“Star Trek” fans have a rare opportunity on their hands: the real-life house behind a “The Next Generation” episode is currently listed for sale in Malibu, California, asking $6 million.
The property served as the filming location for “The Survivors,” a 1989 episode in the show’s third season. The Enterprise crew responds to a distress call from Rana IV but arrive to find the Federation colony completely destroyed. However, one house and its two elderly residents, Kevin and Rishon Uxbridge, remain. What unfolds from there is a classic “Star Trek” mystery of how and why one house and couple survived when nothing else did.
A Look Inside the Dazzling Malibu Home
The home is set on about two acres near Paradise Cove and Escondido Beach, granting expansive, near-cliffside ocean views. The 4-bedroom, 4.5 bath home has vaulted ceilings, plenty of natural light, and an open-concept main level with an outdoor terrace to blend indoor and outdoor living. It also features space for 10 cars, two in-garage and eight uncovered. It’s a true picture of contemporary architecture with its angular exterior design and open-concept design within.
Beyond its connection to an iconic franchise, the house is a standout property. It was designed by Ellis David Gelman, an architect, builder, and developer that takes pride in being hands-on during all stages of a project. The house features circular and triangular windows to match its exterior architecture, a recurring theme in Gelman’s work. The house served as an idyllic location for a story based on an isolated and desolate planet.
The property is currently listed at $5.995 million, a pretty penny for such a unique piece of “Star Trek” history. It previously hit the market in 2018 for $5.695 million, drawing attention for its unusual dual identity and design qualities.
A Rare Location Shoot for the Series
“The Survivors” was a rare opportunity for the show to shoot on location rather than on a soundstage. Director Les Landau said getting the cast and crew out to Malibu for a full day of filming brought everyone a boost of energy. He also called the episode one of his proudest directing credits on the series. Landau has directed and co-directed over three dozen episodes across the franchise, with credits for “The Next Generation,” “Deep Space Nine,” “Voyager,” and “Enterprise.”
Brent Spiner has previously commented that working on soundstages for 10 to 12 hours a day in a windowless environment was incredibly taxing. His character, Lieutenant Commander Data, also had a particularly grueling makeup requirement. Spiner recalled in a Reddit AMA that the makeup was his least favorite part about playing Data. His role required him to be covered in gold paint every day and wear gold contact lenses.
“The make-up was a nightmare. Particularly, the contact lenses. Took an hour fifteen,” Spiner wrote. “That process was made very pleasurable by Michael Westmore, a genius and a very nice man.” Westmore is the artist responsible for helping the Borg come to life, as well as countless aliens across the franchise.
