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  4. The producer of the cult classic movie 'American Psycho' is building a shipping container home in the California desert that looks like an exploding star. Take a look inside the Starburst House.

The producer of the cult classic movie 'American Psycho' is building a shipping container home in the California desert that looks like an exploding star. Take a look inside the Starburst House.

Melissa Wiley   

The producer of the cult classic movie 'American Psycho' is building a shipping container home in the California desert that looks like an exploding star. Take a look inside the Starburst House.
Courtesy Whitaker Studio
  • A home resembling an exploding star will soon grace the landscape of Joshua Tree, California.
  • Called the 'Starburst House,' the home will consist of 21 splayed shipping containers.
  • 'American Psycho' film producer Chris Hanley commissioned London-based architect James Whitaker to design the home for his 90-acre Joshua Tree estate.
  • Construction is scheduled to begin on the house this year.
  • Take a look inside the Starburst House, which comes with a solar-paneled garage and above-ground pool.

Meet Chris Hanley, a film producer since 1991 whose credits include "American Psycho" and "Spring Breakers."

Meet Chris Hanley, a film producer since 1991 whose credits include "American Psycho" and "Spring Breakers."
Courtesy Chris Hanley

While film production has taken center stage throughout much of Hanley's life, he is leaning into another passion of his: commissioning renowned architects to bring innovative homes to life.

While film production has taken center stage throughout much of Hanley
Hanley captures his reflection in the Invisible House.      Courtesy Chris Hanley

One of these homes is the Invisible House, a mirror-clad, single-story home completed in 2019 that resembles a skyscraper turned on its side.

One of these homes is the Invisible House, a mirror-clad, single-story home completed in 2019 that resembles a skyscraper turned on its side.
Exterior of the Invisible House designed by Tomas Osinski with input from Hanley.      Courtesy Invisible House

The home, which Demi Lovato recently rented out, is located on a 90-acre estate in Joshua Tree, California, that Hanley and his wife, Roberta, purchased in 2006. The couple also installed a prefab guest house by Office of Mobile Design on the land.

The home, which Demi Lovato recently rented out, is located on a 90-acre estate in Joshua Tree, California, that Hanley and his wife, Roberta, purchased in 2006. The couple also installed a prefab guest house by Office of Mobile Design on the land.
View of Hanley's 90-acre Joshua Tree estate.      Courtesy Chris Hanley

Now, they're ready to break ground on a third home that they've dubbed 'the Starburst House."

Now, they
Rendering of the Starburst House.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

Consisting of 21 splayed shipping containers, the home resembles an exploding star.

Consisting of 21 splayed shipping containers, the home resembles an exploding star.
Rendering of the Starburst House, showing the outside wooden deck and pool.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

London-based architect James Whitaker originally designed the home as an office for an advertising startup in Germany that went under. Since 2017, he has worked with Hanley to adapt the design for the California desert landscape.

London-based architect James Whitaker originally designed the home as an office for an advertising startup in Germany that went under. Since 2017, he has worked with Hanley to adapt the design for the California desert landscape.
View from car.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

After three years of planning, construction is finally scheduled to start at the end of this year.

After three years of planning, construction is finally scheduled to start at the end of this year.
Approaching by foot.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

Take a look at this exclusive animation of the home created by Whitaker Studio for Business Insider:

"Each container is orientated to maximize views across the landscape, control light entering the house, or to use the topography to provide privacy, depending on their individual use," Whitaker told Business Insider.

"Each container is orientated to maximize views across the landscape, control light entering the house, or to use the topography to provide privacy, depending on their individual use," Whitaker told Business Insider.
Courtesy Whitaker Studio

So as not to disturb the land, the home will be elevated above the ground by steel plates and posts.

So as not to disturb the land, the home will be elevated above the ground by steel plates and posts.
View of the kitchen.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

Containers on the ground level will have glass windows that open to the outside, Hanley told Business Insider.

Containers on the ground level will have glass windows that open to the outside, Hanley told Business Insider.
Rendering of the Starburst House.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

The ceiling will rise to a height of almost 34 feet.

The ceiling will rise to a height of almost 34 feet.
Rendering of the Starburst House.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

Whereas the Invisible House mirrors the landscape, the Starburst House interprets it, offering 21 "portals" from which to appreciate the surrounding landscape and night sky, Hanley said.

Whereas the Invisible House mirrors the landscape, the Starburst House interprets it, offering 21 "portals" from which to appreciate the surrounding landscape and night sky, Hanley said.
Rendering of the Starburst House.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

Inside, the home will span 2,000 square feet and consist of an entry corridor, central living area, kitchen, and shared half bathroom.

Inside, the home will span 2,000 square feet and consist of an entry corridor, central living area, kitchen, and shared half bathroom.
Rendering of the Starburst House. Left: Kitchen seating area: Right: Living area.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

There will also be three bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms.

There will also be three bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms.
View of a bedroom.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

The home is designed so that if you're standing in the middle of it, you can see to the end of each container. Sliding doors can section off the space.

The home is designed so that if you
Rendering of the Starburst House. Left: View of open bedroom doors. Right: Same view with closed bedroom doors.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

Hanley is envisioning the home as a creative space. Yoga, meditation, and screenplay writing are options, and "dancing is a priority," he said.

Hanley is envisioning the home as a creative space. Yoga, meditation, and screenplay writing are options, and "dancing is a priority," he said.
Rendering of the Starburst House. View from the entrance looking inside.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

"I'm a crazy wild dancer," he told Business Insider. "Not in a professional way, but in a free-form way. I even have a choreography credit on 'Spring Breakers.' We used to dance and go crazy on set a lot."

"I
View of the living room.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

Here is Hanley breaking down the dance floor at a party:

... and Hanley (wearing blue) showing off his moves on the set of "Spring Breakers":

This past Thanksgiving, Hanley and a young house guest showed off their dance moves in the Invisible House to the tune of Billie Eilish:

"I've never designed a house without a big open space," he told Business Insider.

Source: Starburst House, Whitaker Studio, IMDB

Outside, a garage covered in solar panels will provide power for the house, and a wooden patio with an above-ground pool will serve as a recreation area.

Outside, a garage covered in solar panels will provide power for the house, and a wooden patio with an above-ground pool will serve as a recreation area.
Courtesy Whitaker Studio

Hanley estimates that the project will take nine months to complete once construction starts and will be ready for occupancy in late 2021.

Hanley estimates that the project will take nine months to complete once construction starts and will be ready for occupancy in late 2021.
View of a bedroom (outside looking in).      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

The house will be residential to begin with, but Hanley anticipates opening it to creative guests down the road. Both the Invisible House and Hanley's house in Lamu, Kenya, are available to rent for $5,000 and $4,800 per day respectively.

The house will be residential to begin with, but Hanley anticipates opening it to creative guests down the road. Both the Invisible House and Hanley
Rendering of the Starburst House.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

While Hanley has a few more architectural projects in mind for his properties in Joshua Tree and Kenya, he is focusing on the Starburst House for the time being.

While Hanley has a few more architectural projects in mind for his properties in Joshua Tree and Kenya, he is focusing on the Starburst House for the time being.
Rendering of the Starburst House.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

As a film producer, Hanley has "a background in nurturing creative projects into fruition" and is "in many ways the dream collaborator," Whitaker told Business Insider.

As a film producer, Hanley has "a background in nurturing creative projects into fruition" and is "in many ways the dream collaborator," Whitaker told Business Insider.
Rendering of the Starburst House.      Courtesy Whitaker Studio

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