A Desert Retreat Seamlessly Blending with Nature's Grandeur
Experience the Desert's Embrace: Architecture Carved by Nature
Harmonizing with the Landscape: A Vision Realized
Building a dwelling where the San Jacinto Mountains meet the desert requires a delicate balance: honoring the raw beauty while providing shelter from the harsh winds and intense California sun. This intricate interplay became the guiding principle for psychotherapist Sonny Granade and her artist husband, Rives Granade, in crafting their family escape near Palm Springs. Completed in 2024, their home gracefully adjoins a century-old olive grove and federally protected land, ensuring an unbroken panorama of natural splendor.
A Lifelong Connection to the Arid Topography and Cutting-Edge Design
Sonny, daughter of renowned American artist Ed Ruscha, cultivated an early affinity for the desert's stark beauty, having spent her formative years navigating between Los Angeles and the high desert. This intimate relationship with the arid terrain profoundly shaped her perception of home. Simultaneously, growing up in an Arata Isozaki-designed residence in Venice, California, instilled in her a deep appreciation for progressive architecture. For her own family, she sought a home that mirrored this spirit, a quest that led her to seek out a visionary architect.
Architectural Ingenuity: Blending with the Olive Grove
The Granades collaborated with Aaron Schiller, principal of Schiller Projects, a New York-based architecture and design firm. Initially hesitant about a Manhattan-based architect for a desert project, Rives was ultimately swayed by Schiller's passionate and respectful approach to the site. The existing 44 olive trees, believed to have been planted over a century ago, became the project's foundational constraint. Rather than disturbing the ancient grove, the architectural team ingeniously positioned the house to meld with the canopy, creating what Schiller termed "the nose of the house" subtly nestled among the trees.
A Sculptural Dwelling: Responding to Desert Elements
The finished structure transcends a mere building; it appears as a geological feature, as if sculpted by the wind itself. Constructed from a plant-based material and imbued with pigments inspired by Taliesin West and the local soil, its plastered surfaces seem to emerge organically from the desert floor. Schiller describes the home as both sculptural and architectural, a testament to its profound responsiveness to the surrounding landscape, air, and light. For instance, the southern facade, completely devoid of windows, acts as a protective shield against the sun's most intense rays.
Interior Spaces: A Journey of Compression and Release
Within, the ground-level spaces unfold through a deliberate sequence of compression and expansion, culminating in a grand, double-height living room. A conversation pit, upholstered in a warm paprika-hued fabric reminiscent of Yale School of Architecture carpets, forms the heart of this area. Recognizing that traditional furniture would feel out of place, Schiller integrated nearly all furnishings as built-in elements, mirroring rock formations within the desert landscape. The architect emphasizes that every corner of this house offers a distinct architectural and spatial experience.
Daily Life Intertwined with Natural Rhythms
The kitchen exemplifies this philosophy, where circular skylights meticulously track the sun's journey across the island throughout the day. A vibrant mural by Rives adorns a wall, an abstract representation of the wind and terrain, infused with images of coyotes, quail, and charming drawings by their daughters depicting the property's cacti, swing set, and firepit—a tapestry of local mythology. In contrast, the second floor caters to the more introspective rhythms of family life, featuring handcrafted beds by Rives and a shower with expansive views of the sky, clouds, and the desert's evolving hues. The rooftop deck offers its own sweeping panorama, fulfilling Rives' childhood dream of a vantage point from which to observe the stars.
A Sanctuary Rooted in Heritage and Self-Sufficiency
Schiller eloquently summarizes the home's essence: a journey from complete openness to profound intimacy upon entry, a distinct departure from the outside world. For Sonny, this dwelling serves as an "echo" of her childhood home, a cherished "little sister" to her original residence. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the home stands as a model of self-sufficiency, operating entirely off-grid with discreetly placed solar panels and water sourced from snowmelt. Yet, despite its 21st-century innovations, it remains deeply connected to the site's enduring history. Each November, the family participates in the timeless tradition of harvesting olives from the grove, a ritual that grounds them in the land. Sonny finds solace in the home's "uncluttered simplicity," recognizing it as a true sanctuary, not a barrier from the land, but an integral part of it.