In March, along with long-time board member Klaus Mayer, I attended the Association of Architecture Organization’s Member’s Weekend in Palm Springs. This gathering of leaders from nonprofit architectural organizations was attended by representatives from the National Building Museum, the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence, the Rice Design Alliance, the Chicago Architecture Foundation, the Dallas Architecture Forum, and others.
We were treated to tours of local architecture such as Frey House II, structures by William Krisel, E. Stewart Williams, Hugh Kaptur, and Richard Neutra. We were also provided an informative presentation about the upcoming Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture and Design Center, slated to open November of this year.
A highlight of the trip was a tour of the landscape design at Sunnyland’s visitor’s center given by the designer, landscape architect James Burnett. He described the challenge of creating a design inspired by a Van Gogh painting, while considering the water restrictions of the setting—the middle of a Sonoran desert.
Landscape design at Sunnyland’s Visitor’s Center, Office of James Burnett
Our trip was rounded out by a visit with and tour of the home of local architect Lance O’Donnell, Principal of o2 Architecture. Born and raised in Palm Springs, Lance’s work pays homage to the Palm Springs modern legacy yet uses modern techniques to build sustainable structures that emphasize livability and harness the natural environment.
Interior shot of home of Lance O’Donell, O2 Architecture, showcasing the mid-Century modern aesthetic of integrating the outdoors into design.
Palm Springs, with its industry that has sprung up to celebrate and cater to architecture ‘tourists’, is to my mind a stellar example of how design can be used as a method for economic and community development.
ADF Executive Director,
Holly McQuinn
