Mojave Desert home to stunning invisible abode

Only ten minutes from Joshua Tree National Park, designer Tomas Osinski and film producer Chris Hanley designed a mirrored house that some say resembles a skyscraper flipped on its side. The mirrored box has been dubbed “Invisible House” because of the reflective glass facade’s transformative presence.

Designed in 2019, the unique architecture is the result of an unusual collaboration between two unlikely partners. The private house is owned by Hanley, the producer of movies such as “American Psycho” and “The Virgin Suicides.” Not surprisingly, it is possible to rent the house for film shoots, retreats, and special events.

Osinski, who had previously collaborated with Frank Gehry, was careful to minimize the home’s carbon footprint. As such, he elevated the house atop a set of concrete piles. Specifically, the structure is elevated on cylindrical concrete columns to form a cantilever at one end.

The steel-frame house is clad in mirrored, tempered glass that is typically used in the construction of skyscrapers. Long and slender, the structure is essentially a 22-story high-rise. The idea for the design came from Hanley’s childhood memory of his frequent trips to Manhattan with his mother who was a professional ballet dancer. He says (courtesy of Thrillist), “I had this idea of the monolithic skyscrapers on Avenue of Americas and Fifth Avenue. When I drew the horizontal rectangle with skyscraper glass at Invisible House, it was influenced by the NYC reflective monoliths of my childhood.”

The 5,500-square-foot dwelling has three bedrooms and four baths… and is on almost ninety acres of privacy in the desert. The reflective glasses are actually full windows… designed so that you can fully immerse yourself in the surroundings’ landscape. The sliding glass doors open up and seamlessly merge two conflicting environments.

The metal structure is left exposed in the ceiling and, courtesy of The Style Mate, “A ‘Cool’ roof insulation system with CFC-free, closed cell polyethylene foam and the building’s location at the foot of a hill provide protection against harsh weather.” Finally, all of the exterior walls employ an extremely heat-reflecting “Solarcool” glass.

Prior to construction, the designers conducted a biological survey to map out the local plants and animal species. All federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations were strictly adhered to. For obvious reasons, conservators worried that the “Invisible House” would turn into a deadly bird trap. However Hanley says that was not the case; in fact he explains, “the local birds love to feast on the numerous insects that buzz around the mirrored building. So far not a single feathered friend has lost its life by crashing into the house.” A happy ending for all!