Images by Andrew Bramasco & Melissa Bramasco
A unique home has been listed for sale in Joshua Tree, described as a “self-sustaining micro-grid compound.” Titled The Saturn Haus and listed for almost $15 million, the home was completed in 2017, a collaboration between the Chicago-based firm Northworks (currently hiring for multiple positions nationwide) and writer and creative Wendy Wacker.
Images by Andrew Bramasco & Melissa Bramasco
Images by Andrew Bramasco & Melissa Bramasco
Set across 160 acres, the project comprises a series of distinct pavilions connected by open-air corridors that frame views of the Mojave Desert. The compound includes a main residence, a detached casita, guest quarters, a recording studio, a wellness retreat, and a rooftop viewing deck. The design uses concrete, steel, and glass to form a composition that emphasizes durability and restraint while maintaining a visual dialogue with the surrounding terrain.
Images by Andrew Bramasco & Melissa Bramasco
Images by Andrew Bramasco & Melissa Bramasco
At the heart of the scheme is an extensive self-sustaining infrastructure system. The home operates as a microgrid powered by a photovoltaic solar array and a wind turbine, supporting all daily energy needs. An advanced thermal system heats the lap pool and maintains comfort throughout the seasons, while the design of the home itself incorporates passive design strategies to moderate temperature and light. As a result, the compound has achieved full independence from public utilities.
Images by Andrew Bramasco & Melissa Bramasco
Images by Andrew Bramasco & Melissa Bramasco
The design philosophy behind the home was to reflect the desert’s natural rhythms. Each structure is oriented to trace the movement of the sun, allowing light and shadow to animate the spaces throughout the day. Open-air circulation zones and landscaped courtyards encourage seamless transitions between interior and exterior environments, reinforcing a connection to the desert’s scale and silence.
Images by Andrew Bramasco & Melissa Bramasco
Images by Andrew Bramasco & Melissa Bramasco
The project’s owner, Wendy Wacker, is the great-granddaughter of Charles H. Wacker, former chair of the Chicago Plan Commission and a key figure in implementing Daniel Burnham’s early 20th-century vision for Chicago. Drawing on this legacy of planning and design, Wendy purchased the Joshua Tree property in 2012 and guided its transformation into a design-centered retreat.
Images by Andrew Bramasco & Melissa Bramasco
Images by Andrew Bramasco & Melissa Bramasco
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