A highly minimalist, almost invisible home, The Invisible House reflects the natural beauty and art of the desert landscape.
A 1,680-square-metre, three-bedroom, four-bathroom invisible home cantilevered 30 metres off the ground, Invisible House is the innovative and imaginative collaboration between film producers and owners Chris and Roberta Hanley and architect Tomas Osinski.
The invisible home is located on 36 hectares of land in Joshua Tree National Park and features a mirrored exterior to reflect the ever-changing landscape and create a dialogue between object and site. “We were drawn to the desert of Joshua Tree. We would always come out here, we see it as an escape,” says Chris. “We were looking for a place with rocks … and then we just had to pull it together and do it,” says Roberta.
After exploring the site, Chris and Roberta’s vision for the invisible home was quickly conceived. As filmmakers and creatives, their intention was to create, approaching the house as an art object and a space to facilitate entertainment, creativity and contemplation. They were inspired by their interest in large-scale projects with minimalist design, a vast network of artists and a passion for architecture.
Once inside the Airbnb guesthouse there are solar and thermal systems, 68-square-metre projection wall, large kitchen and a 30-metre indoor solar pool. “We drew on the idea of the pool as an ecosystem so there would be more moisture and you wouldn’t dry out here and used glass walls on both sides of the pool.” says Roberta, “it’s a living room, we put the pool in the living room. Why would you break it up?”
The home is a measured response to the landscape, which is constantly changing depending on the time of day or season. In the morning, as the light changes, the home filters UV and infrared light so that it appears black yet takes on an orange-golden glow inside. “For me, the surprise was at the night-time. The lighting art pieces that Chris made – horizontal beams of colour light and vertical ones in the corners – mean that, between the refracting light at night, you just see the colours … you have this sense of it almost being a theatre,” says Roberta.
Sustainability has been incorporated into all aspects of the architecture. As well as a small environmental footprint due to the property being cantilevered, LEED and EPD-certified elements feature throughout, including a fully Solarcool glass exterior with reflective and refractive light filtering, a Sunpower 32.4kW system with a smart app system, a solar thermal system for electrics, pool and hot water, an energy-efficient and eco-friendly foam roof, and flooring insulation.
A home that doubles as a piece of art, Invisible House is a response to the site and the people who walk through its doors – forever evolving.
00:00 – Introduction to the Invisible Home
01:07 – The Evolution of the Landscape
01:56 – Conceptualising the Home
02:49 – An External Illusion
03:30 – The Material Palette
04:08 – Surprising Theatrical Moments
04:42 – Proud Moments
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Photography by Petr Masek, Brian Ashby and Chris Hanley.
Architecture by Tomas Osinski and Chris Hanley.
Interior Design by Roberta Hanley.
Build by Andy Canada.
Location Publicity by Idea Parade.
Development by Muse Productions.
Hospitality Partnership by Fieldtrip.
Filmed and Edited by Cadre.
Production by The Local Project.
Location: Joshua Tree, California, United States
The Local Project acknowledges the traditional territories and homelands of the Indigenous peoples in the United States. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our respective countries and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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