The Spaceship House, built in California by architect Mary Gordon, is a place that E.T. could call home: It’s a curvaceous white beacon topped by TV-shaped towers and encircled by an outdoor staircase that looks like a radar dish.¹ It could only have been built in the 1970s. Back then, the United States faced the twin specters of war and recession. These grim prospects forced some into spiritualism and yoga (Iyengar and Ashtanga both put down roots during that decade) while others sought solace in astronomy and acid. Architecture, music and film (see Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Invasion of the Body Snatchers) followed the Space Age trend.² NASA became so confident of finding extraterrestrial life This story is from Kinfolk Issue Thirty-Five Buy Now Related Stories Design Issue 42 The Low-Down An architectural conversation starter. Arts & Culture Design Issue 39 What the Duck An introduction to duck architecture. Design Issue 37 Downsizing Unable to travel during lockdown, architects Salem Charabi & Rasmus Stroyberg decided to recreate a favorite building. Design Issue 36 At Work With: Hariri & Hariri Sisters Gisue Hariri and Mojgan Hariri have always been “partners in crime." Charles Shafaieh meets them at their New York architecture studio. Design Issue 32 Cult Rooms For Osaka’s extravagant 1970 Expo, Isamu Noguchi created a propulsive centerpiece that married Japanese and Western traditions. Design Issue 31 The Chain Reaction Inspired by the overcomplicated machines of Rube Goldberg, follow the trail to watch a flower—finally—get watered.
Design Issue 37 Downsizing Unable to travel during lockdown, architects Salem Charabi & Rasmus Stroyberg decided to recreate a favorite building.
Design Issue 36 At Work With: Hariri & Hariri Sisters Gisue Hariri and Mojgan Hariri have always been “partners in crime." Charles Shafaieh meets them at their New York architecture studio.
Design Issue 32 Cult Rooms For Osaka’s extravagant 1970 Expo, Isamu Noguchi created a propulsive centerpiece that married Japanese and Western traditions.
Design Issue 31 The Chain Reaction Inspired by the overcomplicated machines of Rube Goldberg, follow the trail to watch a flower—finally—get watered.
