Each February, Modernism Week brings architecture enthusiasts to the Coachella Valley to explore the region’s legacy of mid-century design. While Palm Springs often defines the public image of this iconic era, this year’s programming brings attention to La Quinta Country Club, a neighborhood whose architectural story has contributed significantly to the development of desert modernism.
La Quinta holds a highly-relevant place in the history of desert architecture. Its growth during the mid-twentieth century paralleled the rise of climate-responsive design, where architects experimented with shading, orientation, and indoor to outdoor living to address the realities of the blazing desert sun.
The La Quinta Country Club became both a social and architectural anchor. The club attracted patrons who treated architecture as an extension of lifestyle, and it drew designers influenced by figures such as William Cody, A. Quincy Jones, and Laszlo Sandor. As a result, the surrounding neighborhoods became ground zero for modernist ideas that expanded the desert narrative beyond Palm Springs.
The Sunrise House, designed by Robert Ricciardi in 1968, opens the tour with an example of early desert modernism rooted in simple geometry and openness. Built on an unusually large lot, the home was later updated by architect Lance O’Donnell, whose work strengthened the connection between interior rooms and the surrounding landscape while preserving the aesthetic of Ricciardi’s original design.
The Collins House, completed in 1972, presents another example of Ricciardi’s work. It also features interiors by Arthur Elrod. Its steel structure and refined detailing express the polished atmosphere that characterized the club’s social life during its most active years. Elrod’s approach to light, scale, and layout gives the residence a distinct visual presence with enhanced livability.
The Rosehill House, designed in 1967 by George Rocher, remains one of the most well-preserved examples of late 1960s modernism in La Quinta. Long, horizontal lines and textured materials define the building, which once served as a setting for the annual Bob Hope Desert classic luncheons.
The Rakolta House, created in 1991 by Laszlo Sandor, introduces a later chapter in the area’s architectural development. With dramatic ceiling heights and sweeping views of the mountains, it draws on European modernism while still adapting to the local environment. Although newer than the early mid-century homes, it reflects similar ideas about spatial design and a connection to the surrounding nature.
The Terry House, completed in 2023 by Lance O’Donnell, illustrates how present-day architects continue to reinterpret desert modernism – without losing its original objectives. With horizontal roof planes, shaded outdoor areas, and seamless transitions between inside and outside, the home acknowledges mid-century foundations while responding to contemporary expectations for comfort.
The sixth residence is one of the first La Quinta Country Club spec homes, built between 1959 and 1962. This early LQCC spec home is modest in size yet extremely influential. It reflects the original design approach that guided the area’s development. Its simple layout, stacked stone walls, and wall-to-wall windows helped set the overall tone for the community that would follow.
The tour is curated by architectural advocate and longtime club member Robert Andrew Millar. He describes the experience as an act of stewardship offered through hospitality. In his words, visitors are welcomed into homes where choices about light, materials, and landscape work together to express a complete way of life. Millar views the tour as a chance to share knowledge, encourage appreciation, and support long-term preservation of an important architectural community.
Tour Details
Date: February 19, 2026
Program Status: Sold out
Location: La Quinta Country Club, Coachella Valley
Guest Speaker: Matt Tyrnauer, filmmaker and journalist
More Information: https://robertandrewmillar.com/modernism-week-lqcc-2026
