A remarkable futuristic house known as "the rotating house" has captured imaginations since its construction in 1976 in the Perche region of France. Built by Pierre and Gaston Dreux, this extraordinary concrete structure sits like a spaceship on two concrete pillars and is now for sale, offering a unique glimpse into 1970s architectural ambition. The house sits on a sprawling 13-hectare property complete with woods, ponds, hills, and walking trails in La Perrière, Orne.

In the early 2000s, Nicolas Libert and Emmanuel Renoird visited this one-of-a-kind property that looks like something straight out of a Hollywood movie or science fiction magazine promoting "houses of the future." The massive concrete block structure appears to float above the landscape, supported by concrete pillars with multiple entrance points extending like feet holding up the white ensemble. The visiting Parisian couple was immediately struck by the unique style and the incredible immersion into nature that this control tower-like structure offers.

During their visit, the couple inquired about the architect behind this unusual design. The real estate agent organizing the tour revealed himself to be Pierre Dreux, claiming to be both the agent selling the property and the designer of the house. However, twenty-five years later, this claim has been largely disputed by villagers, as Pierre Dreux never held any architectural degree. The house has now been put back on the market in La Perrière.

Pierre Dreux was the son of Gaston Dreux, a major industrialist who employed up to 500 people in his factories in the heart of La Perrière in the early 1950s. The elder Dreux made his fortune through modern wooden houses with contemporary architecture, which he sold throughout France. He became such a prominent figure in the community that he owned numerous properties throughout the town.

Gaston Dreux was known for his ambitious projects, and his son Pierre, who co-managed the company for a time before having some legal troubles, conceived this house after taking a trip to California. According to current owner Nicolas Libert, "He told us it was more or less a replica of a house by the water that he had seen in Sausalito, north of San Francisco." However, Libert, who founded several real estate agencies and lives between France and Los Angeles, has never been able to locate the original house.

The titanic construction project began in 1976 on the site of an old farm that belonged to the Liger family. For days and nights, bulldozers excavated hundreds of cubic meters of earth to recreate San Francisco in the Perche region. As Libert explains, "Pierre Dreux told us he wanted to enjoy a lake of one and a half hectares that could be navigated by small boat to reach a central island." The Dreux family diverted a nearby river without authorization to fill this future lake. However, they had removed so much clay layer that the water was naturally absorbed, and the massive lake never materialized.

Several flooding problems with neighbors forced Pierre and Gaston Dreux to scale back their ambitious plans. They settled for a smaller lake, with a central structure containing an ingenious system for regulating the drainage of two other neighboring ponds. The house also participated in this megalomaniacal project of the Dreux family.

For locals, including the many workers who followed its construction from afar, it was known as "the rotating house." According to several residents, Gaston Dreux allegedly boasted about building "a house mounted on a pillar that would be capable of rotating." However, Nicolas Libert considers this an urban legend, explaining that "Pierre Dreux always envisioned two pillars in his plans. One allows for rainwater drainage and contains various networks that supply the living room. The other pillar is the central staircase. Both were therefore necessary."

Along with "The Capsule" and "The Flying Saucer of Perche," "the rotating house" is the most commonly used name by locals for this edifice, one of several architectural constructions by Gaston Dreux in the community. Yes, there are several such "prototypes" scattered throughout the area!

What strikes visitors most about the house is not so much its dramatic entrance as its incredible integration into nature. Completely invisible from the road, one must traverse a path plunged into the darkness of a grove to see it emerge. As the current owner describes, "It's really the opposite of a Percheron manor. When you're in the living room, you're at the height of the treetops. Regardless of the weather, you'll always have light streaming through."

The couple selling this house through the Architecture de Collection agency completely restored the interior before their arrival, from insulation to the heating system, to provide modern comfort. The living room serves as a kind of lookout over the surrounding woods, offering panoramic views of the natural landscape.

In the garden, several walking paths allow for hours of hiking while enjoying sculptures installed by the owners in the spirit of the place. These include a bubble house by architect Jean-Benjamin Maneval, designed in the 1960s in very limited quantities and representing Space Age architecture. As one owner explains, "It's a real bubble for parents and children. You can spend an hour there reading, or even spend the night in total disconnection."

Near the woods, a white spiral staircase by artist Vincent Lamouroux seems to lead to the sky, adding another artistic element to this house designed like a movie set that has never actually hosted any film cameras. The property's pond was originally planned to be much larger with a central island, but the ambitious vision had to be scaled back due to practical constraints.

Inside the house, the decoration plunges visitors into the 1960s and 70s as they travel from room to room on the ground floor. The colors are vibrant, shapes are round, and textures are soft and plush. Each bedroom is equipped with its own bathroom, maintaining the house's luxurious and individualistic design philosophy.

The basement offers additional amenities including a hammam, an indoor swimming pool, and even a billiard table for entertainment. The house was designed with celebration and social gathering in mind, reflecting the era's optimistic vision of future living.

According to the owner, the house, resembling a control tower, serves as a "lookout over nature." It represents a utopia that is "not ostentatious," as described by one of the two owners. "Having 13 hectares without any overlooking neighbors, in such a green setting, just minutes on foot from the town of La Perrière, is impossible to find elsewhere." With such an extensive park, the couple never needed to walk in the nearby Bellême forest, despite it being just steps away.

To acquire this architectural folly from the Dreux family, buyers will need to pay 1.4 million euros. It's the price of a one-way trip to California while keeping the Perche region as your horizon, offering a unique opportunity to own a piece of 1970s futuristic architecture in the French countryside.