A software engineer has invested over a million euros to transform his home in Austin, Texas, into a LAN party paradise – including 22 gaming stations on different levels.
A LAN party (short for Local Area Network) used to be the highlight for gamers – especially in the 90s and early 2000s, when the internet was often slower than the Wi-Fi on the ICE train. One would haul their massive desktop PC and heavy CRT monitor to friends, connect everything together, and play all night long.
Kenton Varda (via x.com) has now taken it to a whole new level: No more hauling, no more cable mess. His “LAN Party House” is completely thought out – everything is set up, mid-range PCs are ready, and you can start instantly. It’s the modern version of the classic LAN party, just without the stress and back pain from carrying computers.
Who is the engineer behind this project? Kenton Varda, a senior software engineer at Cloudflare, has designed his home specifically for LAN parties. With over 30 years of experience in organizing such events, he has created a house that is suitable for both gaming and family life.
Together with his wife Jade Wang (via x.com), he was able to realize his dream. The chief architect of the project was Kenton’s father, Richard. Richard Varda (via x.com) is an experienced architect who claims to have designed everything from houses to skyscrapers.
71,000 euros just for the PCs
What does the house look like? The house has a basement with 12 integrated gaming stations in the walls, which can be folded away when not in use. The upper floor features an office with a conference table that hides six additional gaming stations. When needed, the screens can be easily unfolded.
Furthermore, there are two private rooms for uninterrupted meetings or analog games, as well as four recessed “Dance Dance Revolution pads” from Konami. In “Dance Dance Revolution,” the player stands on a dance mat with various pads and must step on the corresponding arrows at the right moment. On the LAN Party House website, you can explore everything in detail.
What technology is behind it? Each of the 22 gaming stations is equipped with
- Intel Core i5-13600
- a GeForce RTX 4070
- 32 GB RAM
In total, the equipment for the PCs is said to have cost around 71,000 euros.
The PCs are centrally housed in an “engine room” that provides optimal cooling. All computers boot from a common disk image, which makes maintenance easier. A disk image is a digital copy of a computer that allows multiple PCs to be set up quickly and identically.
Can you play there yourself or rent it out? Kenton Varda built the house with a clear goal: It should be a place for private LAN parties with his close friends. On the official website, he makes it clear that he does not accept inquiries for visits or rentals. And that’s exactly why there are no plans to commercialize the concept.
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