The renowned American architect Wallace Neff’s sole surviving, post-war experimental house is listed for a whopping $2 million. The Wallace Neff Shell House, located in Pasadena, California, is also known as the Airform Bubble House, which blurs the line between a sculptural form and a residential structure with its rounded dome-like appearance. The whimsical house, built in 1947, stands as the only solitary surviving example of Neff’s visionary Airform construction system in the United States.
Throughout his 56-year career, Neff designed grand estates for A-listers like Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, and Joan Bennett. He specifically built the Wallace Neff Shell House for his brother during the post-war housing crisis. His vision was to build a cost-effective, resilient house with a profound modern design.
To create this Airform house, Neff inflated a giant balloon and covered it with steel mesh. He sprayed the mess with gunite concrete and deflated the balloon afterwards. The monolithic façade of the bubble house spans 9,000 square feet, embodies the late architect’s futuristic vision, and remains prominent even after 79 years.
The sellers, Priya Girishankar and Damon Cleckler, undertook the restoration process of the Airform dome house and kept its mid-century artifact-like appearance intact. They also preserved its whimsical qualities and modernized the interior to suit a contemporary lifestyle.
The circular dome house has a quirky interior with an open-floor layout where different zones flow into one another. The multiple glazing on the curved wall fills the interior with natural light and visually connects the dome house to the natural landscape. Its 1,204-square-foot living area includes a bedroom, a full bathroom, an office, and a half-circular living room.
A decorative fireplace sits between the kitchen and bathroom. It anchors the living space with its striking sculptural appearance, while the small dining table is neatly placed beside the curved wall and near the kitchen. The Airform Bubble house has a lot to offer to people who like an outdoorsy lifestyle as well. Two seating patios are thoughtfully integrated within the garden, where you can enjoy outdoor dining or lounge comfortably.
The Airform house also has an additional 1,000-square-foot detached studio, featuring a bedroom, a spacious living room, and a bathroom. While it doesn’t have a kitchen, you can use it to accommodate guests. Below this studio lies a rare Airform-constructed bomb shelter that is approximately 15 feet deep. This shelter holds a major historic significance since Neff constructed the Bubble house during the post-war period.
The Wallace Neff Shell House is a remarkable example of a cost-effective residence with futuristic engineering and sculptural design. The result is the iconic Bubble house, resilient and significant to date. This last remaining Airform constructed property is listed with Compass real estate agent George Penner for $1,950,000.
Via: Robb Report
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