Black Rose

Black Rose: California

Experience the true silence of the desert and reestablish your relationship with nature at this stunning monolithic home. If it's good enough to grace the pages of Vogue and provide the backdrop to a Saint Laurent lookbook, then it's got our vote.

Covered in ornamental hearts and flowers, all in matte black, this unique building takes inspiration from traditional Japanese design and updates it for the raw beauty of the harsh desert climate. Here, chrome columns emerge from the sand to support a mirror-lined ceiling and custom wrought iron screens add visual intrigue, all held together by stainless steel pins and ropes to create a spectacular nail-less construction.

Despite its almost skeletal form, the building is an incredibly sheltering and nurturing space – a pleasing contrast in a land known for its unforgiving nature. There's no heating or air conditioning here. Instead, the architects have cleverly harnessed the desert climate to ensure that the 'Goldilocks' zone is always maintained. Block walls allow the desert breeze to pass through the bedroom at night, while a mirrored canopy over the living room reflects the relentless midday sun.

The sunken living area can be opened up to your desert surrounds thanks to a retractable screen, and an indoor kitchen plus barbecue and outdoor sink take care of the catering side of things. Meanwhile, the town of Joshua Tree is approximately 5 miles away for those nights when you don't fancy cooking. Finally, an open-air fire pit with endless views into the inky blackness of space is just the icing on the cake.

Home truths:
*Access to this home is via a private entrance
*The home is set over a single level, with small flights of stairs into the sunken areas, so it may not be suitable for those with limited mobility
*A car is a necessity in order to access the property, there's on-site parking available