27-05-2025
Does this ghostly glass house for sale give mausoleum vibes? Judge for yourself
A glass house that looks like it should have its own soundtrack of creepy songs belted out by a children's choir has landed on the real estate market in Harvard, Illinois.
In all its glory the home sits in a vast field with looming trees serving as its backdrop. All that privacy for $499,000. And the peaceful surroundings aren't the only highlight of this futuristic little place — the interior is just as riveting.
'Welcome to Casina, a remarkable example of intellectual architecture designed by the late architects Alfred Swenson and Pao-Chi Chang. Constructed with concrete, metal, and glass, Casina is built to endure well beyond our lifetimes,' the listing on Zillow says.
'Alfred and Pao-Chi studied under Mies van der Rohe at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and Mies' influence on modern architecture is evident in this masterpiece. The home is named Casina, derived from the Latin word for 'small cabin,' and took several years to complete.'
The house was built for folks who, well, clearly hate other folks intruding on their space.
'Set on 10 serene, rolling acres, the house is intentionally positioned to maintain a sense of detachment from its surroundings, allowing the landscape to be admired from a distance,' the listing says. 'The architects drew inspiration from a Yuan Dynasty scroll depicting two scholars contemplating the vast landscape from an open-fronted pavilion.'
With one bedroom and two bathrooms, the 1,500-square-foot residence is modernism at its finest, with beige walls and a smooth, frosty teal look that makes the inside all the more sophisticated. Downstairs; a kitchenette with hidden cabinets and floor-to-ceiling windows. Upstairs; the loft area.
'The second-level open bedroom loft includes dual porches on each side, a full bathroom, and discreet built-in cabinetry. The loft comfortably accommodates a king-size bed,' the listing describes.
Other features, per the listing, include:
FireplacePartial basementFull upstairs bathroomOpportunities to walk around in the buff
The special house was featured on Zillow Gone Wild, a popular real estate Facebook page that highlights quirky houses on the market all around the country. People were impressed … and a little bit terrified.
'Looks like a great place to store 13 ghosts,' one person joked.
'Is it a mausoleum? Is it a potato shed? How do you get to this?' another chimed in.
'I feel like this may have been used in a psychological horror film. If not it definitely should be…' someone said.
'Was this a prop from 'Andor?' The building is tiny with all that open field.? Do you fly your star ship on the lawn? Then what?' one person asked.
'I actually like this house. It has a lot of potential and the right furniture and artwork could make it fabulous,' another noted.
'I've seen jazzier hospital decor,' someone joked.
Harvard is about an 80-mile drive northwest from Chicago.
