architecture tour palm springs

The Modern Tour is the official tour of the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture + Design Center!  A portion of all fees supports the mission of the Center.  To date, we have given over $200,000 to the Architecture + Design Center.

WE GO INSIDE HOUSES ON EVERY TOUR THAT WE DO --

YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR

PRIVATE RESIDENCES IN PALM SPRINGS!

Enjoy a highly curated tour of some of Palm Springs' finest examples of Mid-Century Modern architecture and design.  Tours last approximately 2 hours..  Please visit our RESERVATIONS page for inquiries.  Mobile users, please turn your phone horizontally to view the site.

View the work of noted architects, including Richard Neutra, Donald Wexler, Albert Frey, E. Stewart Williams, William Krisel and William Cody, several of whom were personal friends of your tour guide.

Celebrity homes include Frank Sinatra,  William Holden, Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Lawford and numerous others.

Check out our new Press page and see what the media is saying about our tours!

TOUR GUESTS WILL BE DRIVING IN EITHER LUXURY CHAUFFEURED TRANSPORTATION OR IN THEIR OWN VEHICLES WITH TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR TOUR GUIDE SO ALL TOUR GUESTS WILL CLEARLY HEAR THE GUIDE, AND TOUR GUESTS CAN ASK QUESTIONS AT ANY POINT DURING THE TOUR.

Tours for individuals and small groups desiring Private Tours are available for an additional fee of $1,000 (not per person) which is added to the per person fee of the desired tour.

Discretion is assured for our high-profile tour guests.

$200 per person

ADVANCE RESERVATION REQUIRED

ALBERT FREY HOUSE II

We are now showing the Albert Frey House II ("Frey House") (1964) on select tours.  This is one of the most iconic and spectacular residences in Palm Springs.  Its innovative nature virtually transcends the realm of architecture placing this home closer to the realm of art.  It is a unique home situated on an elevated site with stunning views of the valley below.  Please let us know if you would like us to inquire about the availability of the Frey House for your tour.  Tours that include to the the Frey House incur an additional fee of $25 per person.  The Frey House tours are offered exclusively as an add-on to our standard tour, which features additional interiors.  Visits to the Frey House require advance reservations with a minimum of 48 hours notice.  As the official tour of the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, we are given special consideration to view the house, however, please note that it is not always available.  Tours of the Frey House are not available on weekends or during Modernism Week.

William Cody Residence

This was the home of the great Palm Springs architect, William Cody.  The house is wildly interesting as the flow between indoors and outdoors is seamless.  Also, the views from the huge windows in the house showcase various views from one space to another, as opposed to a unified view of the backyard, which creates a series of vignettes when viewed from various places in the house.

Frederick Loewe Estate

It is an honor to be showing legendary Broadway composer Frederick Loewe's  amazing estate.   The house sits on 2-1/2 acres of gloriously landscaped gardens on an elevated site with wonderful views of the valley below. Visits to the  Frederick Loewe Estate incur an additional fee of $25.  Visits to the Frederick Loewe Estate   are subject to very limited availability.  It is AMAZING.

Video of Frederick Loewe Estate

Corporate Tours and Event Planning are also a specialty.  We have done tours that range from 10 guests to more than 150 guests.  We have done tours for Nike (7 tours), Interior Design Magazine (4 tours), Amazon (4 tours), Cadillac (4 tours), NBC, Volkswagen, Christian Dior, The Getty, The American Institute of Architects, Louis Vuitton, Vans and many more.  Please see our Corporate and Group Tour Page for additional info.

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Palm Springs Architecture Tour – Self-Guided Drive

Tour Details

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Welcome to the palm springs architecture tour.

Soak up some sun with this Palm Springs Architecture Tour,  where movie stars and other big-time celebs have flocked for almost a hundred years to get away from it all. Visit architectural marvels left behind by these eccentric stars, like the opulent Liberace House. Stop outside the gates of Frank Sinatra’s old estate and hear some wild tales about Ol’ Blue Eyes’ time in Palm Springs. And so much more! Plus, this driving tour of Palm Springs will take you to the serene Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, a desert gem rich in natural beauty.

About the Tour

You’ll begin your Palm Springs Architecture Tour at the Palm Springs Visitor Center. From there, you’ll drive to the architectural wonder of the Kaufmann House, a pinnacle of mid-century modern design. That’s then followed by the striking Liberace House, a testament to the extravagant lifestyle of the legendary entertainer.

As you keep driving, you’ll dig into the lives of the movie stars of yesteryear and find out why so many came to Palm Springs in the first place. Then you’ll be dazzled by the quirky and vibrant Robolights installation, a must-see for anyone in the area.

Whose houses will you see on your drive? The list isn’t a short one! This tour features homes once occupied by:

• Elvis Presley
• Magda Gabore
• Debbie Reynolds
• Marilyn Monroe
• Bette Davis
• Sammy Davis Jr.

