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Grants and Sponsorships

Kendrick Bangs Kellogg Project

Grants & Sponsorships

Kendrick Bangs Kellogg Project

On April 1, 2024, PSPF awarded a $5,000.00 grant to support efforts to accession the papers of architect Kendrick Bangs Kellogg (1934-2024) to the Architecture and Design Collection (ADC) located at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum (AD&A Museum) at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). To read the Kendrick Bangs Kellogg Project brochure click here. To read the PSPF grant letter click here.

Kellogg is best remembered locally for his seminal example of organic architecture, the Chart House Restaurant (1978) located in Rancho Mirage, which was tragically destroyed by fire in 2012. (Courtesy Patrick McGrew)
Kellogg is best remembered locally for his seminal example of organic architecture, the Chart House Restaurant (1978) located in Rancho Mirage, which was tragically destroyed by fire in 2012. (Courtesy Patrick McGrew)

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Buildings to Watch

Gas Company Building

Buildings to Watch

Gas Company Building 211 North Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Designed in 1969 by Palm Desert architect Robert H. Ricciardi, AIA, the Brutalist style building uses rectilinear volumes, deep overhangs, and a flat roof. According to architectural historian Patrick McGrew, “The failure of the imperfect ‘corduroy’ concrete was discovered when the first board forms were removed…but wiser heads prevailed and the imperfections were recognized for the beauty they possess; the building was completed utilizing the ‘imperfect’ process resulting in one of the town’s most memorable buildings.” Originally the location of a subsidiary of the San Diego-based Southern California Gas Company, the building has sat vacant for years.

On March 5, 2024 the city’s Historic Site Preservation Board reviewed the owner’s proposal and unanimously voted to invoke a 120-day stay of demolition pending a review of the building’s historic status.

On February 26, 2024 the current owner of the Gas Company Building submitted a proposal to the city to “transform [the building] into a modern residential home.” Because the building is a Class 3 due to its age, this triggered a review by the city’s Historic Site Preservation Board under PSMC Section 8.05.130.

Gas Company Bldg 1 BMarshall
Gas Company Bldg 2 BMarshall

Categories
Historic Sites

Snyder Residence

HISTORIC SITES

John C. & Estella Snyder Residence 271 West Merito Place, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Built in 1932 as a winter retreat for wealthy Indiana businessman John C. Snyder and his family, Morada La Estrella (roughly “Home of the Star”) was later the home of internationally famous movie star Rod Taylor (films include “The Time Machine” and “The Birds”). Credited to talented architectural designer William Charles Tanner, the home’s simple, adobe-inspired U-shaped design creates a beautiful, romantic, and authentic example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style. Located in Palm Springs’ historic Merito Vista tract, the home was intentionally sited “off-center” on the lot to allow for an expansive garden.

REFERENCES

Read the nomination

In November of 2022, the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation board of directors assigned the task of writing the Class 1 Historic Resource nomination for the John C. and Estella Snyder Residence to PSPF board advisor Steve Vaught.

Courtesy Lance Gerber
Courtesy Lance Gerber

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Grants and Sponsorships

Palm Springs City Hall Historic Landscape Plan

Grants & Sponsorships

Palm Springs City Hall Historic Landscape Plan Grant

On January 8, 2024 the PSPF board voted unanimously to award a $1,300 grant to architectural historian and PSPF board member Steven Keylon “to support your proposal to create an historically-accurate landscape plan for the Palm Springs City Hall site.  As you know, PSPF championed the designation of the entire city hall site starting in 2009 when the city proposed an ill-advised plan to rewicker the parking lot that would have blocked historic sight lines.  In 2012, PSPF’s efforts culminated in a significant success when the city council formally designated the entire city hall site as historic.  Hence, it is appropriate that PSPF support any efforts to return the landscape to its original design.”  To read the PSPF grant letter click here.

Keylon was asked to undertake this important project in view of his unique qualifications and experience as a past president of the California Garden & Landscape History Society (CGLHS). 

PS City Hall

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Grants and Sponsorships

John Porter Clark Research Project

Grants & Sponsorships

John Porter Clark Research Project Patrick McGrew Memorial Research Grant

On December 11, 2023 the PSPF board voted unanimously to award a $5,000 grant to architectural historian Luke Leuschner to support his research efforts regarding architect John Porter Clark. As stated in the PSPF grant letter to Leuschner, the purpose of the grant is “to allow you to research and investigate archival materials at various repositories (including those found in private collections) to expand the knowledge of this important, and prolific, architect. We likewise concur with your assessment that such research is ‘long overdue’ and thank you for your letter…in which you make a compelling case for the merit of such research.” To read the PSPF grant letter click here.

This is the fifth Patrick McGrew Memorial Research grant awarded by PSPF.

