You've probably seen the photos. They look like something plucked straight out of a Lewis Carroll fever dream or a Smurf village that suddenly grew to human scale in the middle of a New York forest. Local legend calls it the "Mushroom House," though the actual name is the Antell House. It sits tucked away in the town of Perinton, right near Powder Mills Park. It isn't just one house; it’s a cluster of pods perched on concrete stems that look suspiciously like giant fungi.
Architecture can be boring. Most of us live in boxes. We sleep in rectangles and eat in squares. But the mushroom house Rochester New York rejects every single rule of standard residential design. It’s weird. It’s organic. And honestly, it’s one of the most fascinating examples of "pod architecture" in the United States.
If you’re driving through the Rochester area, you can’t just walk in—it’s a private residence—but the story behind how it got built is almost as strange as the structure itself.
The Organic Vision of James Johnson
In the late 1960s, Marguerite and Robert Antell decided they didn't want a normal house. They approached architect James Johnson. Now, Johnson wasn't interested in making something that looked like a suburban ranch. He was inspired by a piece of Queen Anne's Lace. No, really. If you look at the structure from above or from the side, the pods mimic the splayed-out, delicate flowering head of that weed.
Construction started in 1969. It wasn't finished until 1972.
Building this thing was a nightmare for the contractors. Imagine trying to pour 80 tons of concrete into molds that are suspended 20 feet in the air. Each pod sits on a "stem" that is essentially a reinforced concrete pillar. These stems are buried deep into the hillside to make sure the whole thing doesn't just slide down into the ravine. They aren't just for looks; they carry the entire weight of the living spaces.
Johnson’s work in Rochester is actually pretty extensive, though the Mushroom House is his most famous "child." He also designed the Liberty Pole downtown and several churches. He had this obsession with thin-shell concrete and shapes that felt like they were grown rather than manufactured. It's a style often called Organic Modernism.
Walking Through the Pods: A Layout That Defies Logic
Most houses have a hallway. This house has tunnels.
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The Mushroom House consists of four main pods, each roughly 30 feet in diameter. They are connected by glass-walled walkways that make you feel like you’re floating through the trees. Because the house is built into a steep grade, the perspective changes constantly. One minute you're at ground level, and the next, you're looking down into a creek bed.
The Breakdown of the Pods:
- The Living/Dining Pod: This is the social hub. The walls aren't flat, so hanging a TV or a painting is a logistical puzzle. The fireplace is a custom-sculpted piece of art that looks like it melted into the wall.
- The Kitchen Pod: Everything here is custom. You can’t exactly go to IKEA and buy cabinets for a circular room with curved walls.
- The Sleeping Pods: There are two of these. They feel like high-tech caves. The windows are irregular, offering "framed" views of the surrounding woods rather than big, panoramic vistas.
Then there is the "Great Room" addition. In the early 2000s, later owners (the Whitman family) added a sprawling underground section. This part of the house is built into the side of the hill and features incredible mosaic tile work. We're talking thousands of hand-placed tiles that create a cavernous, psychedelic vibe. It includes a spa, a waterfall, and a massive fireplace. It’s easily the most "extra" part of the entire property.
Why Does It Look Like That?
A lot of people think the "mushroom" shape was a deliberate attempt to be "trippy" because of the era. It was the 70s, after all. But James H. Johnson was more interested in structural integrity and blending into the landscape. By raising the living quarters on stems, he minimized the footprint on the earth.
The pods themselves are made of polyurethane foam insulation over a steel frame, which was then coated in concrete. This makes them incredibly energy efficient, though I’ve heard from folks who have spent time there that the acoustics are... interesting. Sound bounces in weird ways in a circular room.
It’s a total rejection of the "International Style" that was popular at the time. While most architects were obsessed with steel beams and glass boxes, Johnson was looking at biology.
The Reality of Owning a Local Landmark
Being the owner of the mushroom house Rochester New York isn't all whimsy and fairy tales. It is a massive responsibility. Because the structure is so unique, maintenance is a specialized craft. You can’t just call a local roofer to fix a leak on a concrete dome.
