I have always had a special fondness for the Palm Springs area. I love the Salton Sea. I love the aerial tramway and the world it leads you to. I love the stark desert. I love the modern architecture from the 1950s and 1960s.  And given a familial connection to the community, I have many happy childhood memories from there.

So, it did not go unnoticed by me when the following came on the market…

This unusual futuristic home in Palm Springs, California was commissioned by the comedian Bob Hope and his wife Dolores from the American architect John Lautner.

I would encourage you to click on the images to bring them up to a larger size and to be better able to appreciate the “spaceship” home:

The house, which is now on sale for $50 million, is the most expensive house ever put on the market in the area:

The home was built to resemble a volcano, featuring a concrete roof with a hole in a center that lets light into a central courtyard. But it’s also been compared to a spaceship and a giant mushroom:

Hope’s home was built not once but twice, as the original wooden frame burned down during construction. It wasn’t until 1979 that Hope and his wife moved in:

The house features six bedrooms, a putting green, and two swimming pools:

Outside, there are beautiful gardens, a tennis court and a huge covered terrace where as many as 300 people can fit:

The house also has panoramic views of the Coachella Valley, including the city of Palm Springs and the San Jacinto mountains.

No.2466 Southridge Drive is being sold for $50,000,000 through Patrick Stewart Properties, Palm Springs (760 325 9091) and Partners Trust, of Beverly Hills, (310 413 7666).