When World War II veteran Gerry Cunningham set out to build an eco-friendly home half buried in the Southern Arizona hills near Patagonia, his goal wasn't to have one of the weirdest homes in the country.
The concrete domes, tucked into grassy slopes like curved eyebrows, have solar panels to provide electricity, and the home uses wind power to pump groundwater.
Cunningham - an outdoor-gear inventor and environmental advocate who died this year at the age of 88 - lived what he preached, said his son Peter Cunningham.
He sought to tread softly and treat the environment with care. "He felt that was a viable thing for others," Peter Cunningham said.
Despite the elder Cunningham's vision, home construction in the form of energy-efficient domes nestled into the soil hasn't become widespread. The Cunningham house remains distinct.
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The website www.TopTenRealEstateDeals.com recently highlighted the home to preview its list of the Top 10 Weirdest Homes in the United States. So far, the site has received thousands of entries.
If the Cunningham domes stand out from an entry field that large, they must be pretty odd.
"Due to the unique nature of the home it has a very strong potential for being on the final list," said Jason Wakefield, a spokes-man for TopTenRealEstate Deals.com. "This self-sufficient, solar-powered home offers a true defining glimpse of what it's like to go green."
People have submitted information about "earthship" homes made from recycled materials that are designed to optimize energy from sunlight and other natural resources. Homes made of flour and baking soda are also up for consideration, as are castles and storybook homes.
There's even one that rotates, the website says.
Gerry Cunningham started building his home in the early 1980s with his wife, Ann, who died in May 2009 at age 86. It took about 13 years to complete most of the work, his son said.
The domes, which aren't connected to the power grid, reflect Cunningham's rugged individualism.
"His whole life is kind of reflected in the uniqueness that these domes have," Peter Cunningham said. "He thought outside the box. He didn't care what anybody thought. He just did things the way he thought they should be done."
When visitors first walk in, they tend to look upward with their mouths open. Though much of the structure is underground, natural light streams through south-facing windows. On the dirt-covered roof of the home, skylights flecked with colored glass pop out of the earth like mushrooms.
Inside, the skylights trace colorful patterns along the wall.
With both of his parents having passed away, Peter Cunningham said he and his siblings now plan to put the home up for sale. They haven't listed it yet, but Peter Cunningham anticipated a price about $450,000.
The home, which sits on about 40 acres, consists of a main dome with two bedrooms and a second "guest dome" with one bedroom described as ideal for a studio.
The home - which may yet make it on the list as one of the weirdest - isn't for everyone.
"We're expecting someone who is obviously interested in off-the-grid living," though power does come to the property line if a buyer wants to tie into it, Peter Cunningham said. "Probably more of an artist-type person. It's such a unique place."
Contact reporter Dale Quinn at dquinn@azstarnet.com or 573-4197.