The house has changed hands a few times over the decades. It last sold for somewhere around $800,000, which, considering its fame, seems like a bargain until you realize the cost of upkeep. It has been used as a rental in the past, and for a while, it was a popular spot for boutique tours.
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Currently, it remains a private home. The neighbors in Perinton are used to the "lookie-loos" slowing down their cars to catch a glimpse of the pods through the trees, but the property is gated. Respecting the privacy of the people living in a mushroom is pretty much the unwritten rule of the neighborhood.
Misconceptions About the Mushroom House
People get a lot of things wrong about this place. First off, it’s not just one big room. It’s a complex of separate living areas. Second, it’s much larger than it looks from the road. Between the original pods and the massive underground addition, the square footage is over 4,000 square feet.
Another common myth is that it’s made of wood or plastic. Nope. It’s heavy-duty concrete and steel. If a giant stepped on it, the giant would probably hurt its foot.
Lastly, some people think it’s a "Hobbit House." While there are similarities in the "earth-sheltered" vibe, the Mushroom House is much more "Space Age" than "Middle Earth." It’s more The Jetsons than Lord of the Rings.
Architectural Significance in Western New York
Rochester is actually a bit of a sleeper hit for architecture nerds. You have the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Boynton House just a few miles away. You have the massive Gothic structures of the University of Rochester. And then you have this.
The Mushroom House serves as a reminder that the 1970s was a period of incredible experimentation. Before building codes became ultra-standardized and every developer started building the same five "luxury" apartment layouts, people were allowed to get weird.
James Johnson proved that you could build a functional, multi-bedroom home that looked like a biological organism. It’s a landmark not just because it’s funny-looking, but because it’s a feat of engineering that has survived over 50 New York winters without crumbling. That's no small task.
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How to See It Without Being a Nuisance
Look, I get it. You want the photo for your Instagram.
The house is located on Park Road in Pittsford/Perinton. You can see it from the road, especially in the winter when the leaves are off the trees. However, the driveway is private. Don't be that person who walks up to the pods and peeks in the windows.
The best way to appreciate it is to visit Powder Mills Park nearby. You can do some hiking, see the fish hatchery, and then drive past the house on your way out. If you're lucky and it ever goes back on the market or becomes an Airbnb again, keep your wallet ready.
Actionable Tips for Architecture Lovers in Rochester
If you're obsessed with the mushroom house Rochester New York, don't stop there. The city has a deep well of "weird" and "wonderful" buildings you should check out to round out your trip.
- Visit the Edward Boynton House: It's one of Frank Lloyd Wright's "Prairie School" masterpieces. It’s private, but the exterior is visible from the sidewalk on East Avenue.
- Explore the First Unitarian Church: Another masterpiece by Louis Kahn. It’s the polar opposite of the Mushroom House—heavy, brutalist, and full of straight lines—but equally impressive.
- Check the Landmark Society of Western New York: They occasionally host "Inside Downtown" tours or special events where you can actually get inside these private architectural gems.
- Drive through the neighborhoods of Brighton and Irondequoit: You’ll find a surprising number of Mid-Century Modern homes that share a bit of that "James Johnson" DNA.
The Mushroom House isn't just a local oddity. It’s a testament to the idea that a home can be a piece of sculpture. It challenges the idea that we have to live in "boxes" and suggests that maybe, just maybe, the best way to live is to blend into the trees and pretend, if only for a second, that you're part of the forest floor.
Take a drive down Park Road. Bring a camera. Just stay off the lawn. Owners of famous houses have a lot of patience, but everyone has their limits.
Next Steps for Your Visit:
Before heading out, check the local weather—Rochester lake-effect snow can bury the view of the pods in a matter of hours. If you're planning a full architectural tour, start at the Liberty Pole downtown (another Johnson work) and head southeast toward Perinton to see the Mushroom House last; it's the perfect "grand finale" to a day of sightseeing.