A rotating home built in 1963 in Novato, California, is on the market for the first time [1].
The property represents a rare piece of mid-century architectural eccentricity. Its listing marks the first time the home has been available to the public since its construction over six decades ago [1].
Designed by Marin County builder Sam Harkleroad, the structure is known as the "Round House" [1]. The home is situated on a hill overlooking Highway 101 [3]. Its most distinctive feature is a mechanical system that allows the house to rotate 320 degrees [1].
Harkleroad designed the rotation mechanism using two washing-machine motors [1]. The builder said, "It rotates 320 degrees using two washing-machine motors" [1].
The property is listed for $3.3 million [4]. The sale includes a total of seven homes on the parcel [4].
Listing agent Angelo Baglieri said the unique Round House has become a piece of real estate that "everyone" in the community knows [2]. Despite its local fame, the decision to sell came from the builder's grandson, who said the house is difficult to maintain [1].
The home has been described as a "spaceship house" and an irreplaceable California landmark [2]. While the mechanical rotation provides a shifting view of the surrounding landscape, the complexity of the 1963 design has contributed to the current decision to list the property [1].
“It rotates 320 degrees using two washing-machine motors.”
The sale of the Round House highlights the tension between preserving architectural landmarks and the practical burdens of maintaining non-standard residential engineering. Because the home relies on repurposed industrial components like washing-machine motors, its viability as a long-term residence depends on a buyer willing to invest in specialized upkeep for a structure that defies traditional building codes and maintenance patterns.
