When people talk about notable sites in Marin County, the discussion is usually centered on southern cities, such as Sausalito and Tiburon, or coastal stretches, including Point Reyes National Seashore. Novato, with its inland location flanking Petaluma, doesn’t make the cut as often — but it should.

The town of about 52,000 has a wealth of significant buildings visible to anyone driving on Highway 101. Novato is home to the Buck Institute, one of I. M. Pei’s only California commissions, the iconic Birkenstock building and the rotating Harkleroad round house. Now, for the first time, the latter is up for sale.

The round house, the “potato chip house” — a hyperbolic paraboloid structure — and five other properties are all listed together, asking $3.3 million. “It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of local history,” said listing agent Angelo Baglieri during a phone call with SFGATE.

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