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| The Bob Hope residence, designed by John Lautner, at 2466 Southridge Drive Photo: Modernist Week/Brian Thomas Jones “If the martians ever come to Earth,” Bob Hope said of his house, “at least they will know where to land.” |
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| Inside the Bob Hope residence Photo: Brian Thomas Jones/Modernist Week The late American comedian’s home occupies 25,000 sq ft, and features six bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, two swimming pools and a putting green. |
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| Twin Palms Photo: Danny Heller Twin Palms was built in 1947 for Frank Sinatra, in just a few months, so it would be ready for a New Year’s Eve party. Architect E Stewart Williams recalls: “Frank came in with a white sailor hat and an ice cream cone, and said, ‘I want that house.’” Sinatra originally wanted a Georgian-style home; Williams convinced him to go with this modernist design. |
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| Kaufmann House designed by Richard Neutra, 470 West Vista Chino Photo: David A. Lee/Modernist Week Commissioned by a department-store magnate, Edgar J Kaufmann – who also commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous house, Fallingwater – this house sits at the edge of the desert, and features moveable outdoor fins to protect from sandstorms. Barry Manilow was one of its later owners. |
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| Elrod House, 2175 Southridge Drive Photo: Modernist Week Interior designer Arthur Elrod told John Lautner to design him the home he deserved. The result was a flying-saucer fit for a Bond villain: In Diamonds are Forever, Sean Connery is beaten up here by Bambi and Thumper. |
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| Frey House II Photo: Modernist Week Architect Albert Frey (1903-1998) lived in Palm Springs, designing two homes for himself, as well as the city hall. Just 800 sq ft and the highest residence in the city when it was built, he spent five years looking for the site for this house, then a year tracking the movement of the sun before settling on an exact location and design. |
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| Vista Las Palmas Photo: Modernist Week Architects Palmer and Krisel designed the Vista Las Palmas neighbourhood, totalling 330 homes. Famous residents included Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, Joan Collins and Kirk Douglas. |
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| Wexler steel houses Photo: Jake Holt In 1962, architects Donald Wexler and Rick Harrison developed a system of low-maintenance prefab houses made of steel that would resist heat, warping and rotting – as well as infestations, earthquakes and fire. |
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| The Alexander Estate Photo: David A. Lee Elvis and Priscilla Presley honeymooned here after their wedding in 1967. At almost 4,700 sq ft, the house, built in 1962, was designed by architect William Krisel. |
Source: At home with Elvis and Sinatra: the modernist superpads of Palm Springs
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