Palm Springs Eternal

Author:Abigail Stone

Guggenheim Architecture and Design Studio brings their holistic approach to reimagine a home in Palm Springs that celebrates its surroundings

While Guggenheim Architecture and Design Studio’s roots are in the Pacific Northwest, their vision stretches across state lines. “We take a holistic approach to our work, ensuring a seamless connection between architecture and interior spaces,” says principal designer and design director Jenny Guggenheim. “Our designs are always contextual, responding to the region, climate and site opportunities.” So when their clients discovered a property in Sunrise Park, a quintessentially midcentury modern neighborhood in Palm Springs, the firm was happy to jump on board.

“This is the third project we’ve done for these clients and each has taken on a completely different identity based on location and desired lifestyle,” Guggenheim shares. The original structure was a nondescript tract home that ignored the beauty of the nearby San Jacinto mountains. “Beyond the footprint and the unique pool layout, there was nothing worth preserving,” Guggenheim remembers. “Our goal was to design a home that drew from California Modernism, the iconic architecture of Palm Springs, while creating an indoor living experience reflective of the reimagined exterior that was suitable for year-round living.”

The firm integrated classic elements of modern design, including flat roofs, clean lines and clerestory windows, into their vision. “The convergence of classic Palm Springs style with a modern approach culminates in a design that respects the past while looking towards the future,” says Guggenheim. Technological advancements in windows enabled the firm to blur the line between indoors and out in a way that wouldn’t have been possible at the time when many of the nearby homes were built. Witness the pocketing window walls on either side of the fireplace that open the home to the pool deck or the clerestory windows that ring the roofline of the public rooms, framing the majestic view of the nearby mountains. “We carefully calculated the angle to ensure that you could enjoy the view while sitting on the living room sofa,” she points out. 

To confirm the home’s partnership with its surroundings, Guggenheim chose colors, which range from deep rust to aloe, that reflect those found in the landscape. She sourced tiles from California and tapped artisans from California and Oregon for the furniture. “The result is a space that feels warm, fun and highly textural and lives much larger than its 2500 square feet would suggest,” she notes. “It feels perfectly Palm Springs without falling into kitschy tropes.”