Frank Sinatra

Your tour then takes you past the legendary Frank Sinatra’s Residence, where you can soak in the sounds of the Rat Pack era. Next, visit the Walk of Stars, celebrating the icons who have shaped Palm Springs’ legacy.

After that, you’ll drive through the Coachella Valley and hear the fascinating true story behind the Coachella Music Festival. Then you’ll have the chance to see Frank Sinatra’s final resting place and solve one of the mysteries of his burial. The journey culminates at the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, where you can explore lush green trails hidden in the heart of the harsh desert.

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Palm Springs Map

Where To Start?

We recommend Starting From: Palm Springs Visitor Center,  2901 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

How Does It Work?

• Once you book a tour, you’ll get a text/email with instructions.
• Download the app (while in good wifi/signal) and use your unique password to access your tours. If there are multiple versions or entrances for your tour, be sure to download all audio guides.
• To begin touring, go to the starting point and launch the app.
• The audio starts automatically once you reach the starting point. Stick to the tour route and speed limit for the best experience.
• Please note that no one will meet you at the starting point.

What You'll See

Kaufmann house.

Explore the iconic Kaufmann Desert House, a masterpiece of mid-century modern architecture designed by Richard Neutra for businessman Edgar Kaufmann.

Liberace House

Discover the flamboyant Liberace House, once the residence of the charismatic pianist and entertainer Liberace, famous for his extravagant style and performances.

Movie Stars of Yesteryear

Learn about Palm Springs' rich history as a haven for Hollywood stars, including Rudolph Valentino, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and even the Obamas.

The Movie Colony

Drive through the historic Movie Colony neighborhood, known for its association with movie stars and its architectural significance, featuring homes designed by renowned architects.

Encounter the quirky Robolights sculpture garden, featuring colorful sculptures and robots, creating a unique artistic experience in Palm Springs.

Visit the former home of Frank Sinatra, the legendary singer and actor, who played a significant role in putting Palm Springs on the map as a celebrity getaway.

The Rat Pack in Palm Springs

Delve into the history of the Rat Pack's presence in Palm Springs and their retreat, Villa Maggio, where they enjoyed privacy and camaraderie.

Walk of Stars

Explore the Palm Springs Walk of Fame, adorned with 450 stars honoring a diverse range of figures who made significant contributions to the city's history.

The Palm Trees of Palm Springs

Learn about Ruth Hardy's influence in planting palm trees along Palm Canyon Drive, contributing to the city's iconic palm-lined streets.

Coachella Valley

Explore the desert oasis known as Coachella Valley, famed for the Coachella Music Festival and its intriguing geological history rooted in ancient seas.

Coachella Music Festival

Uncover the origins of the renowned Coachella Music Festival, from its beginnings as a solution to a ticketing dispute with Pearl Jam to its status as a global music event.

Palm Springs Airport

Learn about Palm Springs Airport, which began as a military airfield in the 1930s and later became a favored choice for celebrity travelers.

Discover the strong connection between Bob Hope, the legendary entertainer, and Palm Springs, where he owned properties and often joked about the city in his routines.

Frank Sinatra’s Tomb

Visit Frank Sinatra's resting place, where he's buried with intriguing items, including dimes, tied to a historic kidnapping incident.

Golfing in the Desert

Understand the allure of golf in Palm Springs with its ideal weather and celebrity tournaments, championed by figures like Dinah Shore.

Desert Life

Explore the desert's unique ecosystem, where various plants and animals have adapted to survive in the harsh conditions, showcasing resilience against habitat destruction and climate change.

The San Andreas Fault

Drive over the famous San Andreas Fault, gaining insight into how it causes earthquakes and its history of seismic activity in California.

Leaving Palm Springs

About the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve: Head towards the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, shaped by the San Andreas Fault, with its natural springs creating a lush oasis in the desert.

Desert Geology

Learn about the geological history of the desert, including the formation of mountain ranges and the transformation of granite and igneous rock into the desert's sandy landscape.

Willis Palm Trail

Discover the Willis Palm Trailhead, a moderately strenuous 4-mile hike offering the chance to observe birds, desert wildlife, and wildflowers during the spring season.

Superblooms

Experience the breathtaking beauty of desert wildflower displays, including California poppies, desert lilies, lupines, and sunflowers, with superblooms occurring roughly once every decade.

Pushwalla Palms Trail

Encounter the Pushawalla Palms Trail, a moderate 4.5-mile hike along the San Andreas Fault ridge, providing stunning views of palm tree oases where water emerges from deep underground.

Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve

Arrive at the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, a captivating natural area with 25 miles of walking trails, including the easy two-mile McCallum Trail, which leads to a lush palm grove, despite the visitor center's current closure for renovations.

Confederate Burial Trench

Uncover an unassuming site overlooking a mass grave for unidentified Confederate soldiers, a testament to the haste of wartime burials.

