Take a look inside one of Austin's 'weirdest' homes, a $2 million lake house that resembles a sand dollar from above
Melissa Wiley
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
Source: Weird Homes Tour
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
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
From above, it resembles a sand dollar, or a flat, burrowing sea urchin.
Sand Dollar House aerial view.
JPM Real Estate Photography
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
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
Source: 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.
View of the Sand Dollar House from Lake Travis.
JPM Real Estate Photography
Source: Austin 360
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
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
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
Source: 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
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
... 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
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
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
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
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
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
... and two of the bathrooms feature mosaic tile designs.
View of a Sand Dollar House bathroom.
JPM Real Estate Photography
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
"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
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
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
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
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
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
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
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
... 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
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
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
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
... then settle around an outdoor fireplace to watch the sun set.
View of a Sand Dollar House outdoor deck.
JPM Real Estate Photography
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
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
Source: Grossman & Jones Group
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
Source: Austin 360
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