Off-Grid Joshua Tree Airbnb With a Stargazing Deck

• The Folly Joshua Tree is an off-grid, two structure space designed by Malek Alqadi.
• Alqadi and business partner Hillary Flur had prior success renting their Los Angeles apartments on Airbnb.
• The space was created to blend indoor and outdoor living and utilize minimalist design. 

Architect Malek Alqadi and business partner Hillary Flur decided to create The Folly Joshua Tree after finding success renting their Los Angeles apartments on Airbnb. They spent about a year looking to buy property together, but couldn’t afford anything in or near LA.

Then in 2016, Alqadi and Flur finally landed on 2.5 acres in Joshua Tree after one of Flur’s colleagues told her they were buying property there. Alqadi and Flur purchased the off-grid, rundown homestead for $15,000 and got to work on renovating the property.

While they hired a contractor, Alqadi and Flur took out a $40,000 project loan from Home Depot (along with a personal loan) and did much of the construction and renovations themselves — many of the finishings and decor pieces are from the home improvement store.

This one-of-a-kind property took approximately a year to complete. It sleeps up to eight people and costs between $725 and $1,250 per night.