Jones Field

Witness the struggles of General Sherman as he's pushed back to Jones Field, where General McClernand arrives to turn the tide.

Tennessee State Memorial

Admire the Tennessee Memorial, featuring bronze figures symbolizing loyalty and sacrifice among survivors.

Julius Raith Monument

Explore the Mortuary Monument dedicated to Union General Julius Raith and the role of illness and infection during the Civil War.

We Meet in Heaven

Hear the poignant story of General William Wallace's mortal wound and his final moments with his wife.

Johnston Meets His End

Learn about the fateful injury of Confederate General Johnston, which went unnoticed due to nerve damage.

Texas State Monument

Pay tribute to the Texas regiments, including General Johnston, and his significant role in various conflicts before the Civil War.

Fall of the Hornet's Nest

Witness the surrender of Union General Prentiss at the Peach Orchard, leading to the Union's establishment of the Last Line.

Grant's Last Stand

Experience General Grant's determined last stand at the Tennessee River, awaiting reinforcements from General Buell.

Shiloh Indian Mounds

Encounter the ancient Shiloh Indian Mounds, an 800-year-old settlement predating the Civil War.

Preview The Tour

  what makes palm springs so special.

Palm Springs is special for its unique desert oasis setting, with stunning mountain backdrops, warm weather, mid-century modern architecture, and a relaxed, resort-like atmosphere.

  What made Palm Springs famous?

Palm Springs gained fame in the mid-20th century when it became a glamorous escape for Hollywood celebrities, offering them privacy, luxury, and a desert retreat.

  Why do people go to Palm Springs?

People visit Palm Springs for its beautiful landscapes, outdoor activities, golfing, shopping, dining, spa resorts, and the chance to experience the nostalgia of the mid-century modern era.

  Why is Palm Springs a big deal?

Palm Springs is a big deal due to its historical significance, celebrity culture, architectural heritage, and its role as a premier vacation destination in Southern California.

  What is Palm Springs style?

Palm Springs style is often associated with mid-century modern design, characterized by clean lines, sleek furnishings, and a focus on blending indoor and outdoor living spaces.

  Is Palm Springs a nice city?

Yes, Palm Springs is considered a nice city known for its hospitality, stunning desert surroundings, and a wide range of leisure activities.

  Is it expensive in Palm Springs?

While Palm Springs offers a range of accommodations and dining options, it can be relatively expensive compared to some other destinations, especially during the peak tourist season.

  What is the best time to go to Palm Springs?

The best time to visit Palm Springs is typically in the fall, winter, or early spring when the weather is pleasant and not extremely hot. Avoiding the scorching summer months is recommended.

  How many days do you need to see Palm Springs?

A weekend or 2-3 days are often sufficient to explore the main attractions of Palm Springs, but you can easily spend more time enjoying the city’s offerings, especially if you want a more relaxed pace.

Inclusions and Exclusions

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Modernism Mega Tour

About the modernism mega tour.

This is the tour for those looking to go in-depth on Palm Springs architecture and modernism—and the best value tour in the city. A combination of our Top 10 Tour and the Modern Homes & Buildings 101 Tour, the Mega Tour boasts nearly double the number of tour stops than a regular tour, for 2-3 hours of enjoyment. You’ll learn about modernism and modern architecture though some of the most important and iconic examples of homes and public buildings. We packed this tour with ALL the best homes, buildings and architectural sights to see in palm Springs so you don’t need to choose one tour over another.

Tour Highlights

• 21 stops—2 tours in one!
• Enjoy this tour all at once, or split it into morning and afternoon or even take it over a couple of days; you’re in the driver’s seat!
• Get to know hidden gems in the heart of mid-century Palm Springs with visits to some stunning homes & buildings.
• See the Top 10 most iconic buildings & home
• Stops include the most important and well-known buildings in Palm Springs including Edris House and Kaufmann House, a Hollywood mega-star home and even an iconic family home that may be cursed!
• See stunning converted banks and find out where the architects’ inspiration came from
• Marvel at quirky Tiki architecture
• Navigate iconic neighborhoods like Vista las Palmas, Old Las Palmas and Deepwell Estates, and you’ll see plenty of other amazing homes and architecture as you travel through these areas. Have your camera ready!
• Reflect on the architectural beauty of the city from up close
• Explore buildings many visitors and even some locals don’t know about in Palm Springs
• Learn how these homes and buildings came to be so important—and why Palm Springs wasn’t always the modern architectural and celebrity playground it is today.

What to Know Before You Go

You will need your own vehicle for this self-driving tour (car, van, or bicycle, unicycle, skateboard). This tour features an audio tour guide with interactive real-time mapping and directions that guide you from stop to stop, plus many photos of interiors and exteriors, so you’re fully able to appreciate Palm Springs architecture & modernism—at your own pace.

