If there’s any destination known for midcentury-modern architecture, it’s Palm Springs. The desert town in California’s Coachella Valley first became a popular resort destination in the early 20th century, drawing Hollywood stars in the 1930s, then from the ’40s to the ’60s, when architects such as John Lautner, Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, and William F. Cody built the homes that Palm Springs is known for today. But just 15 minutes away is another midcentury oasis that blossomed in the postwar years: Rancho Mirage, the subject of Mod Mirage, a new book by Melissa Riche with photography by her husband, Jim Riche ($45, Gibbs-Smith).
The most famous developments in Rancho Mirage were the country clubs and golf courses of Thunderbird and Tamarisk, which, aside from their architectural legacy, have an interesting claim to fame. “They introduced the revolutionary concept of building homes on golf courses—a model that was soon adopted around the world,” writes Riche in the introduction of the book. “The idea was a means to raise funds for the club facilities, while high membership fees, privacy, and high-profile competitions lured the well-heeled to join the desert clubs.”
The concept worked, and the A-listers from Los Angeles snapped up real estate quickly—some famous residents include Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Doris Day, and Bob Hope. They hired the most popular architects of the ’50s to build their homes, meaning the same architects who were developing Palm Springs were also commissioned to do projects in Rancho Mirage. Here, we tour some of the most iconic homes in the midcentury town, as presented in Mod Mirage.
