From the funky files: three iconic Palm Springs homes
image from: http://teamaks.windermeresocal.com/PropertyDetails.asp
Palm Springs, California is famous for its mid-century desert architecture. In fact, the area probably has the greatest collection of preserved mid-century specimens anywhere in the United States.
It was also a mecca for experimental architecture and design during the 1960′s.
Have a look at these 3 iconic Palm Springs originals…
1. The D’Angelo House, 1963
image from: http://teamaks.windermeresocal.com/PropertyDetails.asp
This tiny 857 square foot home has only 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom but is internationally known due to it being one of only a few homes in the world that rotate electronically.
image from: http://teamaks.windermeresocal.com/PropertyDetails.asp
Located on the outskirts of Palm Springs, this home is currently listed for sale at $279,000.
The house was built by LA businessman Floyd D’Angelo of the Aluminum Skylight and Specialty Corporation, who worked with an aerospace engineer pal to build a house that would show off one of his products
- from: http://la.curbed.com/
image from: http://teamaks.windermeresocal.com/PropertyDetails.asp
The rotating home comes on over an acre of property with desert vistas - so you can adjust your views daily if desired.
image from: http://teamaks.windermeresocal.com/PropertyDetails.asp
For more details, see the listing and the Curbed article on the D’Angelo House.
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2. The Frey House II, 1963
image from: http://architecture.about.com/od/housetours/ss/FreyHouseII_3.htm
Here’s another funky home built in 1963, this one by Albert Frey, the so-called “father of the Desert Modernism style”.
It is located on a rocky mountainside overlooking the city of Palm Springs.
image from: http://architecture.about.com/od/housetours/ss/FreyHouseII_3.htm
City officials back in the 1960′s would not allow Frey to excavate rock at the site, so he instead built around the existing rock.
Architect Albert Frey spent years measuring the movement of the sun and the contours of the rocks before he selected the site for his modernist home.
- from: http://la.curbed.com/
image from: http://architecture.about.com/od/housetours/ss/FreyHouseII_3.htm
The home only measures in at 800 square feet, but it was designed with efficiency in mind as all of the furniture was built-in.
image from: http://architecture.about.com/od/housetours/ss/FreyHouseII_3.htm
The future of this house is secure because it is now owned by the Palm Springs Art Museum and is recognized as a significant contribution to the genre of Desert Modernism.
image from: http://architecture.about.com/od/housetours/ss/FreyHouseII_3.htm
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3. The Arthur Elrod House, 1968
image from: http://www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/lautner.htm
Literally one of THE most architecturally significant homes in all the world. Known as The Elrod House, this John Lautner-designed home was commissioned by designer Arthur Elrod in 1968 and has been featured in numerous books, magazines and museum exhibitions.
- from: www.zillow.com
image from: http://www.trianglemodernisthouses.com
Last listed for sale in 2011, the 5 bedroom / 6 bathroom Elrod House is perched above a Palm Springs neighborhood with outstanding views…
image from: http://www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/lautner.htm
One of the defining elements of this home is the retractable glass wall which opens up a large section of the house to the pool terrace.
The home also features a 60 foot wide circular living room with a conical ceiling that fans out in 9 “petals” between 9 clerestory windows.
image from: http://www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/lautner.htm
The Arthur Elrod House even made an appearance in the James Bond movie Diamonds are Forever. John Lautner himself did remodels on this home in 1971 and then about ten years later.
For more information about John Lautner’s impressive body of work, see Triangle Modernist Houses, and for more details about the Arthur Elrod House, check out the Zillow listing from 2011.
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Like Palm Springs mid-century modern design?
Check out these posts:
Fun mid-century house in Palm Springs
7 Responses to From the funky files: three iconic Palm Springs homes
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Palm Springs is amazing. I don’t think it gets enough press for all the amazing mid-century homes there. Thanks for sharing these!
These are All so interesting to find out about. I kept thinking of The Flintstones while looking at The Frey House.
As I was looking at the Elrod house, I was wondering if they had filmed a Bond movie there….and I was right! That is too amazing….very distinctive looking place!
as always, awesome work on your efforts of collecting these for those of us that appreciate..
Excellent post – they all have that funky mid-century vibe!
Congrats on your one year anniversary. May you enjoy many more!
thanks Linda!