Approach the home at 681 Dragon Peak Drive in Henderson, Nevada, and you’ll be struck by its dramatic, almost otherworldly presence.
Developed by noted firm Blue Heron in 2020, this striking modern manse — dubbed Odyssey — is the pinnacle of indoor-outdoor living. The architecture seamlessly incorporates the open-air parts of the property with the residence’s interiors, while showcasing the surrounding views of the desert, mountains, and Las Vegas Strip from every angle. Its bold, angular structure echoes the grandeur of the peaks and valleys of the neighboring Red Rock Canyon and the Black Rock Mountains, synthesizing concrete, water, and glass elements into a striking whole.
In the Las Vegas desert, any water element stands out as an oasis. Odyssey’s layout highlights the shimmering liquid luxury with two infinity saltwater pools bordering a gigantic indoor-outdoor living space, and a smaller reflecting pool in an interior courtyard. The pools’ infinity edges create an optical illusion of a floating patio, which sports a fire pit, an outdoor kitchen with a hibachi grill, and a swim-up kitchen and bar.
There are also two televisions stationed in the outdoor living room, so you can watch a movie while in the water or on land. But screens are mostly superfluous when you consider the cinematic surroundings — gaze at changing colors of the Nevada sunset against the desert landscape, listen to the sound of the pools’ water gently being blown by the breeze, and feel the firepit’s heat, while unwinding with an evening cocktail. Ceiling heaters and misters means a perfect temperature year-round, no matter the weather. And in the courtyard, the reflecting pool and glass doors dazzle as you enter the foyer, which branches out into the property’s two wings.
Odyssey is aptly named, as the house’s layout encourages residents and guests to travel on a journey from one end of the five-bedroom house to the other — there’s a room for every mood. The residence’s unusual L-shape creates, in effect, two separate wings, affording privacy to each. The larger of the two wings is divided into two levels, with the ground floor almost entirely taken up by the great room with its 24-foot ceilings, which opens directly into the outdoor living area. The great room is also open to the second floor, with the upper level’s game room and lounge visible to the space below, with the two spaces connected by a catwalk.
Upstairs, there are three primary suites, each with a private terrace, walk-in closets, and expansive en suite bathrooms. The smaller of the two wings has no upper level, instead housing two junior suites and is complete with its own lounge area, a wine cellar and an adjacent wine tasting area.
All the details are carefully considered — in the kitchen, the central waterfall island is made of a rare white-and-black granite, while a caterer’s kitchen and walk-in pantry are hidden behind a wall, so that there’s plenty of space to prep for parties while keeping the great room free of visual mess.