 

John Porter Clark

Categories
Grants and Sponsorships

Helena Arahuete Exhibition

Grants & Sponsorships

From Within: The Architecture of Helena Arahuete – September 23 - December 17, 2023 SPONSORSHIP

PSPF was proud to be a Gold Sponsor of the exhibition “From Within: The Architecture of Helena Arahuete” at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum (AD&A) located on the campus of the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB). The exhibition explores the trajectory of Arahuete’s career, including its start in Argentina, and her challenges as a female architect in a male-dominated profession. Particularly relevant to the architectural legacy of Palm Springs, Arahuete was deeply involved in architect John Lautner’s commission for the Bob and Dolores Hope Residence (1979) on Southridge.

© Myung Chun Los Angeles Times
© Myung Chun Los Angeles Times
Categories
Grants and Sponsorships

Albert Frey Exhibition

Grants & Sponsorships

Albert Frey: Inventive Modernist – January 13 - June 3, 2024 SPONSORSHIP

On April 1, 2024 Michael Hinkle, the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Associate Director of Advancement, reported that 2,500 visitors had taken advantage of PSPF’s sponsorship of Free Admission to the Frey Exhibition during Modernism Week (February 15-25, 2024).

“Albert Frey: Inventive Modernist” opened to the public on January 13, 2024 to rave reviews.

PSPF is proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of the exhibition “Albert Frey: Inventive Modernist” at the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion. A “comprehensive” exhibition about the modernist architect, the retrospective, curated and designed by former PSPF board member Brad Dunning, presents rare and previously unexhibited architectural models, drawings, films, photographs, and furniture.

As part of PSPF’s presenting sponsorship, there will be free admission to the exhibition during Modernism Week 2024 (February 15-25, 2024).

Courtesy Palm Springs Art Museum
Courtesy Palm Springs Art Museum
Categories
Historic Sites

Merrill Lynch Building

HISTORIC SITES

Merrill Lynch Building 415 South Palm Canyon, Palm Springs, CA 92264

The two-story 1971 Merrill Lynch Building was architect Donald Wexler’s very successful foray into “New Formalism,” a style which blended modernism and classicism. Wexler’s large building (13,000 square feet) commands a prominent site on South Palm Canyon Drive in the city’s financial district. The building’s temple-like design, rigid use of symmetry and massive columns, combine to evoke a sense of gravity, authority, stability, and permanence. All perfect attributes of a financial institution.

REFERENCES

Read the nomination

In June of 2021, the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation board of directors assigned the task of writing the Class 1 Historic Resource nomination for the Merrill Lynch Building to PSPF board member Steven Keylon.

Merrill-Lynch-Courtesy-Scott-Timberlake_w

Categories
Grants and Sponsorships

Star for William Charles Tanner

Grants & Sponsorships

William Charles Tanner, Star on the Walk of the Stars Palm Springs 300 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262
SPONSORSHIP

On February 24, 2023, the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation sponsored the 456th Star on the Walk of the Stars Palm Springs for artist and architectural designer William Charles Tanner. The Star is sited on the north side of the Palm Springs Art Museum, Architecture and Design Center.

Tanner’s many contributions to the city’s built environment include the Desert Inn (since demolished), the O’Donnell House, Invernada, and the Community Church. PSPF board member Gary Johns led the charge to recognize the architect arguing that the city’s architectural heritage “stood on the shoulders” of Tanner’s Spanish Colonial Revival buildings of the 1920s and 1930s. PSPF was honored to have many of Tanner’s relatives attend the star dedication. The VIPs were regaled with speeches by former mayor and PSPF honorary board member Will Kleindienst, PSPF member Steve Scott, and others. As part of the ceremony, art collectors Mickey Welch and Lou Armentrout donated a painting by Tanner entitled “Near Lone Pine” (circa 1920s) to the Palm Springs Historical Society.

Click the image above to read the entire handout.
Click the image above to read the entire handout.

Categories
Grants and Sponsorships

R. M. Schindler Research Project

Grants & Sponsorships

R. M. Schindler Research Project Patrick McGrew Memorial Research Grant

On January 9, 2023, the PSPF board was briefed by Luke Leuschner on his research progress regarding modernist architect Rudolph Schindler’s work in the Coachella Valley. Included in his briefing were hitherto unknown vintage family photographs of the Popenoe Cabin.

On October 4, 2022, PSPF sent a letter formalizing the grant arrangement with Leuschner. The grant was designated the “Fourth Patrick McGrew Memorial Research Grant” in honor of the late PSPF board member who made significant contributions to the public’s understanding of the Coachella Valley’s built environment. The working title of the prospective grant product is R. M. Schindler and the California Desert. To read the PSPF grant letter click here.

On October 3, 2022, the PSPF board was extensively briefed by architectural researcher Luke Leuschner on modernist architect R. M. Schindler’s work in the Coachella Valley. Leuschner talked about the hitherto untapped quantity of archival material available on the topic and proposed that PSPF consider supporting a book on the topic. After some discussion by the board, the decision was made to confer a $6,000 research grant to Leuschner to conduct research on architect Schindler’s seminal work in the Coachella Valley.

Courtesy Patrick McGrew
Courtesy Patrick McGrew