The Architecture and Design Council is made up of over 300 members passionate about contemporary issues and innovations surrounding architecture and design. In addition to special events at private residences, the ADC sponsors an annual symposium, a lecture series, and tours to architecturally-significant sites. The group continues to grow at an unprecedented pace.
For more information about the ADC, contact Brooke Devenney at 760.322.4818.
Desert House, architecture by Jim Jennings. 2008.
Photo by Joe Fletcher, 2008.
The film and lectures are held in the Annenberg Theater, with a reception in the Elrod Sculpture Garden.
Events are $10 ADC members, $15 non-members, unless otherwise noted.
To purchase tickets, please call the box office at 760.325.4490.
Saturday, October 24 Jim Jennings: Recent Work
Jim Jennings, architect
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
SPONSORED BY Beverlee & Stanley C. Morse and Palm Springs Modern Committee
Saturday, January 30
SHoP Architects: New Projects, followed by a cocktail reception
Greg Pasquarelli, Principal, SHoP Architects, New York
6 – 8 p.m.
SPONSORED BY the E. Stewart Williams Memorial Fund
Gregg Pasquarelli's lecture will focus on the current work of SHoP Architects, a New York based architectural and design collaborative founded by its five principals in 1996. Their current work includes the Barclays Center at Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn, a two-mile esplanade and park for The City of New York along the East River Waterfront, projects for the Fashion Institute of Technology and Goldman Sachs, both in Manhattan, and for Google in Mountain View, CA. SHoP recently received the 2009 National Design Award in Architecture from the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum and their work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Friday, February 19 (This is a free event open to Museum Members Only) Between Earth and Heaven: The Architecture of John Lautner
Frank Escher, architect and exhibition co-curator
5:30 – 8 p.m.
SPONSORED BY Lianne & Richard Weintraub and Katharine Story
This exhibition of one of America's most significant Modernist architects is the first comprehensive overview of John Lautner's architecture. Co-curated by Frank Escher, a practicing Los Angeles architect and the Administrator of the John Lautner Archives, and Nicholas Ohlsberg, former Director of the Canadian Centre for Architecture and independent curator, the exhibition includes 115 original drawings and sketches; ten original models; six large-scale architectural models created for the exhibition and a documentary film. In addition, a monograph by the same name, published by Rizzoli, contains essays by Jean-Louis Cohen, Frank Escher and Nicholas Olsberg.
Saturday, April 10 Trina Turk: On Design, followed by a cocktail reception
Trina Turk, fashion designer
6 – 8 p.m.
SPONSORED BY Alan Ravert & Glen Dobbs and Jim Gaudineer, Galleria
Trina will discuss the connection between fashion design and interior design and how the landscape, climate and architecture of California and Palm Springs, in particular, have provided a wealth of inspiration for the Trina Turk brand and her products.
Sunday, April 18
Film Infinite Space: The Architecture of John Lautner
Introduced by Sara Sackner, producer
2 p.m.
Annenberg Theater, Palm Springs Art Museum
Infinite Space, a new documentary feature film, traces the lifelong quest of visionary genius
John Lautner to create "architecture that has no beginning and no end." It is the story of brilliance and of a complicated life – and the most sensual architecture of the 20th century.
Palm Springs Life is the official media sponsor of the ADC Lecture Series
Boyd House, Architecture by
John Porter Clark. 1962
Palm Springs Architecture 101 Lecture Series 2009/2010
This lecture series focuses on the history of modernist architecture in Palm Springs. The series will focus on local architectural icons, trace the roots of their work and look at their development and impact on the community. All lectures are held in the Lecture Hall at the Palm Springs Art Museum and followed by a tour of an architecturally significant work by the featured architect.
All lectures begin at 10 a.m. in the Lecture Hall at the Palm Springs Art Museum.
Lectures are $25 per lecture or $85 for a series of four.
If you would like to purchase tickets, please call the box office at 760.325.4490.
Saturday, November 21 P.S. 101: John Porter Clark
Lecture by Sidney Williams, associate curator
The lecture will focus on the work of mid-century modernist architect John Porter Clark who designed many residences, schools, churches and libraries including St Paul's in the Desert and the Welwood Murray Library. With long-time partner and collaborator Albert Frey, they designed numerous iconic structures around Palm Springs such as the Tramway Lower Station, Palm Springs City Hall and the original Katherine Finchy and Cahuilla Elementary Schools.
Saturday, January 23 P.S. 101: William Krisel
Lecture by Bill Butler, ADC vice-chair
Krisel's reputation is well-founded by his work for the Alexanders, especially the hundreds of homes here in Coachella Valley. His impressive body of work is far greater than this and includes luxury homes, commercial work across the country, and some 30,000 homes.
Saturday, February 27 P.S. 101: Hugh Kaptur
Lecture by Patrick McGrew, architectural historian
This lecture will explore the work of prolific second generation Palm Springs modernist Hugh Kaptur. You will be surprised to see that you are already familiar with many of his works, but there will also be some surprises.
Saturday, March 27 P.S. 101: A. Quincy Jones
Lecture by Bill Butler, ADC vice-chair
One of the most important of the post-World War II Southern California architects, Jones is perhaps most famous for the houses he designed for the Palo Alto builder Joseph Eichler. His work ranges from those still desirable subdivision homes to estates like Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, from restaurants like Romanoffs on the Rocks to IBM's Aerospace Headquarters in Westchester County.
