MODERNISM WEEK
Palm Springs

House of Tomorrow 

William Krisel designed the House of Tomorrow for Robert and Helene Alexander of the Alexander Construction Company.

Krisel uniquely comprised four floating circular pavilions on three levels under one boomerang-shaped roof. The pool’s shape mimics the roof, creating an ascending orientation. Located in the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood, The House of Tomorrow set a trend for modern living in Southern California.

The Alexanders lived in the home from 1960 to 1965. Following a tragic plane crash, Robert’s brother Leonard leased the home to Elvis and Priscilla Presley. For many years, the House of Tomorrow was better known as Elvis Presley’s Honeymoon Hideaway, where he and Priscilla stayed after their marriage in 1967. 

Abernathy Residence

In 1962, William Cody designed the home for James Logan Abernathy, a Palm Springs socialite. The design objective was to provide a year-round outdoor living space specified for hosting events and parties. The extensive roof with overhangs spans nearly 10,000 square feet – doubling the home’s interior living space.

The geometric floor plan includes a series of soaring pavilions arranged in a pinwheel, creating L-shaped wings for the home’s individual living spaces.

Southridge Cody Glass House

William Cody designed the Southridge Drive glass house in 1967. The home is a remarkable example of international-style architecture. Cody created a symmetrical glass house with incredibly thin floating roof lines that cantilever beyond extensive glass walls. The home surrounds an atrium, where an opulent outdoor infinity hot tub and garden are a visual feature from several rooms. The raised front yard and slump stone walls provide privacy while optimizing the mountain garden and showcasing views of the desert valley. The home epitomizes mid-century Palm Springs indoor/outdoor living.

Lance O’Donnel House

While attending Modernism Week in Palm Springs, we were invited to stay with our good friends Pam and Lyle in their LEED Platinum home. When not taking in home tours, we enjoyed early morning swims in the salt water pool and late afternoons watching the sun go down behind the San Jacinto Mountains.

Desert Palisades Guardhouse

Built as the gateway to the Palisades newly developed community, the Desert Palisades Guardhouse was designed to create tension between the building constructed of concrete and steel and the landscape.

02 House

This Lance O’Donnel designed house built in 2017 is integrated seamlessly into the desert Palisades topography while taking an environmentally sensitive approach to architecture.

Beadle House

Originally designed by Al Beadle in the 1970s, the project was built in 2016 after the house plans were recovered from the Arizona State University and was brought to realization with the collaboration of Lance O’Donnel and Better Built Inc. to comply with the Palm Springs building regulation.

Kaufman Desert House

Designed by Richard Neutra in 1946 to connect with the desert landscape and temper the climate and was voted one of the top ten buildings in Los Angeles despite being located in Palm Springs.

Wexler House

The original 1200 square foot post and beam house was built by and for Donald Wexler in 1953 with the intention that it could be expanded as his family grew.

Frey House II

After looking up at the mountains for 25 years, in 1963-64 Albert Frey built what was once the highest elevated home in Palm Springs (a feat to later be taken by the Bob Hope house by John Lautner). The house was only 800 square feet, the design precedence being to emulate the compact nature of a ship, including built-in seating, cabinets, drafting/dining surface and bed unit. Along with the use of materials and passive systems, the house was also famous for the large boulder built into the bedroom.

Lautner Hotel

Originally designed in 1947 as a planned community of over 100 dwellings for Lucien Hubbard, only the 4 unit prototype and pool was built. There was a history of owners and a 20 year period where it sat vacant. The current owners purchased the building in 2007 and have restored the building to its original condition. They received the approval of the Lautner Foundation to rename the building as Hotel Lautner in honour of the designer.