Stories The 180 Desert House Pays Tribute to Modernism
By Josefin Kannin
Mid-Century Modern Design and the Desert House
The 180 Desert House, designed and built by independent Lindal dealer Brian Fassino of California LiVn Homes, pays tribute to Palm Springs desert modern architecture.
The Desert Modernism movement began in the 1950s, as architects in southern California, inspired by the beauty of their surroundings, developed a new, desert house style designed to integrate with the unique environment. Today, the style remains popular with homeowners, celebrities, and cultural enthusiasts alike, due to the interplay between sophisticated design and the stunning mountain and desert vistas of the Palm Springs area.
Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms house, circa 1950
Desert Modern Architecture and California Cool
Beautiful treasures like the West Elm House, Frank Sinatra’s “Twin Palms” and the Frey House II take center stage each February during Modernism Week in Palm Springs. The 180 Desert House, designed and built by independent Lindal dealer California LivN Homes, reflects and pays tribute to this aesthetic.
The sleek modern Lindal home is built on a pie-shaped, flat sand lot at the end of a cul-de-sac of an existing Palm Springs neighborhood. The clean white exterior, with strong primary color accents of red and yellow, makes The 180 Desert House stand out in a neighborhood of traditional, mixed, high-end Southern California architecture.
In a recent interview, Brian Fassino of independent Lindal dealership California LivN Homes answered questions about The 180 Desert House project.
How does The 180 Desert House embody the principles of Desert Modernism?
In keeping with the original Desert Modernism aesthetic, The 180 Desert House is a minimalist, single-story, flat-roofed post-and-beam design that emphasizes indoor-outdoor living.
The floor plan and materials were carefully chosen to adapt to the temperature extremes of the American Southwest and to frame the towering views of the San Jacinto Mountains. Clean lines, the extensive use of glass, polished concrete, and an open floor plan hold an elegant and sophisticated appeal that is synonymous with the Palm Springs lifestyle.
What are some of the green-building elements of this desert home design?
The concrete floors keep the home cool, while Sun Coat® Low-E Glass reflects the heat of summer, yet retains heat in winter. The “Cool Roof System” reflects visible, inferred and ultraviolet radiation. The green building techniques and modern design stay true to the modernist-hip architectural landscape and legacy which makes Palm Springs one of the American capitals of Midcentury Modernism.
How did The 180 Desert House come to life?
The initial conversation and sketch of the house took place at the Dwell On Design Show in Los Angeles.
The first sketch of The 180 Desert House
The owner was inspired by the Taliesin Mod.Fab designs created by the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture and sold by Lindal Cedar Homes through the Lindal Architects Collaborative. With that inspiration, California LivN Homes began a series of drawings to reawaken the Desert Modernism aesthetic. Working in collaboration with the owner and the Lindal design team, a private art studio and carport were incorporated. A stand-alone guest wing was added as a private living space, or castia. The castia includes a bedroom, bath, kitchen, and living area. It has its own covered patio and private access to the soon-to-be-built courtyard pool. We put together a video of The 180 Desert House to show how the various elements came together.
A courtyard pool, covered patios and breezeways, single-story living, an open plan post-and-beam design and clean minimalist lines pay tribute to the Desert Modern roots of The 180 House.
What kind of design/build challenges did you experience with this project?
As with most building projects in Southern California, city codes can be challenging. This project had to comply with codes and requirements of two municipal interests. First, the City of Palm Springs. Second, the Aqua Client Band of Cahuill Native Americans, on whose tribal land the lot exists.
Numerous meetings took place between the city, the tribe and California LivN Homes to address design requirements without sacrificing the character of the house.
An original 1,200 square-foot design quickly grew to 1,500 square feet to meet the requirements of the City of Palm Springs, then ballooned to 2,650 square feet to satisfy the expectations of the tribal community.
During the initial lot survey, a difference between the legal lot lines and what was actually seen on the ground was discovered. It turns out a neighbor’s wall had been built some 30 feet over an adjoining property line. Through patient negotiations, California LivN Homes was able to secure an agreement to share the cost of a beautiful new wall so that both properties would again conform to their legal plotted boundaries. Good fences do indeed make good neighbors!
How does California LivN work on a project as a builder and independent Lindal Cedar Homes dealer?
California LivN Homes brings more than 30 years of experience in construction, engineering and architectural design to each of our projects. We go to incredible lengths to turn our clients’ dreams into reality, making sure our clients’ homes are an expression of them and their lifestyle. Utilizing intelligent, green building practices, we deliver creative and unique designs from very spirited souls. We refuse to compromise our high standards, integrity, or honesty. Our goal is to build personal confidence, trust, and long-lasting relationships with every one of our customers.
Related Links
- An overview of how Desert Modernism developed in Palm Springs as an offshoot of midcentury modern design: http://www.visitpalmsprings.com/page/mid-century-modern-architecture/8185
- Learn more about the Lindal Architects Collaborative line of modern prefab homes designed by leading architectural firms in the U.S. and Canada. https://lindal.com/architectural-house-plans/
- Modernism Week in Palm Springs: http://www.modernismweek.com/