Much in the news after it sold for $37 million less than its asking, as the new buyer is Ron Burkle, a billionaire investor and philanthropist with a sharp eye for hidden desirability, Hope’s ‘dream house’ deserves a look within.

A great deal has been written about the house, and its owner and architect. But a look inside has been a little more difficult to come by. The series of photographs below represents an interesting travel-log through this wonderful architectural oddity.

The exterior—especially the face—is imposing; both Lautner and Hope, of course, recognized this, as well as the fact that the sheer interior space of 23,000 square feet would be equally daunting. To compensate, the design frequently returns to a motif of opening into the natural world.

The center skylight over the massive pavilion, for example, allows a view into the heavens. Elsewhere, a small sitting alcove is windowed by a rounded entrance into the outside world, negating any notion of claustrophobia. Work by noted muralist Garth Benton suggests naturalism additionally, converting walls into three dimensional vistas. Abundant glass and soaring, arching ceilings lend a sense of freedom.

Outside, engineered landscape merges with organic, making the house itself a naturalist expression.

Overall, the photographs lend a unique view into a unique vision.

John Lautner’s architectural designs are noted for their high drama, as you can see. He was fascinated with the burgeoning space-age sensibilities of the 50’s and 60’s, and interested in architecture as a liberating force.

Bob Hope was the consummate entertainer, and possibly the most influential comedian to survive the transition from vaudeville to Hollywood heyday. He practically invented the comic-romantic hero in films like 1948’s ‘The Paleface,’ 1949’s ‘The Great Lover,’ and 1954’s ‘Casanova’s Big Night.’