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.

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.

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.
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Click here to see all the images of the Airform house.
Authors
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Tori Latham
Tori Latham is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. She was previously a copy editor at The Atlantic, and has written for publications including The Cut and The Hollywood Reporter. When not…