In some cases you will see the home facades and outdoor spaces, in others, we will get you as close as possible to private, gated or other spaces. We are unable to grant access to gated communities, and some homes are off limits, but we want you to enjoy great spaces and great stories. (Please note that some public buildings including hotels may be temporarily barring visitors from entry due to COVID-19)

All of our audio tours are self-guided and self-driving, so you can see things quickly, or slow it down and really savor the views.

This Tour Includes

• Guided driving tour—at your pace and when you want to depart!
• Detailed directions to some of the most interesting & important architecture in Palm Springs
• Integrated Google maps to help you get around
• Enjoy clear voice narration from your expert guide
• Factual and fascinating information about mid-century architecture
• Original photographs of iconic buildings
• *We will get you as close as possible to private homes, gated areas or other spaces for the best views, however we are unable to grant access to gated communities or private property. (Please note that some public buildings including hotels may be temporarily barring visitors from entry due to COVID-19)

Health & Safety

We take the health and safety of our guests and all Palm Springs residents seriously. We have set a series of standards that we hope you’ll welcome in the spirit of ensuring everybody is safe and comfortable and can courteously enjoy the lifestyle of the desert together.

• Please be safe while cycling or driving.
• In your car, obey all traffic laws.
• On a bike, use recommended safety gear.
• Don't drive or cycle while distracted; use your phone only while stopped.
• Please do not trespass or bother the homeowners.
• Be sure to drink plenty of water. Desert heat can sneak up on you. While fainting was cool back in old Hollywood, it’s not today, so stay safe!

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Palm Springs Architecture Tours with Trevor O’Donnell

Building a Legacy: Tour the Architecture of Palm Springs

By Kevin Perry

We are all time travelers. Every locale we visit, every interaction we experience, and every project we create adds to our cultural landscape. With each action, we connect the past to the future. History continues to unfold all around us, and nowhere is it more vibrant than in Palm Springs.

Meet Your Tour Guide

“We have this extraordinary collection of fine midcentury modern architecture,” narrates Trevor O’Donnell of PS Architecture Tours .

Clarifying, Trevor takes a step back and surveys his domain. “It’s what we now call midcentury modern architecture, dating from the forties through the early seventies. All of it suffered when Palm Springs went through its economic downturn in the late seventies through the early nineties. But when midcentury modern style came back into vogue, people like me and hundreds of others came out and found these classic modernist homes.  We began the process of rescuing them or renovating them or restoring them. In the process, we formed a community here of avid modernism fans.”

Modernism Week

Meanwhile, a group of design devotees from the Palm Springs Art Museum were also honing their passion for construction. In 2006, they planted their flag in the temperate climate of February and founded Modernism Week , a celebration of the architecture that shapes our city’s unique personality.

Events, education, engagement and excitement exploded. Modernism Week became an internationally renowned gathering, drawing experts and observers into its allure. Trevor and his contemporaries helped establish a thriving menu of tours through the intricacies of our infrastructure. From the spark of inspiration to the enduring influence of our retro-futuristic aesthetic, Palm Springs offers eye-popping vistas aplenty.

Expanded Palm Springs Architecture Tours

But how can visitors grasp all that sprawls before them? The answer: it’s impossible. That’s why collaboration and coordination are the keys to a successful sojourn into the realm of architecture.

“I approached Modernism Week,” recounts Trevor. “There was more demand for my tours than I could satisfy. I wanted to expand, but I didn’t want do it alone and I wanted it to be a more community-centered process. So I reached out to Modernism Week and said, ‘If you’re at all interested in expanding outside of your festival programming, we should talk about getting together and seeing if we can’t produce these tours jointly.’ And that’s pretty much how it originated.”

The result: a mini-coach tour with maximum impact.

Book Your Architecture Tour by Modernism Week

Trevor ranks #1 on Tripadvisor’s list of Palm Springs cultural guides. Pair that with the notoriety and cache of Modernism Week that brings scores of style enthusiasts flocking to our fair berg every year and it all adds up to a truly transcendent time.

You will get the star treatment while exploring the stars’ homes. After all, Palm Springs emerged as Hollywood’s Playground during the entertainment industry’s golden age. Some of the Tinseltown’s most luminous celebrities cavorted in homes designed by the sharpest structural minds in architecture.

“We visit the Kaufmann House,” Trevor announces, “Richard Neutra’s modernist masterpiece. The Kaufmann House was commissioned by the same family that asked Frank Lloyd Wright to build Falling Water in Pennsylvania. Falling Water, of course, is one of the greatest works of architecture in the world. That same family built a Palm Springs house. And today that house is considered Richard Neutra’s masterpiece and it too ranks among the greatest modernist houses in the world.”

His voice brims with excitement as he rhetorically asks himself where to venture next.

