• e-mail

Bob Hope's unique UFO style home overlooking the Coachella Valley is currently undergoing a beautiful restoration project using the late and great architect John Lautner's original plans and the help of 100 expert craftsmen. 

Stunning images show how the out-of-this world house is being remade to reflect Lautner's vision.

He had wanted an estate that blended in with the surrounding scenery but legendary comic Bob and his wife Dolores envisioned a home to reflect their Hollywood status and hired a Beverly Hills interior designer much to the dismay of Lautner, The LA Times reports.  

Architect Lautner was said to have been infuriated at what he deemed to much interference by the Hopes, calling it 'an ugly, tough job'.

Stunning images show how the out-of-this world house is being remade to reflect Lautner's original vision

Lautner had wanted an estate that blended with the scenery but Bob and his wife Dolores had other ideas. The house's courtyard has a circular opening allowing a stunning view of the evening sky

Bob and his wife Dolores hired a Beverly Hills interior designer much to the dismay of Lautner who called it 'an ugly, tough job'

The view from the living room of the home. Its owner, billionaire Ron Burkle, is restoring and reconstructing the house

It is said he thought the house inappropriately furnished, and distanced himself from the property in later years as  the 1960 Malin residence in the Hollywood Hills and the 1963 Reiner residence in Silver Lake became some of his most famed works. 

But now, nearly 40 years after it was first built, the spaceship themed house is being restored by Lautner protégé Helena Arahuete, who worked with him for 23 years.

The multimillion-dollar project has been ongoing for more than a year with Arahuete rebuilding the inside of the home with natural materials. 

Arahuete said of Dolores Hope: 'She wanted everything very ornamented, very rich — you know, gold and pink and black and mirrors everywhere.' 

The view of Palm Springs from the pool. Nearly 40 years after it was first built, the house is being restored by Lautner protégé Helena Arahuete The multimillion-dollar project at the 10-bedroom estate has been ongoing for more than a year

The home went on the market after Dolores died and it was snapped up by investor Ron Burkle in 2016. He set about working with Arahuete and Lautner's papers for the Hope house were found in the Getty archive

The view from a guest room. Sited on San Jacinto mountain and overlooking the Coachella Valley the home curving copper ' mushroom' roof plays off the shape of the nearby mountains and has about 22,000 square feet of living space

Comedian Bob Hope having breakfast at home with his wife, Dolores. Bob died in 2003 aged 100. His second wife Dolores, who he married back in 1934, died in 2011 at 102 and the house went on the market for $50 million

Architect Lautner was said to have been infuriated at what he deemed to much interference by the Hopes, calling it 'an ugly, tough job'

 The futuristic mansion, overlooking Coachella Valley, remains the most famous property owned by Hope, who was extremely passionate about architecture. 

'If the Martians ever came to Earth, they would know where to land,' Hope once said of his concrete, steel and glass home. 

Sited on San Jacinto mountain to have a spectacular view overlooking the Coachella Valley its curving copper ' mushroom' roof plays off the shape of the nearby mountains and has about 22,000 square feet of living space.

The house, which boasts 12 bathrooms, was built in 1979 and its unique design is somewhat reminiscent of the USS Enterprise.     

Bob died in 2003 aged 100 and his long-running career saw him meet presidents, star in films and tour the world firing his famous one-liners.

His second wife Dolores, who he married back in 1934, died in 2011 at 102 and the house went on the market for $50 million. It would eventually drop to $24,999,000. 

It was snapped up by investor Ron Burkle in 2016, who said: 'When I met with Helena for the first time I had a great feeling about the potential for the house. 

'Helena’s office walls were filled with pictures of many of my favorite houses. Helena had a part in designing all of them with Lautner.'

He added: 'I want the Hope house to continue to be something the Coachella Valley community is proud of.'

The futuristic mansion, overlooking Coachella Valley, remains the most famous property owned by Hope, who was extremely passionate about architecture. 'If the Martians ever came to Earth, they would know where to land,' Hope once said of it 

The view from the patio. The walls have been paneled with wood and thousands of yards of LED tubing added

It is said Lautner thought the house inappropriately furnished, and distanced himself from it in later years as the 1960 Malin residence in the Hollywood Hills and the 1963 Reiner residence in Silver Lake became some of his most famed works

Parts added by the Hopes in 1995 were taken out and interiors designed based on Lautner’s original vision

Plants added by the Hopes for extra privacy have now been removed to allow clear views of the San Jacinto Mountains

And the addition of plants for extra privacy added by the Hopes has now been removed to allow clear views of the San Jacinto Mountains and Palm Springs and a new 140-foot-long infinity pool has been built

The futuristic mansion is the most famous property owned by Hope, who was extremely passionate about architecture

The concrete, steel and glass house was built in 1979 and has about 22,000 square feet of living space. The home was built with ten bedrooms, and Bob apparently did not like being caught short as there are also 12 bathrooms

Of the Hopes he said: 'They were leaders in philanthropy and in the support of our troops all over the world. They were a huge part of the Palm Springs community and its history.'

After looking through the Getty archive for Lautner the papers for the Hope house were found. 

Parts added by the Hopes in 1995 were taken out and interiors designed based on Lautner’s original vision. 

The walls now have been paneled with wood, thousands of yards of LED tubing added and a new 140-foot-long infinity pool has been built.  

Plants added by the Hopes for extra privacy have now been removed to allow clear views of the San Jacinto Mountains and Palm Springs. 

Architect Arahuete added: 'Architecture is art. You see a painting or a mural in two dimensions on a wall. A sculpture — you can walk around and see it from different angles.

'But good architecture is almost like you're inside of the sculpture and the art is around you, and the way you frame the views — if you're lucky enough to be able to design in an area that has beautiful views — then the views become like the permanent work of art that's constantly changing with the seasons and the light of the day.' 

The entertainer was often cited as the biggest private landowner in California.

.