1097 South Los Robles Avenue

Pasadena CA 91106

1204 sq. ft.

8984 sq. ft.

Single-Family

Last sold for $1,950,000

George Penner, last sold this property on 05 August 2026 after 77 days on market.

Overview

The Wallace Neff Shell House, carefully restored by its current owners with a commitment to preserving the integrity of Neff's original architectural intent, the residence remains a remarkably intact artifact of mid-century innovation.Set on an approximately 9,000-square-foot corner lot, the two-bedroom dome dwelling unfolds as a study in organic geometry and spatial efficiency. Beneath the curved shell, a circular half living room radiates from a central fireplace, flowing seamlessly into the kitchen and adjoining bath. The home's monolithic form blurs distinctions between structure and sculpture, embodying Neff's belief that architecture could be economical, resilient, and profoundly modern.In addition, the property includes an over 1,000-square-foot detached studio space, with submitted ADU plans in process with the city. This structure currently incorporates a large open public space, bath and separate bedroom. Further underscoring the property's historic significance is a rare Airform-constructed bomb shelter, added in the 60s, approximately 15 feet below the studio. Two patio outdoor seating areas, one nestled between the dome and detached studio space, the other positioned just outside the dome, are thoughtfully integrated within the surrounding gardens and gated drive.Originally conceived in 1947, The Shell House stands today as the sole surviving example in the United States of Neff's visionary Airform construction system. Also referred to as 'Bubble House,' a reinforced concrete construction, erected with an inflatable balloon and then sprayed with gunite, this experimental post-war housing concept fuses futurist engineering with sculptural domestic design. The Shell House represents a singular chapter in American architectural history, an extraordinarily rare convergence of preservation, experimentation, and design vision. A potential Mills Act candidate, if desired.

Features

2 bedrooms

1 bathroom

4 carspaces

2 open car spaces

2 garage spaces

1204 sq. ft. floor area

8984 sq. ft. lot size

Single-Family

Estimated Value

Based on this property and similar 2 bedroom single-family properties sold in Pasadena over the last 12 months, the estimated median property value of 1097 South Los Robles Avenue is $1.34m.

Median value

$1.34m

Estimated value range

$762.5k - $1.95m

Median days on market

Estimated value trend

increase over the last 12 months

Average days on market is based on recent, comparable sales in Pasadena. It is only an indication of the time a property is actively listed and should not be relied upon as an accurate representation of how soon a property will be sold.