“What else? Beautiful tract home developments by the Alexander Construction Company. Everyone in Palm Springs knows these houses, there are over 2,000 of them, but visitors love these neighborhoods that are just filled with hundreds of beautifully renovated classic midcentury modern designs. We explore some lesser known things, some odd balls and ruins of buildings that didn’t make it. There’s a wonderful chunk of an old hotel that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright’s son, Frank Lloyd Wright Jr., right in the heart of downtown. So it’s a way to show people the city of Palm Springs through a local insider’s eyes.”

Trevor’s perspective is infectious. His guests are ushered into a Modernism Week that reverberates throughout the year and back through the ages. But as ebullient an ambassador as he is for Palm Springs, Trevor also draws his inspiration from another American city.

“Chicago is known around the world for having developed one of the best architecture tour programs. And it’s a nonprofit and it’s promoted by the city as a valuable part of what it means to visit Chicago. And we feel very strongly that this can do the same thing for Palm Springs.”

Punctuating his point, Trevor explains, “What’s most important to me is that this be a community centered initiative.”

Preserving the Palm Springs Legacy

The word community pops up mirthfully and meaningfully several times during our conversation. It is the cornerstone of Trevor’s life work. He excavates the creative foundations of our hometown and mines fascination from every edifice.

“It’s an exploration of history and architecture in Palm Springs. It’s designed for visitors to give them an introduction to why Palm Springs is here and how this incredible modern architecture emerged in the middle of the 20th century. It involves more than just modern architecture though; it involves all architecture from Spanish colonial revival to contemporary. We talk a lot about some of the talented architects who are carrying forward this modernist idea.”

And with an effortless flourish, Trevor has passed the baton from vintage to vanguard. He is preserving our legacy for subsequent generations of builders and dreamers. Welcome to Modernism Week revisited … welcome to Palm Springs.

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Tour Palm Springs’ Most Iconic Midcentury-Modern Homes by Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, and John Lautner

If you ask any architecture enthusiast where to find the best midcentury-modern architecture in America, there’s a good chance you’ll get Palm Springs, California, as your answer. The resort town in the Coachella Valley first drew visitors at the turn of the 20th century, but modernist architecture arrived in the 1930s, when actor Gary Cooper commissioned a home there. Other Hollywood stars followed suit, and soon architects like Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, and John Lautner were busy working on Palm Springs homes. The new book Palm Springs: A Modernist Paradise ( $75, Rizzoli ), with text and photographs by Tim Street-Porters, brings readers on a tour of the city’s iconic properties, many of which have been impeccably restored by their new owners. “Palm Springs is seductive,” writes fashion designer Trina Turk in the foreword. “The air is fresher, the sunshine more intense, the stars at night are brighter, and the cocktails just taste better.” Take a look at of six of the properties featured in the book below.

The Leff-Florsheim House. Designed by Donald Wexler as the Florsheim family’s winter retreat, this 1957 home was restored by a new owner in the 2000s.

The Arthur Elrod House. Local interior designer Arthur Elrod gave architect John Lautner complete creative control of building his residence. The result is a stunning concrete-and-glass construction—perhaps you’ve seen it in the Bond film Diamonds Are Forever .

The Morrison-Strassner Residence. This 1970 hillside house was designed by Patten & Wild, and it was recently restored by designer-architect Tim Morrison and actor-producer Scott Strassner.

Villa Grigio. Architect James McNaughton designed this house in 1964, and today it’s owned by AD100 designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard.

Albert Frey House II. The Swiss architect Albert Frey, who studied under Le Corbusier in Paris, came to Palm Springs in 1934. This was the second home he built for himself here, in 1964.

Palm Springs: A Modernist Paradise , with text and photography by Tim Street-Porter.

Architecture Tours by Modernism Week

Modernism Week and PS Architecture Tours - Palm Springs’ leading providers of architectural tour services - have teamed up to provide the definitive modern architecture tour experience. Join us for a season-long series of carefully curated small group tours spearheaded by Tripadvisor’s top-rated architectural tour operator, Trevor O’Donnell, and a select team of knowledgeable professional guides. 

The perfect blend of Trevor’s intimate small van tours and Modernism Week’s popular double-decker coach tours, these tours are designed to offer an in-depth introduction to the city’s fascinating past and its rare concentration of fine modernist homes and buildings. No microphones. No headsets. Just a friendly traveling conversation about a remarkable city.

You’ll join up to 22 fellow architecture and design fans for an exploration of the city’s most beautiful neighborhoods, pausing along the way to learn about outstanding works of architecture by some of America’s most important modernist designers. You’ll also learn about Hollywood celebrities who made many of these homes famous, and enjoy back stories that add life, humor and awe to Palm Springs' amazing modernist legacy.

Modernism Week is a community supported nonprofit dedicated to education, preservation and appreciation of modernist architecture and design in Palm Springs. When you choose Architecture Tours by Modernism Week, you’re not only choosing the best, you’re helping to preserve and promote modern architecture for generations to come.

