“This architectural achievement in the desert offers unique intangible assets that can only be experienced right here,” real estate agents have stated.
Producers Chris Hanley and Roberta Hanley are known for their creative film projects, such as “American Psycho” and Sofia Coppola’s directorial debut, “The Virgin Suicides.” Before entering the film industry, Chris Hanley worked in the art world, dealing in works from renowned artists like the late Andy Warhol and the late Jean-Michel Basquiat.
When it was time for the Hanley couple to design their home, they wanted something exceptional. The Hanley family collaborated with architect Tomas Orsinski to create the groundbreaking “Invisible House” located in Joshua Tree National Park (California, USA). This architectural symbol was listed on the real estate market with a price tag of $18 million (approximately 439 billion VND) earlier this year.
The house is a surreal structure resembling a box, with mirrored glass walls reflecting the desert landscape. (Photo: Chris Hanley).
Inspired by the classic science fiction film “2001: A Space Odyssey,” this house is a double-wide box that spans more than 510m2. The most notable feature of the rectangular structure is its mirror-clad exterior. This unique element is what gives the property its name, “Invisible House,” as it reflects the surrounding scenery and seems to blend into the landscape, making the house appear to vanish.
The Solarcool glass layer provides the house with its unique appearance, ensuring that the interior remains temperate despite the harsh desert weather while filtering harmful UV rays. The eco-friendly foam roof and solar power system make the house a model of sustainability.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Chris Hanley revealed that the cost of purchasing the glass for the house amounted to nearly $700,000 (around 17 billion VND).
The house features an indoor pool stretching nearly half the length of the home. (Photo: Brian Ashby).
Upon entering, the large floor-to-ceiling windows further dissolve the distinction between indoors and outdoors. This unique structure is suspended about 30 feet above the ground and faces west, allowing those inside to experience the full desert sunset.
One of Matt Adamo’s (a real estate listing agent from AKG – Christie’s International Real Estate) favorite aspects of the house is the sunset view from the master bedroom. “You can spend all day there watching the house illuminate in different ways from the perspective of the sun and stars.”
The Invisible House boasts a pool over 30 meters long, extending across the width of the living room. According to Supercar Blondie, this pool stretches nearly half the length of the house. In addition to the pool, the house includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
Bedroom A of the house. (Photo: Brian Ashby).
“Bringing the Invisible House to market for the first time is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Matt Adamo shared. He also noted that the highest price ever achieved for a home in Joshua Tree was $3.5 million (approximately 85.3 billion VND).
The real estate agent has received numerous calls since the house hit the market. Most of the interest has come from potential buyers looking at the house as an investment property.
The kitchen features a marble countertop with low cabinets designed by Italian designers, with no upper cabinets obstructing the panoramic view. (Photo: Brian Ashby).
Matt Adamo added that potential buyers in the U.S. are showing more interest than international clients, as Americans better understand the cultural allure of the remote desert landscape of Joshua Tree. In contrast, international buyers tend to be more interested in properties closer to the bright lights of Los Angeles, which is a 2-3 hour drive from Joshua Tree.
“In 2021, this house generated a total revenue of over $1.4 million (about 34.1 billion VND)”, Matt Adamo shared with CNBC.
If visitors wish to experience staying inside this house, they can book it for rent but will need a “deep pocket.” Forbes magazine reported that the house serves as both a filming location and a luxurious stay on Airbnb, with nightly rates ranging from $2,500 to $6,000 (approximately 61-147 million VND).
The Invisible House at night. (Photo: Chris Hanley).
Built in 2019, the Invisible House has hosted star singers like Lizzo, Alicia Keys, Ariana Grande, and The Weeknd, and has appeared in the Netflix series “The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals.”
