Overlooking Coachella Valley in the Sonoran Desert of southern California is a spectacular, sweeping UFO-esque estate that boasts a history as illustrious as the combined star power of its creator and inhabitants.
First commissioned 40 years ago by legendary actor and comedian Bob Hope and his wife Dolores to build their family home—they had wanted “a home to reflect their Hollywood royalty status”—celebrated Los Angeles architect John Lautner set out to conceptualise an architecturally groundbreaking property that is modelled after the shape of a volcano.
Indeed, the colossal 10-bedroom, 13-bathroom residence constructed primarily in steel, glass and concrete stands starkly on the hilly landscape of one of Palm Springs’ most exclusive neighbourhoods as a masterpiece four decades after it was completed and had been Hope’s most famous property.
Its out-of-this-world exterior is punctuated with a magnificent curved copper roof that resembles the shape of a mushroom, ebbing and flowing over 23,366 sqft of living space, expertly playing off the surrounding mountainous scenery. At the centre of this dome is a 60-foot-wide crater-like hole which lends beautiful sky views and abundant sunlight to the below patio area. Its seamless flow between indoors and outdoors largely reflected Lautner’s ‘organic modernism’ style that emphasises the harmony between design and nature.
However, for decades, the estate’s striking silhouette was one of the only few things that were true to Lautner's original vision, with Bob and wife Dolores preferring a more ornamented aesthetic and even appointed a Beverly Hills interior design with the task to decorate it, much to Lautner’s disdain.
It was in 2016 that a multimillion-dollar gut renovation—now nearing its final stages—was conceived by its new owner, investor Ron Burkle. An undertaking to restore the home to Lautner’s original vision, it involved the efforts of 100 craftsmen headed up by famed Belgian architect Helena Arahuete.
So leads to the landmark’s current incarnation. Perhaps the most notable update is the earthy-toned interiors that have been rebuilt with natural materials, which reflects Lautner’s penchant for adding a sense of warmth into his modernist work. Walls have been panelled with red-brown wood; elegant quartzite flooring and soft gentle lighting adorn the glass-enwrapped interiors that are drenched in abundant natural light.
Yards of LED tubing have been weaved into the interior and exterior that allows the estate to glow at night. A restructuring of the interiors also led to five additional bedrooms that were originally occupied by staff. As with the rest of the home, the newly-refurbished dining and living areas give a minimalistic sensibility in keeping with Lautner’s style.
Undoubtedly among the most coveted changes to many would be the stripping of plants in the terrace area that were originally built as a privacy measure. This leads to the 360-degree majestic views of surrounding verdant greenery and the lush San Jacinto Mountains that are now utterly unobstructed.
These stunning vistas enwrap the newly built expansive patio areas and outdoor terraces replete with a state-of-the-art 140-foot-long infinity pool. The impeccable estate, safe to say, is one Lautner would have given his seal of approval on.
Images courtesy of Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times/TNS.
