Take a look inside one of Austin's 'weirdest' homes, a $2 million lake house that resembles a sand dollar from above

Melissa WileyOct 21, 2020, 04:36 IST

The Sand Dollar House is located on the shores of Lake Travis outside of Austin, Texas.JPM Real Estate Photography

An iconic lakefront home in Austin, Texas, that looks like a sand dollar from above has hit the market for $2 million.
Travel company Weird Homes Tour identifies the property as one of Austin's weirdest homes.
Called the Sand Dollar House, the home was designed in 1979 by a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Insider spoke with real estate agent Michelle Jones about the home. Jones shares the listing with Todd Grossman.
Take a look inside the home, which boasts sweeping views of Lake Travis and decks galore.

A lakefront home dubbed an "Austin icon" by travel company Weird Homes Tour has hit the market for $2 million.

Sand Dollar House aerial view. JPM Real Estate Photography

Perched on a cliff overlooking Lake Travis, the home is located about 20 miles from downtown Austin, Texas.

An arrow shows the location of the Sand Dollar House. Google Maps

From above, it resembles a sand dollar, or a flat, burrowing sea urchin.

Sand Dollar House aerial view. JPM Real Estate Photography

Designed in 1979 by architect John Covert Watson, an apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright, the home is well known to boaters on Lake Travis, according to Weird Homes Tour.

Aerial view of the Sand Dollar House and Lake Travis. JPM Real Estate Photography

Liz Bradford, the home's current owner who purchased the property in 2018, had dreamed about owning it since seeing it from a boat in college, local news outlet Austin 360 reported.

View of the Sand Dollar House from Lake Travis. JPM Real Estate Photography

Liz Bradford, the home's current owner who purchased the property in 2018, had dreamed about owning it since seeing it from a boat in college, local news outlet Austin 360 reported.

Officially called the Sand Dollar House, the structure is also known locally as the Mushroom House, the Nautilus House, and the UFO House based on different interpretations of its shape, listing agent Michelle Jones told Insider.

Sand Dollar House exterior view. JPM Real Estate Photography

Officially called the Sand Dollar House, the structure is also known locally as the Mushroom House, the Nautilus House, and the UFO House based on different interpretations of its shape, listing agent Michelle Jones told Insider.

Built from steel and gunite, the home is an example of 1970s organic architecture, which sought to promote harmony between architecture and nature, according to Weird Homes Tour.

Sand Dollar House front entrance. JPM Real Estate Photography

Built from steel and gunite, the home is an example of 1970s organic architecture, which sought to promote harmony between architecture and nature, according to Weird Homes Tour.

Inside, custom sliding windows open up to multiple decks ...

View of the Sand Dollar House main living area. JPM Real Estate Photography

... and tear-drop-shaped skylights flood the white-washed living area with natural light.

View of the Sand Dollar house foyer. JPM Real Estate Photography

The home has "stood the test of time" and changed very little since 1979 beyond system and energy efficiency upgrades, Jones told Insider.

View of the Sand Dollar House living area. JPM Real Estate Photography

A curved kitchen with a blue-tiled countertop protrudes out over a lower deck ...

View of the Sand Dollar House kitchen. JPM Real Estate Photography

... and two of the bathrooms feature mosaic tile designs.

View of a Sand Dollar House bathroom. JPM Real Estate Photography

"They are so incredible and retro ... even more stunning in person," Jones said of the bathrooms.

View of a Sand Dollar House bathroom. JPM Real Estate Photography

A spiral staircase connects the main level to the sleeping quarters below.

Birds-eye view of the Sand Dollar House spiral staircase. JPM Real Estate Photography

Like the upstairs, the three downstairs bedrooms also have sliding glass doors that open up to the outside.

View of a Sand Dollar House bedroom. JPM Real Estate Photography

Lake views abound. Residents could watch the sun rise from bedside patio chaises ...

View of a Sand Dollar House bedroom patio. JPM Real Estate Photography

... then watch sailboats pass by from one of the upstairs decks over coffee.

View of a Sand Dollar House upstairs deck. JPM Real Estate Photography

Later in the day, they could follow stairs from the house down to the lake ...

View of stairs leading from the Sand Dollar House to Lake Travis. JPM Real Estate Photography

... then settle around an outdoor fireplace to watch the sun set.

View of a Sand Dollar House outdoor deck. JPM Real Estate Photography

Between the views and the home's unusual shape, Jones feels that the home is "truly unique," she told Insider.

Exterior view of the Sand Dollar House at night. JPM Real Estate Photography

Bradford echoed the sentiment in conversation with Austin 360. "I feel like it's a privilege to live here," she said. "This house is very special."

Exterior view of the Sand Dollar House at night. JPM Real Estate Photography

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Take a look inside one of Austin's 'weirdest' homes, a $2 million lake house that resembles a sand dollar from above

A lakefront home dubbed an "Austin icon" by travel company Weird Homes Tour has hit the market for $2 million.

Perched on a cliff overlooking Lake Travis, the home is located about 20 miles from downtown Austin, Texas.

From above, it resembles a sand dollar, or a flat, burrowing sea urchin.

Designed in 1979 by architect John Covert Watson, an apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright, the home is well known to boaters on Lake Travis, according to Weird Homes Tour.

Liz Bradford, the home's current owner who purchased the property in 2018, had dreamed about owning it since seeing it from a boat in college, local news outlet Austin 360 reported.

Officially called the Sand Dollar House, the structure is also known locally as the Mushroom House, the Nautilus House, and the UFO House based on different interpretations of its shape, listing agent Michelle Jones told Insider.

Built from steel and gunite, the home is an example of 1970s organic architecture, which sought to promote harmony between architecture and nature, according to Weird Homes Tour.

Inside, custom sliding windows open up to multiple decks ...

... and tear-drop-shaped skylights flood the white-washed living area with natural light.

The home has "stood the test of time" and changed very little since 1979 beyond system and energy efficiency upgrades, Jones told Insider.

A curved kitchen with a blue-tiled countertop protrudes out over a lower deck ...

... and two of the bathrooms feature mosaic tile designs.

"They are so incredible and retro ... even more stunning in person," Jones said of the bathrooms.

A spiral staircase connects the main level to the sleeping quarters below.

Like the upstairs, the three downstairs bedrooms also have sliding glass doors that open up to the outside.

Lake views abound. Residents could watch the sun rise from bedside patio chaises ...

... then watch sailboats pass by from one of the upstairs decks over coffee.

Later in the day, they could follow stairs from the house down to the lake ...

... then settle around an outdoor fireplace to watch the sun set.

Between the views and the home's unusual shape, Jones feels that the home is "truly unique," she told Insider.

Bradford echoed the sentiment in conversation with Austin 360. "I feel like it's a privilege to live here," she said. "This house is very special."