Frey House II, Albert Frey architect. 1963-64. Photograph by David Glomb.
Modernism Week Events
Frey House II Tours
Monday, February 15 – Wednesday, February 17
8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (tours run every 45 minutes)
$50 per person
$100 per person for 4:45 p.m. sunset tour & reception
Tours pick up at the BOX OFFICE
Frey House II, Albert Frey's longtime residence built in 1963-64, is perched on the hillside at the west end of Tahquitz Canyon Way. Normally closed to the public, these special tours during Modernism Week will enable Frey fans to tour this stunning architectural achievement. To purchase tickets, please call the Box Office at 760.325.4490.
Albert Frey Lecture
Tuesday, February 16
2 – 3 p.m.
FREE with museum admission or Frey House II Tour ticket/ticket stub
LECTURE HALL
The focus of this lecture will be on Frey's early, formative years in Europe and New York, emphasizing the experiences and influences that would ultimately find expression in the landscape of the desert.
Between Earth and Heaven: The Architecture of John Lautner Exhibition Opening
with lecture by Frank Escher, architect and exhibition co-curator
Friday, February 19 (This is a free event open to Museum Members only)
Lecture: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m
Reception 6:30 - 8 p.m.
ANNENBERG THEATER
SPONSORED BY Lianne & Richard Weintraub and Katharine Story
Symposium: From Frank Lloyd Wright to John Lautner and After: Reassessing the Organic Tradition in American Architecture
Saturday, February 20
9 a.m. – 6 p.m
$50 Symposium
$200 ADC members, symposium, lunch & tour
$250 non-ADC members, symposium, lunch & tour
ACE Hotel & Swim Club, Palm Springs
SPONSORED BY Grant Monck & Bob Freedman, Peter Sheer, Nighthawk Estates,
Barbara & Bernie Cain and The Ace Hotel & Swim Club
An outstanding group of scholars and architects including David De Long, Nicholas Olsberg, Jean-Louis Cohen, Frank Escher, Frances Anderton, Wendell Burnette and Michael Rotundi, will look at the architecture of John Lautner within a national and international context. With their presentations and a panel discussion they will look at Lautner's career from his days studying with Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin to establishing his practice in Los Angeles to his influence on architects practicing today. The afternoon motor-coach tour will include visits to Lautner sites such as the Desert Hot Springs Motel, the Pearlman Mountain Cabin in Idyllwild and the Elrod Residence. To purchase tickets for the symposium or the symposium + tour package, please call the Box Office at 760.325.4490.
Hope House, architecture by John Lautner. 1979. Photograph by Julius Shulman & Jurgen Nogai, 2007. Collection of Palm Springs Art Museum.
Fundraiser
ADC Fundraiser at the Bob & Dolores Hope House, designed by John Lautner
Saturday, March 20
6-8 p.m.
$200 per person (ADC members only)
To make reservations, please call Brooke Devenney at 760.322.4818 or email
This is a rare opportunity to enjoy the spectacular Hope House at a cocktail reception with fellow ADC members. The enormous roof, which echoes the surrounding hills of Southridge, hovers over an expansive patio and garden area where Lautner's dramatic architecture can be experienced. Invitations will be mailed to ADC members.
Architecture Tour
Los Angeles Tour of John Lautner Houses
Saturday, April 17
8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
$200 per person (ADC members only)
Meet in the Museum's South parking lot
To make reservations, please call Brooke Devenney at 760.322.4818 or email
Photographs by Julius Shulman and Jurgen Nogai, 2007.
Julius Shulman: Palm Springs Special Deluxe Edition Available
We have a unique opportunity for you as an Architecture and Design Council member. In conjunction with the exhibition, Julius Shulman: Palm Springs, held at the Palm Springs Art Museum, the ADC commissioned Julius Shulman and Jurgen Nogai to photograph architecturally significant mid-century modern homes in Palm Springs. Rizzoli International has published a 208-page book co-authored by curator, Michael Stern and architectural historian, Alan Hess. This exhibition is currently on view at the Carnegie Museum of Art from September 19, 2009 to January 31, 2010.
As a Member benefit, we are offering a special deluxe edition to ADC members only. This deluxe edition includes a boxed copy of the book and a choice of one photograph from a limited edition of 100 signed and numbered 16" x 20" color photographs by Julius Shulman and Juergen Nogai.
These are limited edition photographs, 1/20 through 20/20, of five homes in Palm Springs from which to choose:
Alexander Steel Development House, 1961, architecture by Donald Wexler
Burgess House, 1958, architecture by Hugh Kaptur and William Burgess with subsequent additions by Albert Frey.
Dinah Shore House, 1964, architecture by Donald Wexler
Elrod House, 1968, architecture by John Lautner (SOLD OUT)
Sunnylands, Ambassador and Mrs. Walter H. Annenberg House, 1963, architecture by A. Quincy Jones and Frederick E. Emmons
The non-member price for this Julius Shulman: Palm Springs deluxe edition is $5,000 plus tax. However, as an ADC member, you will receive a discounted price of $4,500, plus tax.
We appreciate your support as a member of our council and the Museum and hope that you will take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity.
The photographs can be seen by appointment at the Museum. Contact Brooke Devenney at 760.322.4818 or email to reserve your deluxe edition and color photograph today!
