Palm Springs Modernism: 5 Iconic Homes to Visit
Palm Springs, a desert retreat for Hollywood stars since the early 20th century, became a mecca for modernist architecture. The annual Modernism Week, held since 2006, offers public access to iconic buildings and private residences. The 2019 edition concluded with high attendance. Five notable homes include: the Kaufmann House (1946) by Richard Neutra, with five bedrooms and a pool; the Dinah Shore Estate (1964) by Donald Wexler, now owned by Leonardo DiCaprio and rentable for $4,500 per night; Frank Sinatra's Twin Palms (1947) by E. Stewart Williams, which sparked the Movie Colony; the House of Tomorrow (1960) by Dan Palmer and William Krisel, once rented by Elvis Presley for his honeymoon, now listed at $5.9 million; and the Edris House (1953) by Stewart Williams, unchanged and listed at $3.2 million. These homes exemplify desert modernism with natural materials and indoor-outdoor flow.
Key facts
- Palm Springs developed as a spa town in the late 19th century and became a Hollywood star retreat with the rise of automobiles.
- Modernism Week has been held annually since 2006, opening iconic buildings and private residences to the public.
- The Kaufmann House was designed by Richard Neutra in 1946 for a businessman who also commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater.
- Barry Manilow owned the Kaufmann House in the 1970s and made alterations; it was restored in the 1990s.
- The Dinah Shore Estate was designed by Donald Wexler in 1964 and is now owned by Leonardo DiCaprio, renting for $4,500 per night.
- Frank Sinatra's Twin Palms was designed by E. Stewart Williams in 1947 and completed in time for a New Year's Eve party.
- The House of Tomorrow was designed by Dan Palmer and William Krisel in 1960 and rented by Elvis Presley for his honeymoon in 1967.
- The Edris House was designed by Stewart Williams in 1953 and remains unaltered, listed for $3.2 million.
Entities
Artists
- Richard Neutra
- Barry Manilow
- Frank Lloyd Wright
- Donald Wexler
- Dinah Shore
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Frank Sinatra
- E. Stewart Williams
- Dan Palmer
- William Krisel
- Robert Alexander
- Elvis Presley
- Priscilla Presley
- Lisa Marie Presley
- William Edris
- Maurita Cardone
Institutions
- Modernism Week
- Artribune
Locations
- Palm Springs
- Coachella Valley
- Los Angeles
- Hollywood
- Kaufmann House
- 470 Vista Chino
- Dinah Shore Estate
- 432 Hermosa Place
- Twin Palms
- 1145 E. Via Colusa
- House of Tomorrow
- 1350 Via Ladera Circle
- Edris House
- 1030 W Cielo Drive
- San Jacinto Mountains
- Movie Colony