Things to Know This tour is designed for curious adult learners; it is not appropriate for children. No pets, other than service dogs, are allowed on the mini-coach. Free parking available. Thank you for parking on the outer perimeter of the lot to allow better access for short-term visitors. Handicap parking is available. This tour is not wheelchair accessible. The organizer of this event is  Modernism Week .

Event Check-in Location Palm Springs Visitors Center 2901 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 View Map

Photo Credits: Tramway Gas Station  Courtesy Darren Bradley.

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Six Experts Share Insights on Palm Springs School of Architecture in Panel Discussion

Moderator alan hess leads a conversation on the rise of desert modernism during the mid-20th century and its future preservation..

by Site Staff | Sep 25, 2024 | Modernism

Poised for release in February 2025, a seminal new book by author and architectural historian Alan Hess establishes the Palm Springs School of Architecture as a significant contributor to modernism across the United States.

Titled The Palm Springs School: Desert Modernism 1934–1975 , the book includes a series of essays written by distinguished experts. In August, the contributors gathered via Zoom for an exclusive round table moderated by Hess for Palm Springs Life . Stream the full conversation in the video below, or continue scrolling to read an excerpt, edited for length and clarity.

Alan Hess , architect, historian, and author : To start off, I want to quote Palm Springs architect Albert Frey . In a letter that he wrote in 1935 to his former employer, Le Corbusier in Paris, Frey explain[ed] what the American desert was all about: “New York is not America. The East Coast is still quite European, enlarged to grotesque proportion. It is the new town, the Southwest, established during the evolution of the automobile, where modern American life is found.” This is what attracted this Swiss-born architect, Albert Frey, to eventually settle in Palm Springs.

Can any of you explain what it might be about those towns out West, where American life is found, and why that should be important to developing a new idea about modern architecture?

Eddie Jones , a ward-winning architect : I have the good fortune of working all over the United States, up in the cold country as well as down in the Sonoran Desert. And I’ve got to tell you, it is a lot easier to practice architecture in the Sonoran Desert. It’s the difference between having to put your building in a big, thick, heavy hooded parka versus wearing flip-flops and cutoffs. It’s so much easier to create a thinness and an elegance that is difficult to achieve in other places in the United States. Buildings weigh a lot less out here in the West than they do on the East Coast and up north, literally. Post-World War II, the case study architects had the resources, the surplus steel to create these very thin roof plates and long spans.

Eddie Jones

Christine Madrid French

Christine Madrid French , historian and preservationist: I think people were inspired because there was an artistic freedom for them when they were seeking out new ways to create buildings.

During the mid-20th century, this was very much a seasonal place. They jokingly say you could throw a bowling ball down Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs in the summertime and not hit anything because everybody had left because of the heat.

Sian Winship , president of the Society of Architectural Historians, Southern California Chapter : One of the things was the availability of the land [thanks to] the Agua Caliente [Band of Cahuilla Indians]. After many, many decades of broken promises by the U.S. government, the tribe was able to start leasing [reservation land]. It inspired a whole different style of building here, particularly one that spoke to resort living. Suddenly you had these vast expanses of land where you could build golf resorts. It was perfectly timed for the rise of golf nationwide, and condominiums were developed to be leisure, second homes, or vacation homes. You have a real concentration of that kind of development and a concentration of modernism because of what the tribe had to offer.

Lyon : It was this available land and this moment in time where there was a demand for structures. You’ve got this group of architects who were more than willing and ready, champing at the bit to practice what they were taught at school. There was this wonderful convergence of talent and need.

Hess : Frey was from Switzerland, Neutra from Austria, Don Wexler from Minnesota, Stew Williams and Bill Cody from Ohio. Something drew them to Palm Springs — and to stay in Palm Springs. They had a sense of freedom and new possibilities, and the technology that opened up these new possibilities.

Sian Winship

Lyon : I think Don Wexler was probably in his late 30s or thereabouts when he did the Palm Springs International Airport terminal. How many chances do you get in current times as an architect in your 30s to do an entire airport terminal without being bothered? There were these great commissions available for the taking: city hall, the airport, schools. Usually, architecture we think of as being an old man’s profession. These guys were fresh out of school getting great opportunities for big commissions.

French : The patrons said, “We’ll try anything. We want to see what you can make.”

George E. Thomas , cultural and architectural historian : The great thing was that they didn’t put together a commission and figure out some New York architect to invite. They were willing to take chances. So much of architecture is personal and individual.

Winship : The history of Palm Springs and the glamour associated with it is directly tied to the movie industry. This was the place where you could always get back to the studio within two hours if production resumed on your film. It was about as far away as you could get [according to actor-studio agreements that limited travel]. And having that element of the movie industry out here gave the place a sense of incredible elegance and excitement.

Thomas : Palm Springs architects had the fun of working for a clientele who were not old farts. The other artists, the screen actors saw themselves as part of a production team. And that meant a different type of client, a different type of building. That was the miracle of Palm Springs — that it was close enough for Hollywood, young enough for young architects to do their thing, and able to create a new type of culture that didn’t look back.

