The 2003 PS Modcom Preservation Award Winners: Bank of America (formerly City National Bank) The Palm Springs Modern Committee salutes Bank of America for maintaining the architectural integrity of The City National Bank Building, 1959, Victor Gruen Associates, Architects, Rudolf Baumfeld, Chief of Design, and committing to the preservation of the Coachella Valley's historic legacy of modern design
Victor Gruen Associates, Rudolf Baumfeld, Designer, 1959
The bank officials responsible for the construction of this branch office specified a building that would attract the attention, and dollars, of the city's burgeoning elite. Rudolf Baumfeld and his colleagues at Victor Gruen Associates decidedly delivered in the form of this striking synthesis of stucco, steel, wood, and glass. while progressive minds hailed the edifice as a stroke of genius, traditionalists condemned it as a "monstrosity from outer space." With its curved roofline supported by sculptured walls, the building pays tribute to Le Corbusier's Chapel at Ronchamp (completed five years earlier). Constructed at a cost of $400,000, this deluxe depository was lavishly appointed with the finest imported materials: Rhodesian lion's hair window treatments, German slate flooring, Japanese grass cloth wall panels, and Italian mosaic tile.
The Palm Springs Modern Committee salutes the Parish of St. Theresa's for maintaining the architectural integrity of St. Theresa's Catholic Church, 1968, William Cody, Architect and committing to the preservation of the Coachella Valley's historic legacy of modern design. Founded in 1948 as Palm Springs' third Catholic institution, St. Theresa's Church made its first home within the confines of a relocated air force chapel. In 1964, having outgrown this humble house of worship, the parish commissioned desert modernist William Cody to design a facility capable of accommodating the seasonal influx of visiting faithful. Four years and $382,000 later, a truly unique religious structure was completed. Supported by elaborate post-and-beam construction, the pyramidal roof canopy houses a grand sanctuary with a capacity of nearly one thousand. Concave concrete walls enclose a courtyard of outdoor shrines and meditation gardens. A true expression of Cody's daring brand of modernism, the church seamlessly blends gothic drama with Asian simplicity.
St. Theresa's Church
William Cody, 1968
The preferred architect of Chart House Restaurants, Kendrick Kellogg was given complete creative control of this commercial commission. From the exterior structure to the layout of the kitchen, his extraordinary style of organic architecture pervades every aspect of this Rancho Mirage eatery. Nestled into the base of a small hill, the building embraces the natural contours of its surroundings. Further reinforcing this structure's oneness with the environment, site-specific rock is incorporated into exterior and interior walls of the subterranean dining room. Lauded as "efficient before the issue of energy efficiency became popular," Kellogg's thoughtful design provides a comfortable culinary experience in even the most extreme temperatures. Motion picture mogul Lucien Hubbard commissioned John Lautner to design this hideaway for Hollywood luminaries in secluded Desert Hot Springs. Lautner, who spent six years studying and working under Frank Lloyd Wright, modeled the complex after a campsite he created for himself while helping to build Taliesin West. This project represents Lautner's first foray into the world of concrete construction, a realm which ultimately brought him considerable renown. Constructed of gunite (sprayed concrete) and steel, the motel stands firm in a locale plagued by intense winds known to rattle lesser structures. The building consists of four interlocked units complete with individual parking areas, garden patios, and kitchenettes. Angled steel I-beams form a light roof canopy broken by skylights. floor-to-ceiling windows reveal vast blue skies and the surrounding mountains.
Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, 1978
The Palm Springs Modern Committee salutes Chart House Restaurants for maintaining the architectural integrity of The Chart House - Rancho Mirage, 1978, Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, Architect and committing to the preservation of the Coachella Valley's historic legacy of modern design.
John Lautner, 1947
The Palm Springs Modern Committee salutes Steven Lowe for maintaining the architectural integrity of The Desert Hot Springs Motel, 1947 John Lautner, Architect and committing to the preservation of the Coachella Valley's historic legacy of modern design.
