It is almost impossible to have a conversation about the architecture in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley without spending a considerable amount of time discussing celebrated master architect E. Stewart Williams. His influence on the landscape, at a time when Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley was coming into its own, can not be overstated.
Although his path to the West Coast began in the Midwest, once he settled into the desert, there was no turning back. He gained prominence at a time when desert modernism was taking root, establishing Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley as the quintessential place to find it. And when he passed away in 2005, he was the last of his generation of architects.
To describe his style simply would be to say he had a way of warming up the coolness of modern design. In California, he did it by incorporating natural materials and maintaining a reverence for the desert landscape.
With an Ivy League education and time spent abroad immersing himself in international architecture, Williams formed his own take on modern design, and he unfurled it across Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. His legacy and influence are unparalleled and it all began in Ohio.
E. Stewart Williams: The Early Years
E. Stewart Williams was born in Ohio, where his father Harry had established himself as a prominent architect. At the time, Harry Williams was best known for designing the National Cash Register (NCR) offices in Dayton.
The family relocated to Palm Springs to support the health of Williams’ mother, who lived with severe rheumatoid arthritis. In relocating, Williams brought with him the professional connection he had established with the design of the NCR offices, earning a commission to design La Plaza Shopping Center in the mid-30s.
Around this same time, as his father’s work continued to garner attention in the architectural world, Williams studied architecture at Cornell University and later earned a master’s degree at University of Pennsylvania. After completing school and teaching for a few years in New York, Williams embarked on a six-month European retreat to immerse himself in international architecture.
Time spent in Sweden proved to be particularly formative.
It was there that he was taken by the organic elements of modern design. His obituary, published in the Los Angeles Times, made particular note of this consequential discovery for Williams, quoting him as saying he knew then that he wanted his work to “have a soul, to be a place where people were part of the human race, not an exercise in geometry.”
It was also in Sweden where Williams met the woman who would become his wife of 60 years. Mari was able to join Williams in the U.S. about two years after they met, but until then they maintained a committed, long-distance correspondence.
When Williams returned from his European sabbatical, he began working in New York after receiving assignments for the World’s Fair and a Lord and Taylor department store. Williams eventually decided to join his father and brother at their firm in Palm Springs in the mid-1940s, setting off a career that has received enduring acclaim.
Introducing His Style To Palm Springs
Williams made a real splash upon his arrival to Palm Springs. And entertainer Frank Sinatra had something to do with it.
As the story goes, Sinatra wandered into the Williams family architectural practice eating ice cream. Sinatra was gaining notoriety for some of his performances, but wasn’t yet at his iconic stature. Still, Williams recognized him. Sinatra told Williams he wanted to build a Georgian-style mansion in Palm Springs and have it ready for a Christmas party.
Williams drew up two plans. One for what Sinatra suggested. The other, a design for which Williams would become known. The modernist design became known as Twin Palms, a home that captured the colors and feeling of the desert while capturing limitless views of the nearby mountains.
The hip desert retreat was completed in time for Sinatra’s party and it became a beacon for Hollywood names looking for a different backdrop, away from the big city. Sinatra used the home for years, living in it through two marriages and hosting countless, glamorous parties. Undoubtedly, Twin Palms has stories to tell.
That home, however, was the beginning of a striking era of desert modernism. For his part, Williams has been crowned the leading influence as clean lines, floor-to-ceiling glass and organic immersion became a mainstay of postwar architecture across Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.
Desert modernism, like every architectural style, has its calling cards. And Williams was a master at playing them.
The Elements Of Desert Modernism
There are certain familiar terms that crop up when speaking about desert modernism. To understand the style is to have a good grasp of what those terms refer to. It’s easiest to break down the elements of desert modernism into definitions and examples of how they show up in a home.
- Midcentury. This term refers to the time period when these homes were built, primarily between the 1920s and 1960s, with a boom following the end of World War II.
- Modernism. An architectural style that was admired globally and embraced clean lines, industrial materials and an emphasis on function.
- Desert modernism. An adaptation of international modernism specifically for the climate in the American Southwest.
- Expansive glass. Desert modernism embraces indoor-outdoor living, often doing its best to neutralize the barrier between interior and exterior living spaces. Expansive glass maximizing natural light is a hallmark of desert modernist design, put into practice with floor-to-ceiling glass, retractable doors and clerestory windows.
- Low profiles. Horizontal lines are critical to desert modernist design, aligning structures with the flat landscape, creating a sense of parallelism.
- Unconventional rooflines. Adding drama to desert modernist design is the eclectic roofline of these homes which often include extensive overhangs, flat roofs, deep eaves and even the “butterfly” design, to work with the climate.
- Sun and heat management. Architectural components like breeze blocks and screens help block heat while allowing for air flow.
