Modernism Week: The Edris House, Palm Springs
Perched high up in the hills of Palm Springs, surrounded by rocks and cacti and boulders, the Edris House is really something special. Designed by E. Stewart Williams in 1954 for his friends William & Marjorie Edris, without any budget limitations and total creative freedom. A prime example of modernist architecture, its easy to see once inside that there was no expense spared. Williams supposedly designed the home to look “as if it as if it grew out of the ground rather than falling out of the sky”, and seeing it surrounded by the rocks and shrubs, I think most would agree he was successful.
Breathtaking views across Palm Springs and into the Coachella Valley can be seen from the back of the house and out in the pool area, but even though the views are largely unobstructed, it still feels very private and tucked away.
Many local tours around Palm Springs include the Edris House on their routes, but usually only the external viewing is possible as the home is a private residence. Other E. Stewart Williams designed buildings are dotted throughout Palm Springs that you can visit more regularly, such as the Twin Palms Estate (famously once owned by Frank Sinatra) and the beautiful ‘Coachella Valley Savings and Loan building’, now a Chase bank. If you’re visiting Palm Springs during Modernism Week, it’s a great time to try and get an inside look at some of the more private homes that are often not on tour.