George E. Thomas

Lyon : I spent 17 years in Chicago before coming out to Palm Springs, and Chicago is all about corporate architecture. It’s Mies [van der Rohe]. It’s business. It’s cold, it’s dark, it’s cloudy Chicago. I roll out to Palm Springs, and here’s all these pastel colors. It’s almost like having houses with tail fins, these butterfly roofs and all this whimsy.

Jones : I think the days of schools of thought being a result of architectural liberation or social movements may be behind us given climate change and the forces of nature. At Jones Studio, we’re starting to talk about a different school of thought based on watersheds. The scarcity of water and the future of water has become a very important driving force behind how we do our buildings now.

Maybe history will look back on these times, the cusp of climate change, as being a very important form giver to a new, responsible architecture.

I love the conversation about the invention of the air conditioner and how it liberated the architecture in Palm Springs. When I was in Cody’s house a few years ago, I marveled at how thin that roof was. I mean there are, what, 2 inches of insulation and 120-degree heat beating on it and floor-to-ceiling glass all the way around? Beautiful place to be. But if you tried to do that now, it would be completely irresponsible.

A William Krisel pencil sketch of the Sandpiper Condominiums in Palm Desert (designed by Don Saxon Palmer and Krisel and built from 1958 to 1969). PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS MENRAD, VIA RIZZOLI

French : There’s this transition from the glass-with-very-thin-roof structures to the monumental concrete of John Lautner. [Consider the Arthur Elrod and Bob Hope estates in Southridge.] I know they were probably considered pretty outrageous when they were built. But those became the new and the next and the future.

Lyon : [Concrete] resists this environment. There’s a lag time before the heat finally makes it through and starts to warm up the inside.

Hess : The whole world today is dealing with extreme climatological conditions. Eddie, as a working architect, how do you see this effect of extreme conditions in the climate?

Jones : The lessons were provided to us by the Native Americans. If you look at the way they survived in the intense heat and through water shortages, it’s still relevant. I live in a rammed earth house. That’s a 3,000-year-old idea. But my house is a lot cooler than my neighbors’ houses are. Nature will always lead in the correct direction with integrity.

Thomas : The key thing about [midcentury] Palm Springs was people left in early spring before it got hot. [Now, there’s a larger full-time population]. You’re trying to solve a problem, which is, how do you make a 365-day resort? The environment is tough for them. How do you keep it looking forward in a way that will continue to be of interest?

The Miles C. Bates House in Palm Desert (also known as the Wave House, designed by Walter White and completed in 1955) illustrated by artist Siegfried Knop. PHOTO COURTESY WALTER WHITE PAPERS, ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN COLLECTION, ART, DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE MUSEUM, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA, VIA RIZZOLI

Lyon : What are we going to be celebrating in 60 years in Palm Springs that still has the strength and the draw and the intellectual rigor? Working for the city, I feel a little frustrated with some of the stuff that comes through right now, because I don’t see it having that same lasting effect nor the same originality.

French : We can’t forget that there have been moments where modernism and other styles, including art deco and Victorian, have gone through periods where they were held in disdain and people were very intent on demolishing it. The architecture of Palm Springs has not always been widely appreciated. I think it’s been a very specific audience.

Architecture is cyclical. Palm Springs needs to be prepared for 50 or 60 years from now when there could be yet another one of these drops in popularity, as the structures that are being restored now have to go through another restoration and then another. Thinking about the longevity of the collection of Palm Springs buildings is important.

Winship : I feel very fortunate that all the people who came before us did see value in these places so that [we] can pass it along to a new generation.

Mark Your Calendar

The Palm Springs School: Desert Modernism: 1934–1975 is available for preorder via Rizzoli and Amazon . In tandem with the February 2025 book launch, the Palm Springs Architectural Alliance, in partnership with the Palm Springs Art Museum, will host a symposium and self-driving architectural tours during Modernism Week. Tickets will soon be available at modernismweek.com .

TRENDING NOW

Architecture

Structure & design.

In Greater Palm Springs, the architecture is as awe-inspiring (and unparalleled) as the views. Decades ago, modernist architects discovered this Southern California oasis of inspiration in this sun-kissed destination, and their groundbreaking achievements in design can still be seen and appreciated today. 

Marvel at butterfly rooflines that cut across the clear blue sky. Wander through airy spaces with floor-to-ceiling windows that seamlessly blend the outdoors with the in. Spy the occasional Spanish Colonial and Mediterranean facade peeking out from clusters of whispering palms. Here, buildings are things of beauty and doorways are as colorful as springtime wildflowers in bloom.

For a deeper dive into the architecture and style of Greater Palm Springs, add one (or all!) of these unique experiences to your trip itinerary: 

Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center : Designed by E. Stewart Williams and located in downtown Palm Springs, the center is dedicated to architecture-related exhibitions and research space. (Plus, their on-site gift shop overflows with fun design-centric finds.)

