Architect Wallace Neff's Last Surviving Airform 'Bubble House' With Underground Bomb Shelter Hits the Market for $2 Million

May 23, 2026 - 18:47

A rare piece of architectural history has hit the market in Pasadena, California. The property is the last surviving "Airform" house designed by architect Wallace Neff, and it comes with a surprising feature: an underground bomb shelter. The asking price is $2 million.

Neff, known for his work on Southern California estates, created the "Bubble House" in the 1940s. The construction method was unusual for its time. Workers built the home by molding chicken wire and spray concrete around a large inflated balloon. Once the concrete set, the balloon was deflated and removed, leaving a rounded, seamless structure. The technique was meant to be a fast and affordable way to build housing after World War II.

This particular bubble house is the only one of its kind still standing. It sits on a hillside lot and spans roughly 1,200 square feet. The interior features open, curved rooms with large windows. The most unusual addition is the underground bomb shelter, a remnant of Cold War-era anxieties. The shelter is accessed through a hatch in the floor and includes basic living quarters.

The home has been updated with modern systems but retains its original futuristic look. Real estate agents describe it as a conversation starter and a piece of design history. For the right buyer, it offers a chance to own a home that looks like something from another planet while still being firmly rooted in mid-century innovation.