Wallace Neff’s Last Remaining Airform House Lists for $2 Million


As an architect to the stars, Wallace Neff designed homes for the likes of Judy Garland, Douglas Fairbanks, and tons of other Hollywood royalty. But he didn’t just think about his A-list clients.

In 1946, Neff built an experimental residence for his brother Andrew. The dome-shaped structure, known as an “Airform” house, was created by inflating a giant balloon, covering it in steel mesh, spraying it with gunite concrete, and then deflating the form. Inspired by a soap bubble when shaving, Neff thought the Airform blueprint could help solve the postwar housing crisis by creating homes that could be built quickly and with lower construction costs.

1097 South Los Robles Avenue living room

A sculptural fireplace anchors the circular living room.

Cameron Carothers

Recently renovated, that Pasadena home is now on the market for a hair under $2 million. Listed with George Penner at Compass, it’s believed to be the last surviving Neff-designed Airform house in the United States. The sellers are Priya Girishankar, a media and marketing executive, and Damon Cleckler, a tech exec. The two led a restoration process that kept all of the home’s quirky attributes intact, while turning it into a comfortable residence fit for modern homeowners.

At the center of the abode is a circular, half-moon living room, anchored by a sculptural fireplace and with a small dining area off to the side. From here, you can access the kitchen, outfitted with warm wood cabinetry and a breakfast bar for quick, eat-in meals. As currently configured, there’s one bedroom, an office, and a bathroom—all with the sloped walls necessary of a domed structure. The office can easily serve as an additional bedroom, however, if you feel the need for more sleeping quarters.

1097 South Los Robles Avenue bedroom

The main house has two bedrooms, while a detached studio offers one extra.

Cameron Carothers

Outside, the 9,000-square-foot corner lot allows for a couple of patio spaces. One, just outside the house, is ideal for outdoor dining. The other is better suited as a lounge space among the green grass. And while the main residence doesn’t have a huge footprint, the property includes a detached studio with submitted ADU plans currently in process with the city. Measuring in at more than 1,000 square feet—almost equivalent to the main house—this building has a large, open main room topped off by wood-beam ceilings. While there’s no kitchen, there’s a living area, a dining area, a bedroom, and a bathroom, making it quite livable for guests.

Click here to see all the images of the Airform house.

Cameron Carothers





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