Kellogg.
“It looked like a desert mirage. I couldn’t believe that something so radical and beautiful could actually be built,” said current owner Kristopher Dukes to Architectural Digest.
Kellogg designed the house in the 1980s and construction began in 1988. Created for Bev Doolittle, a watercolor artist, and her husband, the house was built into the hillside with natural formations included in the surreal design. As a protege of Frank Lloyd Wright, the world-famous architect, Kellogg embraced his mentor’s concept of melding buildings into the existing natural landscape.
The Kellogg Doolittle House is a spectacular representation of organic architecture. From start to completion, it took nearly twenty years to finish the home. Five years for construction and fourteen additional years to fill the house with custom furnishings created by craftsman and interior designer John Vugrin.
A 500-foot stone walkway ascends to the main entrance of the Kellogg Doolittle House and ends at a foreboding glass and metal doorway covered in sharp spines. The twenty-six columns that frame the house are embedded seven feet into the bedrock while the top ends of the columns are bent at angles to spread out like concrete wings forming the roof. The glass that completes the exterior shell consists of more than one thousand hand-crafted panes and reveals panoramic views of the desert and sky.
A waterfall splashes down the hillside outside of one of the bathrooms, once again embracing the concept of organic architecture. The unusual shape that swirls out among the boulders makes it difficult to know the exact size of the house, but it’s estimated to be around 5,000 square feet. A fence that resembles the spine of an ancient beast also encapsulates the property, providing security and yet another point of visual interest.
The surreal interior of the three-bedroom house is filled with one-of-a-kind, original artwork, furniture, and fixtures made of wood, stone, and bronze. One such striking feature is a bronze vanity that defies traditional designs. The floors that sweep through various chambers are hand-laid stone. Another unique feature is a mushroom-shaped column that houses an elevator and a custom-built kitchen tucked between two boulders. In the home office, there are three workstations featuring desks made of wood and stone.
The Kellogg Doolittle House can be booked on Airbnb Luxe and comfortably hosts up to six guests. The starting cost to stay at the house is $6,500 per night.