Avocado House: three circles shape a Yucca Valley hilltop retreat

Avocado House, a newly completed three-bedroom retreat perched above California's Yucca Valley, was designed around just three circles — one for the house core, one for the yard, and one connecting the two. Arshia Architects' principal architect Arshia Mahmoodi led the project, and the finished floorplan happened to resemble an avocado, with the rounded core as the pit. The name stuck.

The home now belongs to Fieldtrip's Signature Homes portfolio — the same hospitality company behind Joshua Tree's famed Invisible House. Guests can book a stay, with boutique hotel amenities included.

Why three circles?

The geometry comes straight from the hilltop site. Rather than tucking outdoor spaces behind the house, the architecture wraps around a central courtyard — the 'pit' — holding a pool, spa and fire pit. Sections of the circular mass were carved away to create a crescent-shaped courtyard and to frame views across Yucca Valley to the San Jacinto Mountains. Angled openings capture the surrounding boulders and desert sunsets, while the main living room and two bedrooms open directly outside.

Owner Zhang Zhuo explained the thinking: 'We wanted an outdoor space carved directly from the building volume, one that connects the house to the hillside and creates a quiet, intimate space within this vast hilltop landscape.'

Zhuo walked through the design mechanism in detail. The team explored a circular layout with a central core for living spaces, an outer ring defining the yard, and a connecting zone linking the two. They developed that idea into a volumetric form wrapped in an outer shell, then made two intentional cuts into the building mass to frame views and manage building height. The courtyard was carved out to tie the house to the hillside. 'The curved walls and canopy grew naturally from this circular geometry we pursued for the project,' said Zhuo.

What made it hard to build?

The curved wood framing and canopy ranked among the most challenging elements to execute — and the most defining. They follow the house's geometry to create enclosure and privacy without shutting out the desert.

'The most distinctive material we used is curved glulam timber,' Zhuo added. 'It forms the sweeping canopy and roof structure, bringing warmth while following the building's soft, rounded geometry.'

The project also handles water and energy. A roof-drainage system directs runoff to two dry wells on the property, and a solar-panel system offsets electricity demand.

Inside, Xinlei Li of Xinlei Architecture developed the curved interiors with the ownership team. Lighting comes from Flos fixtures, and the furniture pieces and artworks were commissioned specifically for the house to respond to natural light at different times of day. A lofted lounge with a pool table overlooks the main living area, adding a more intimate zone within the open plan.

For Zhuo, the layout ultimately works because of how the rings layer the site: 'The three rings create a natural flow from the private interior living zone, through a transitional courtyard, out to the surrounding desert landscape. This layered arrangement lets us enjoy the panoramic views while still maintaining privacy.' With Avocado House now taking bookings, Fieldtrip has a follow-up curiosity to the Invisible House — and a test of whether geometric rigor translates into demand.