Celebrating Rancho Mirage's Architectural Heritage: Insights from Modernism Week
Updated: 7 days ago
A large, eager crowd gathered at Eisenhower Health on February 21 for a panel discussion featuring four contemporary masters shaping the future of desert modern architecture. Presented by local nonprofit Preservation Mirage and the City of Rancho Mirage, "From Inspiration to Innovation" was two years in the making. This event marked the city's first formal involvement in Modernism Week.
A Commitment to Architectural Preservation
Rancho Mirage Mayor Lynn Mallotto kicked off the event by highlighting the city's rich architectural history and its growing commitment to protect it. Recently, the city updated its Historic Resource Survey. This update identified over 50 additional homes, multiple commercial properties, and five districts now eligible for historic designation. Among the newly included properties was the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences, designed by renowned architect E. Stewart Williams in 1981.
The Architects' Perspectives
The four architects—Lance O'Donnell, Leo Marmol, Barbara Bestor, and Sean Lockyer—shared personal stories about their journeys into desert modern architecture. They discussed their influences and the challenges they face as they design buildings for the future.
O'Donnell recounted his experiences growing up in the Coachella Valley. His grandfather lived on the Muñoz Ranch in Indio. Time spent on the farm in the 1960s taught him the importance of natural resources, including water, soil, and micro-climates. His design approach is shaped by his exposure to the durable architecture of the College of the Desert, where his father worked. Living near celebrities like Hopalong Cassidy also left a lasting impression on him regarding how celebrity culture influences design.
As the founder of o2 Architecture, O'Donnell views design as a dialogue between the environment and the site. He emphasizes a sustainable approach to modern design, reinforcing the essence of place. He designed seven buildings on Sunnyland's administrative and operations campus in Rancho Mirage. His work experiments with low-energy daylighting, cross-ventilation, and water recycling. Additionally, O'Donnell restored seven steel houses designed by Donald Wexler.
In contrast to O'Donnell's desert roots, Lockyer grew up in a neighborhood of traditional homes in Staten Island, New York. However, an overnight stay at Palm Springs' Frey House II, which connects visually and physically to the landscape, was a formative experience for him. Lockyer's Studio AR&D Architecture explores the poetic relationship between space, material, and the natural environment. One of his current projects, the Sheepfold Residence in Palm Springs, exemplifies his commitment to integrating structures into their sites. He is particularly interested in how materials and form shape our daily experiences and emotional connections to place.
Influences and Innovations
Like Lockyer, Bestor grew up far from the desert, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, before studying in England. She cites the architecture of Rem Koolhaas, Frank Gehry, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Rudolph Schindler as influences. As a young professional, she was drawn to California's "funky, experimental" modernism, which she found more vibrant than East Coast minimalist modernism. Her work spans inventive restorations, including an update of John Lautner's Silvertop residence in Los Angeles, Napa's Ashes and Diamonds Winery, and an Albert Frey structure that is now the Trina Turk Store in Palm Springs. Recently, she completed a new residence at Sunnyland to serve as the president's home. Bestor believes that good design enhances everyday experiences, as seen in her 2015 housing cluster known as Blackbirds in L.A.'s Echo Park.
Marmol shared his introduction to the joys and challenges of working as an architect in the desert when his firm, Marmol Radziner, was hired to restore Richard Neutra's Kaufmann House in Palm Springs. He is particularly concerned with how restoration can extend a building's life. The project involved removing many additions and improving efficiency. Similarly, he created a vital new use for the Santa Fe Federal Savings and Loan building in Palm Springs, now the Palm Springs Art Museum's Architecture and Design Center. Marmol also guided the design team reconstructing the Aluminaire House at the Palm Springs Art Museum. He is passionate about addressing the U.S. housing crisis and believes we all have a duty to create equitable communities.
Engaging the Community
Julie Makinen, a board member of Preservation Mirage and former executive editor of The Desert Sun, facilitated an engaging panel discussion with questions from the audience. The architects expressed their dismay over the difficulties in obtaining project approvals. They agreed that reducing bureaucratic layers would help alleviate the housing crisis. O'Donnell expressed optimism that AI might speed up such reviews in the future. He emphasized that architects have a role in advocating for change. "Architectural wisdom accumulates over years, and architects must be fearless!" he said.
Preservation Mirage is a nonprofit that fosters appreciation for Rancho Mirage's architectural and social legacy through tours, educational programs, and architectural scholarships. The group has launched a historic bronze plaque program to raise public awareness of the renowned buildings in Rancho Mirage.
The first plaque was unveiled at the event, recognizing the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences. The E. Stewart Williams building was the first on the Eisenhower Health campus not directly intended for health care delivery. Ambassador Walter Annenberg and his wife, Leonore, donated $5 million to "establish an unmatched facility for leaders in education, medicine, government, and industry to gather to contemplate issues of the next century."
The Future of Rancho Mirage's Architecture
Beyond its educational work, Preservation Mirage advocates for the protection of significant architecture and provides resources for those seeking historic designations. To become a member, visit preservationmirage.org.
In conclusion, the panel discussion at Modernism Week was not just a celebration of architecture; it was a call to action. The insights shared by these architects remind us of the importance of preserving our architectural heritage while innovating for the future. Their stories inspire us to appreciate the unique blend of history and modernity that defines Rancho Mirage.
Retired from the fashion industry, Suzanne Fromkin serves on the Tools for Tomorrow board and is an avid art and theater lover.
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