Sitting alone in the isolated desert Rose Muerta resembles a burnt out abandoned home waiting to be discovered and used as the intruders wish. Futuristic architect Robert Stone recently completed his brand-new, open-air structure to give kids of all ages a place to play again. This unique blend of structure and open space expands the minds of all who come. No longer do the walls and ceilings of restrictive architecture bind the person. This structure breaks the rules and allows people to set their own boundaries. They can stay in the safe confines of the custom-made concrete blocks and intricate wrought iron work or they can flow through the open design to the horizons of the desert itself.
Approaching, one sees the pavilion rising slightly above the sandy desert. It is black. It is very black and looks unfinished, uncompleted. Forming the walls of the sunken living room are a combination of iron and concrete with more air than material, allowing the room to be endless. The low roof drapes itself around the building offering shade and shelter, leaving an open space in the center to view the star-studded night sky. Chrome columns partly clad in black rope offer support and a feeling of floating in mid-air. The ceiling is lined with mirrors reflecting the desert overhead, creating the feeling of being surrounded by sand and space.
California King Bedding
The name Rosa Muerta means dead rose in Spanish. A thousand intricate and realistic black roses adorn this structure, created by the architect Robert Stone. Custom-designed and totally hand built by artist and architect Robert Stone, Rosa Muerta is a statement to man's right to be individual, to do things differently and to create unique visions.
The blocks are stained black. Black is the only color; it is in the concrete floor, the walls, the ceiling, the roof, the appliances in the kitchen, the bathroom fixtures and the king sized bed, bedding and towels. This black backdrop allows people to bring their own colors and light into this space and their lives. This is a blank slate ready for whoever ventures here to design and use as they choose. Built as the ultimate party house in the Joshua Tree area, this is available for rent.
The gorgeous concrete benches in the sunken living room are designed to allow the visitor to view the natural landscape surrounding the building at ground level, creating a different perspective of desert surroundings. An oversized 7' X 10' spa under a huge heart-shaped open-air window offers all-over body relaxing in warm caressing water, the fire pit heats up cool evenings or toasted marshmallows and the handy BBQ is there for large parties, all in this unique living room. A fully functional kitchen includes a range, frig and microwave. The bathroom has a black glass sink, black faucets and large shower. This has all the comforts of a restful homey evening or an elegant outdoor camping adventure.
The open air shower allows the user to bask in the freedom of nature and still be totally enclosed in privacy. The king sized bed rests in a mysterious cave and is covered by the partial roof with great sky views on both sides; this is the next best thing to a retractable ceiling. Located on a very private two and half acre paradise, these visitors have privacy to party hardy or enjoy a quiet people-less retreat. This experience is especially designed to take the visitor into a different dimension, away from all the concerns and demands everyday life into the realm of fantasy and play.
Best of all, this is located only 141 miles from Los Angeles and 10 miles from Joshua Tree National Park, a 479,000 acre park featuring the unusual Joshua Trees. It is easy to get to, fun to enjoy and hard to leave.
Robert Stone built this wonder by himself over three years. This structure was meticulously designed to be a nail less construction held together by stainless steel pins and rope connections. Robert Stone, using skills he learned from his contractor father, installed the frame, metal and blocks, the unique appearing-to-float roof, the sunken concrete and marble flooring, benches as well as the mechanical aspects like plumbing and electrical. Other unique aspects include the bold use of the solar absorption and thermal mass to heat this open-air building in the cooler season and using the shading, openness and breezes to cool during the warm season. This is the desert, where temperatures range from 30 degrees in the winter to over 110 degrees in the summer.
People flock here to create their own adventures; this structure only provides the space. This is different, this is unique, this is the chance to "reframe and recreate your world" as the owner, Robert Stone, so proudly proclaims.