Glass Act: The Invisible House

Movie producers Chris and Roberta Hanley completed the build in 2019. Chris wanted something “monolithic, reflective, ultra- minimal,” and he drew a rectangle to show his architect, Tomas Osinski, what he envisaged.

“The project developed organically,” says Osinski, known for his art and collaborations with architects such as Frank Gehry on projects including the Delft porcelain fountain at the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Eisenhower Memorial in Washington D.C. “It started as a modest box with long outdoor swimming pool. The pool got enclosed and finally guest rooms were added on the other side of the pool.”

“Bringing the Invisible House to market for the first time ever is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” says Aaron Kirman of Christie’s International Real Estate AKG. “This architectural triumph provides unique intangibles that can only be experienced at the property itself.” It is as much about the exterior as the interior, and the particular alchemy that happens between the two.

The exhilarating sense of being on an adventure, away from the crowds is very grounding. “There’s an exciting balance between being vulnerable and safe,” Osinski continues. “Being exposed to the beautiful but very harsh moon-like desert, yet being sheltered from it at the same time.” The bonus is that civilization in the form of a creative, artistic community lies just 10 minutes’ drive away. Yet the Invisible House seems to be on its own planet.

The otherworldly atmosphere is at its most powerful at night when the benefits of being under the darkest skies in Southern California can be appreciated. There are natural light shows on clear nights, and the Milky Way comes into sharp focus on moonless evenings.

The west side of the house opens up almost entirely, and there’s a firepit nestled among the rocks. That cosmic experience can only be matched by the life-affirming sunrise as it sneaks above the boulders.