When you go in search of your new home, there are probably quite a few details you take into consideration, like how many bedrooms and bathrooms, whether there is a backyard and if you would be living on a main street or in a quieter area. But have you ever had to take into account that your home might rotate?
Yes, that’s right, a rotating home. It sounds like something that would only exist in a futuristic movie, but there is a rotating house right here in the United States—in San Diego, California. Sitting on Mount Helix, this marvel can rotate 360 degrees, clockwise and counter-clockwise, giving you the best views of the city all day long. Take a peek at the Rotating Home and understand exactly how it works and why it is known as the world’s most famous rotating home.
Meet the couple who built the rotating home from scratch
The idea for the Rotating Home was one that was a spur-of-the-moment decision. In 2000, Al and Janet Johnstone knew that they wanted a round home, but the idea to rotate it didn’t come right away.
“I suggested that we build a round house, Janet said okay, we got into a big discussion as to what room was going to have what view. I opened my big mouth and said, ‘Well, it’s round, why don’t we rotate it?’” Al explained in 2012.
In June 2000, the Johnstones received a permit to commence their project, which took nearly four years to complete. Without any real training, Al acted as the architect, engineer and contractor while Janet took care of the bookkeeping, decorating, and she, too, helped out with the building.
How does a 360° rotating house even work?
You might be wondering how the home rotates with plumbing and electrical aspects and the answer is that there is a central non-rotating core to the home, where the pipes reside. The second floor was created to spin clockwise and counter-clockwise, while a section in the middle stays perfectly still.
“It is driven by a 1.5 horsepower DC motor; it takes .8 hp to start and .75 hp to run the house in either direction, anywhere from one revolution in 33 minutes up to one revolution in 24 hours,” the site for the Rotating home explains. “It can rotate in either direction as many times as one would want (it doesn’t have to unwind).”
Why this rotating house is so special
While the rotating house in California is not the only one in existence, it is the only one that follows current building codes, making the technology extremely unique. And with the incredible views thanks to the ceiling-to-floor windows on the second floor, this home is truly one-of-a-kind.
In 2023, the home went on sale for the first time since its construction and was listed for $5.3 million.
The second floor of the home is 5,100 square feet with an additional 1,400 square feet of deck space. There are also four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The home can completely rotate in 33 minutes and everything is simply controlled by a switch.
“I think it will be a second home for someone who wants a cool house,” listing agent Melvina Selfani predicts. “It’s not going to be someone who really, really needs a home. It’s going to be someone that wants a luxury, unique home. Whoever buys it is going to purchase it for its uniqueness.”
The home quickly sold in August 2023 for $5.1 million.
