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This stunning 'Architectural Digest' home is available to book on Airbnb

The Kellogg Doolittle estate is part of the Airbnb Luxe collection

Erika Mailman
Written by
Erika Mailman
San Francisco and USA contributor
At sunset, an aerial view of the Airbnb shows its unique concrete platforms amidst the rubble of the desert hillside
Photograph: Courtesy Airbnb
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Sometimes if you peruse Airbnb long enough, you came across new listings that blow your mind, like the famous Kellogg Doolittle estate in Joshua Tree, CA, which is available for the first time as an Airbnb Luxe exclusive.

A swirling, spiked table echoes the ceiling's unfurling concrete arches with natural sunlight leaking through.
Photograph: Courtesy Airbnb

Architect Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, now 89, was an innovator of organic architecture and spent five years crafting this home along with artist, craftsman and interior designer John Vugrin who then spent 14 years working on many of the home’s custom details. Organic architecture is a term coined by Frank Lloyd Wright, of whom Kellogg was a protegé, and refers to the concept of buildings harmonizing with the natural world. Kellogg was related to Frederick Law Olmsted, famous for landscape architecture standouts like New York’s Central Park. Simply put, there’s a lot of talent and progressive thinking about the architecture behind this house!

A round bed rests in a glass and concerete bedroom with views of the desert landscape in the distance.
Photograph: Courtesy Airbnb

This incredible 5,000 square-foot Airbnb known as the High Desert House was originally built by Kellogg for Western watercolor artist Bev Doolittle and is a wild and surprising structure embedded within the site’s bouldered hillside. Without walls, the structure succeeds with 26 concrete columns which burrow seven feet into the bedrock. Dwell magazine says, “The lower solid, concrete portion brings to mind elements of Native American adobe pueblos, while the sculptural form of the upper section conjures images of dinosaur fossils or spaceships.”

In the living room, a stone staircase curves away from the metal hooded fireplace
Photograph: Courtesy Airbnb

This private masterpiece which can now host six guests sits on the edge of Joshua Tree National Park and includes its own path into a quiet area of the park. Or you can drive to the main entrance. The property comes with a golf cart for jetting around, and if you can bear to walk away from the natural views for remote work (boo!), there’s an office with three workstations. Afterward, slip into the hot tub to defrag.

A bed is encircled by curving bookshelves and above, various concrete flaps that stagger like thick ribs
Photograph: Courtesy Airbnb

What’s great here besides the spectacular architecture? The exclusive dark skies viewing. And if the quietude gets to be a little too much, head to Palm Springs an hour away to reconnect with city lights. Yes, the price tag which is north of $5,000 per night is hefty, but the chance to stay in this one-of-a-kind home is doubtless worth it.

Check the whole property out at Airbnb.com

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