Williams is perhaps most noted for his functional and seamless incorporation of indoor-outdoor living spaces, as well as his affection for using natural materials. His designs reveal a true appreciation for the desert, and the expansive glass integrated into the projects he planned maximized opportunities for enjoying both indoor and outdoor worlds.
His use of exposed stone and wood, coupled with his affinity for boulders and his tendency to site projects in ways that maximized sight lines, again show his dedication to design that integrates with a landscape rather than conquering it.
Williams designed about 20 residential structures that were eventually built across the Coachella Valley, adding to his portfolio of commercial and civic projects.
Notable E. Stewart Williams Projects
It’s challenging to make it through Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley without a mention of an E. Stewart Williams project, a sighting of one, or the influence of one. Williams is ubiquitous across the region, from iconic residential commissions that have earned historic designation to commercial and civic buildings that cement his legacy at scale.
Some of his most notable projects include:
- Twin Palms for Frank Sinatra, 1947. An iconic residence for an entertainer with rising global appeal at the time.
- Temple Isaiah, 1949-1951. A one-room synagogue for which he used exposed concrete, inside and out.
- Oasis Hotel & Commercial building, 1953-1955. A 50-room hotel that would replace a hotel of the same name, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
- Edris Residence, 1954. A commission in Tuscany Heights that takes advantage of its perch on a boulder-strewn lot and incorporates natural elements wherever possible.
- Stewart Williams Residence, 1955. A classic modernist home for Williams and his wife, Mari.
- The Koerner Residence, 1955. A Class 1 Historic resource, the home is a standout for Williams.
- Santa Fe Federal Savings & Loan, 1960. Now known as the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture and Design Center.
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Mountain Station, 1961. Inspired by the design of a Swiss chalet, the mountain station is wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass to maximize views of the valley below.
The PS Properties Link
At PS Properties, our team sees the influence of E. Stewart Williams across Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley almost every single day. The clean lines, the natural light, and the indoor-outdoor living that show up in homes across the area are callbacks to a time when a new architectural style was emerging and taking hold.
The homes, and even the buildings, from this era are truly unique, offering a glimpse into a period of fevered innovation and inspired design. As real estate professionals who have represented and sold some of these iconic works, including the Koerner House and the Sutter Residence, we don’t take one minute of it for granted.
We honestly pride ourselves on our knowledge of and appreciation for the architectural greats who shaped Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, and we believe it shows in the work we do for our clients. When we know that a historic property or one of architectural significance is being placed in our care, we take the responsibility seriously.
At PS Properties, we know it’s not only a privilege to work in an area with such a rich history, but to work in a community that wants to preserve that history. E. Stewart Williams is one of the reasons Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley look and feel the way they do. And we’re honored to get to spend at least some of our time marveling at his unmatched creativity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was E. Stewart Williams?
E. Stewart Williams was a master architect whose work defined much of the built landscape of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. Born in Ohio to a prominent architect father, he studied at Cornell University and earned a master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania before joining his father and brother at their Palm Springs firm in the mid-1940s. He died in 2005, the last of his generation of architects.
What is E. Stewart Williams best known for?
His best-known commission is Twin Palms, the 1947 house he designed for Frank Sinatra. Sinatra walked into the family firm eating an ice cream cone and asked for a Georgian-style mansion ready in time for a Christmas party. Williams drew up two plans, one as requested and one modernist, and the modernist design became Twin Palms.
Which buildings in Palm Springs did E. Stewart Williams design?
His projects include Temple Isaiah (1949-1951), the Oasis Hotel and commercial building (1953-1955), the Edris Residence (1954), the Koerner Residence (1955), Santa Fe Federal Savings and Loan (1960), now the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture and Design Center, and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Mountain Station (1961). He designed about 20 residential structures built across the Coachella Valley.
What defines the desert modernism style?
Desert modernism adapts international modernism to the climate of the American Southwest. Its hallmarks include expansive glass for indoor-outdoor living, low horizontal profiles that align with the flat landscape, unconventional rooflines with deep overhangs and eaves, and sun and heat management through elements such as breeze blocks and screens.
What made E. Stewart Williams’ approach distinctive?
Williams had a way of warming up the coolness of modern design. A formative six-month trip through Europe, and particularly time in Sweden, led him to the organic side of modernism. He later said he wanted his work to have a soul, to be a place where people were part of the human race, not an exercise in geometry. In California he pursued that through natural materials such as exposed stone and wood, and by siting buildings to work with the landscape rather than conquer it.
PS Properties, also known as Patrick Stewart Properties, has been serving the Palm Springs and Coachella Valley area for more than 20 years. Principals Patrick Jordan and Stewart Smith guide a team of experts who specialize in offering clients guidance when buying or selling distinctive modern, luxury, architecturally-significant or historically-significant homes. In a rare class of Palm Springs area realtors, PS Properties has been included in the $100 million club for three years running and has accrued more than $1 billion in real estate transactions. Learn more at https://www.patrickstewartproperties.com/.
