Nestled in the already stunning landscape of Joshua Tree, CA, stands a one-of-a-kind home that surpasses traditional architecture. It appears to grow from the rocks and soil it is built upon, like the ribcage of an ancient god. Sunlight glimmers off the glass that bridges the gaps between the 26 columns that make up the home’s exterior.
There are no conventional walls or windows inside or outside the home. Located in the desert outside Joshua Tree National Park, this architectural marvel is occasionally open to the public through Airbnb Luxe. The otherworldly structure is the work of acclaimed architect Kendrick Bangs Kellogg.
“It looked like a mirage in the desert. I couldn’t believe something so radical and beautiful could actually be built,” current owner Kristopher Dukes told Architectural Digest.
Kellogg designed the house in the 1980s and construction began in 1988. Designed for watercolor artist Bev Doolittle and her husband, the house was built into the hillside, incorporating natural formations into the surreal design. A protégé of world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Kellogg adopted his mentor’s concept of blending buildings into the existing natural landscape.
The Kellogg Doolittle House is a spectacular example of organic architecture. From start to finish, the house took nearly twenty years to complete. It took five years to build and another fourteen years to furnish the house with custom furniture made by craftsman and interior designer John Vugrin.
A 500-foot-long stone path leads to the main entrance of the Kellogg Doolittle House, ending at a menacing glass and metal doorframe studded with sharp spikes. The 26 columns that frame the house are embedded seven feet deep into the rock, while the tops of the columns are angled and spread out like concrete wings that form the roof. The glass that completes the exterior shell is made up of more than a thousand hand-crafted panes, offering panoramic views of the desert and sky.
In front of one of the bathrooms, a waterfall trickles down the hillside, again reflecting the concept of organic architecture. Due to the unusual shape that swirls out from between the boulders, it is difficult to determine the exact size of the house, but it is estimated to be around 465 square meters. A fence reminiscent of the spine of a prehistoric animal encloses the property, providing security and further visual appeal.
The surreal interior of the three-bedroom home is filled with unique, original artwork, furniture and furnishings made of wood, stone and bronze. One such striking feature is a bronze vanity that defies traditional designs. The floors running through various rooms are made of hand-laid stone. Another unique feature is a mushroom-shaped pillar that houses an elevator and a custom-built kitchen between two boulders. The home office has three workstations with wood and stone desks.
The Kellogg Doolittle House is available to book through Airbnb Luxe and comfortably sleeps up to six guests. The cost to stay in the house starts at $6,500 per night.