Midcentury Modern Tours : Private or group tours offer a rare up-close look at some of the destination’s most historic neighborhoods and mid-century modern gems.

Sunnylands Center & Gardens : Tours of this historic 25,000-square-foot estate designed by A. Quincy Jones must be booked in advance; seeing the unique juxtaposition of mid-century modern style and Mayan-inspired aesthetics is every architecture buff’s dream.  

Modernism Week : This annual celebration of mid-century modern architecture draws design enthusiasts from around the world and features home tours, cocktail receptions, film screenings, lectures and more.

48 Hours of Arts & Culture

See this 48-hour itinerary that highlight the fruitful history of the Art Oasis.

Oasis of Art

Make your next visit to our oasis of art an absolute masterpiece with this guide to exploring art.

Modernism Week

An exciting 11-day celebration of midcentury modern design, architecture, art, fashion and culture.

Amazing architecture-inspired rentals

When you’re looking for a fun and fabulous place to stay, there are so many amazing homes and properties to choose from.

Architectural Treasures

In Greater Palm Springs, the architecture is as awe-inspiring (and unparalleled) as the views. Decades ago, modernist architects discovered this Southern California oasis of inspiration in this sun-kissed destination, and their groundbreaking achievements in design...

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• This New Coffee Table Book Explores the Lines Between Captivating Cars and Great Architecture

The 192-page “ Carchitecture USA—American Houses with Horsepower ” thoughtfully juxtaposes disparate yet equally functional design approaches.

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Among the architects quoted in the book is Philip Johnson, who states, “An automobile is a familiar 20th-century artifact, and is no less worthy of being judged for its visual appeal than a building or a chair.” Johnson, a pioneer of minimalist design, gained international fame  for his Glass House, built in 1948-1949 in New Canaan, Conn. In a similar vein, the spirit of the minimalist Rosen House in Los Angeles, designed in 1961 by Craig Ellwood and Jerrold Lomax, is captured in a photo with a sleek 1971 Jaguar E-Type V12 Roadster in the driveway.

California-desert architecture from the mid-century is a natural backdrop for cars of the era, and even of the present. The landscape and skies of the region inspired Raymond Lowey and his team to retreat to Palm Springs, where they designed a late-mid-century automotive icon, the Studebaker Avanti. Within the publication, convertibles play a starring role in the driveways of the once-wild West. From Cadillacs to Ferraris , such cars make it easy to imagine an age when the Rat Pack revelers raised the weekend party flag in their private Twin Palms enclave, and proving Enzo Ferrari right when he said, “Convertibles are for American playboys.”

Carchitecture USA explores a fascinating juxtaposition of disparate yet equally purpose-driven design approaches. Quoting architect Frank Gehry , “Architecture and car design are both about creating functional spaces that inspire and enhance the human experience.”

Click below for more photos from Carchitecture USA—American Houses with Horsepower.

Automotive editorial consultant Robert Ross began his publishing career in 1989, and has worked with Robb Report from 2001 to present writing about art, design, audio and especially cars—new and old…

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5547 Los Coyotes Drive #31,  Palm Springs, CA 92264

Brady Sandahl

Antonio Estrada

Keller Williams Luxury Homes

[email protected]

Last updated:

September 26, 2024, 11:47 PM

CA BRIDGEMLS

About This Home

PERFECTLY positioned! VIEWS + VALUE at South Palm Springs off Golf Club Drive! Single story 2-bedroom, 2-bath turnkey FURNISHED home with unobstructed South-facing views of the Santa Rosa Mountains and Tahquitz Creek Golf Club. Investors will appreciate the short-term rental flexibility (14 days or longer) and the top-notch amenities including 11 pools, spas, tennis courts, and pickleball too! For those who've never visited Villas de las Flores in South Palm Springs, take a closer look. The community is a standout on many levels including the benefit of an adjacent golf course which translates to green space and views! This freshly painted end unit features 2 patios, a stylish light and bright kitchen with counter seating, and a great separation of bedrooms. Take the Matterport VIRTUAL TOUR for a better sense of flow including the Primary Suite with its mountain views. Ensuite bath features built-in cabinets and a beautifully tiled shower. The Guest Bedroom is positioned on the opposite end of the home and just adjacent to a full bath. Stacked laundry is in the kitchen. Fee land (you own it) is another plus and HOA fees cover trash, water, sewer, landscaping, and the condo's exterior including the roof. Assigned carport parking + guest parking. The best of Downtown Palm Springs i

Built in 1974

Price Summary

$374 per Sq. Ft.

Last Updated:

2 day(s) ago

Rooms & Interior

Total Bedrooms:

Total Bathrooms:

Full Bathrooms:

Living Area:

1,066 Sq. Ft.

Architectural Style:

Condominium, Contemporary

Building Area:

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Finances & Disclosures

Price per Sq. Ft:

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