A rare example of mid-20th century experimental architecture is on the market in Pasadena, California. The last known “bubble house” in the United States, designed by famed Southern California architect Wallace Neff, is listed for $1.95 million. Built in 1947, the distinctive dome-shaped residence exemplifies Neff’s innovative “airform” construction technique, which employed an inflated balloon covered with sprayed concrete to quickly and affordably create curved, futuristic homes.

Neff, renowned for his Spanish-Mediterranean-style estates commissioned by Hollywood icons such as Judy Garland and Charlie Chaplin, turned to the airform method after World War II in an effort to address housing shortages. Though multiple bubble homes were constructed at the time, most have since been demolished, leaving this Pasadena property as the sole surviving example in the country.

The two-bedroom, one-bath home encompasses 1,204 square feet of interior space with gently curved walls, situated on a nearly 9,000-square-foot lot. A 1,000-square-foot detached studio complements the residence, though it does not share the dome design. Over the decades, some interior alterations modified the original curvilinear aesthetic, but the current owners have restored much of the home’s distinctive character.

Media executive Priya Girishankar and tech entrepreneur Damon Cleckler acquired the property in 2025 from Sari Takahashi-Roden, widow of artist and musician Steve Roden, after his passing. The couple undertook the restoration to complete Roden’s vision of preserving the home’s original form, including reinstating key curved features such as those in the kitchen. Their work reflects both a tribute to Roden’s legacy and a personal journey through loss and healing following the death of their friend and the destruction of their previous home in a wildfire.

The interior highlights include a half-circular living room with a central fireplace capped by a “floating” chimney cantilevered over a concrete base, which owners describe as both sturdy and visually striking. The home also contains a Cold War-era bomb shelter located approximately 15 feet below the studio, a unique addition from the 1960s.

While Neff considered his airform houses a major achievement, their unconventional design and spatial minimalism did not appeal to all, leading to their eventual decline. The home’s current listing agent noted that the curved architecture challenges conventional preferences for rectangular rooms but offers a serene and artistic atmosphere for those who appreciate its form.

For Girishankar and Cleckler, preserving the bubble house has been a meaningful endeavor that honors a friend and sustains a rare architectural experiment. “It just felt like the right thing to do,” Cleckler said, emphasizing the sense of joy the home continues to inspire.