A gleaming glass sanctuary in the heart of the California desert has been put on the market for the first time since it was completed, offering a rare opportunity to enjoy the very best in off-grid living, with all the luxury of a modern megamansion.
Known as “The Saturn Haus,” the self-sustaining compound makes a striking impression on the skyline between Joshua Tree National Park and the Mohave Desert, yet somehow also seems to blend seamlessly into its surroundings, courtesy of its enormous glass walls that provide picturesque views from every room.
For those seeking privacy, the property—which is listed for $14.99 million with Charlie Price, of Coldwell Banker Realty-Newport Beach—is the perfect place, nestled at the heart of a 160-acre parcel that was purchased by seller Wendy Wacker in 2012.
Wacker then spent five years developing the incredible compound that is now known as The Saturn Haus, working with an acclaimed design collective called Northworks, which is known for its minimalist, context-driven architecture.
While some minds might boggle at the work required to create such a “modern minimalist masterpiece,” for Wacker, designing such a stunning abode could be viewed as an act of fate.
Though she opted to pursue a career as a writer, Wacker has a prominent family history that blends civic leadership, business acumen, and a deep appreciation for architecture and landscape—albeit focused not in California but in Chicago, where she was raised and where her family was involved in the city’s development.
Her great grandfather, Charles Henry Wacker, was the first chairman of the Chicago Plan Commission and advocated for widening streets, creating parkways, expanding forest preserves, and improving public infrastructure.
Wacker Drive, the multitiered street along the Chicago River in the Loop, is named in his honor.
Meanwhile, Wendy’s father, Frederick G. Wacker Jr. was an engineer, the president of two Chicago companies, a jazz musician, Formula 1 driver, and a prominent figure in Chicago’s architectural and social circles.
But Wendy had ideas of her own. She decided to leave the Midwest behind and settle in Southern California, spending $7 million building her own unique vacation home/writer’s retreat, where she could find unlimited inspiration in the rugged, natural environment.
“The beauty up here is so otherworldly,” she told the Wall Street Journal. “The way the sky looks, the clouds seem so low, it’s almost as if you can reach them.”
She envisioned a home that would harmonize with the parklike surroundings, rather than be a discordant burden on them. Her concept features minimalistic, sculptural rooms connected by open-air corridors that maximize desert vistas.
Expansive indoor-outdoor spaces, including open-air landscaped courtyards, also help the structures blend in with its desert surroundings.
Mostly constructed of concrete, steel, and glass, the compound consists of four distinct structures, among them a 2,110-square-foot main residence with a wide-open great room, high ceilings, walls of glass, and radiant heated flooring for those chilly desert nights.
The windows, walls, and skylights are devised so the sun changes the colors and moods of the interiors as it moves across the sky.
“The residence unfolds as a composition of sculptural volumes-distinct in form yet seamlessly connected by open-air corridors that capture sweeping desert vistas and trace the sun’s arc from dawn to dusk,” the listing notes.
“As the desert transitions from day into twilight, cinematic shadows stretch across the home’s minimalist lines, transforming the architecture into a living canvas.”
In addition to the main residence, there’s a 1,280-square-foot guest casita with bunk beds that can accommodate four people comfortably; a 620-square-foot music/listening room; and an art studio or gallery measuring 230 square feet.
Outdoor amenities include a lap pool bordered by a covered deck with expansive desert views, provocative sculptures, natural landscaping, and a rooftop viewing deck. There’s also an outdoor kitchen and a dining area with an architecturally slatted roof.
The property’s partnership with nature extends beyond its structural design, however, and includes an array of eco-friendly amenities, operating as its own self-sustaining micro-grid, powered by a photovoltaic solar array and a wind turbine. Advanced thermal technology heats the lap pool.
While Wacker was eager to implement these self-sustaining power sources for environmental reasons, the home’s remote location also meant that they were a necessity to ensure the dwelling could run without interruption.
“The residence spans multiple pavilions that frame the desert horizon, capturing the arc of the sun while offering fully self-sufficient living,” a description shared with Realtor.com® notes.
“With expansive indoor-outdoor spaces, a wellness retreat, music studio, and private guest quarters, this is a statement in art, design, and desert serenity.”
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Wacker confessed that she is reluctant to leave her beloved retreat behind, but has been forced to put it on the market as a result of health issues.
“I’m going to miss the nature most of all—the solitude and no light pollution, being able to see the heavens,” she said.
