Sample presentation for Atomic Ranch magazine.

The Raymond Loewy House

French-American visionary Raymond Loewy was one of the 20th century’s most prominent industrial designers, creating everything from corporate logos to locomotives. In the mid-1940s, Loewy hired architectural firm Clark & Frey to design a winter home in Palm Springs. Finished in 1947, the modernist home is a delightful mix of restrainted sophistication and quirky playfulness.

Palm Springs, 1947, Clark & Frey Architects

Deftly integrated into its desert setting, the Loewy House is arranged around a central courtyard and swimming pool. A visually spectacular mountain range provides a dramatic backdrop.

Deftly integrated into its desert setting, the Loewy House is arranged around a central courtyard and swimming pool. A visually spectacular mountain range provides a dramatic backdrop.

The expressive design esthetic begins as the front door: a biomorphic sculpture hangs on the exterior brick wall, and a custom-made gong takes the place of a doorbell. Corrugated aluminum panels add textural interest to the home’s exterior.

The expressive design esthetic begins as the front door: a biomorphic sculpture hangs on the exterior brick wall, and a custom-made gong takes the place of a doorbell. Corrugated aluminum panels add textural interest to the home’s exterior.

The desert’s naturally-occuring landscape of arid plants and boulders comprise the home’s front “yard.”

The desert’s naturally-occuring landscape of arid plants and boulders comprise the home’s front “yard.”

In the warm and welcoming living room, a backlit abstract sculpture hangs over the fireplace.

In the warm and welcoming living room, a backlit abstract sculpture hangs over the fireplace.

The house is a triumph of indoor-outdoor living: the swimming pool flows right into the living room, and floor-to-ceiling windows showcase desert views.

The house is a triumph of indoor-outdoor living: the swimming pool flows right into the living room, and floor-to-ceiling windows showcase desert views.

The curvilinear swimming pool acts as a mirror that reflects the desert skies.

The curvilinear swimming pool acts as a mirror that reflects the desert skies.

After sunset, the Loewy House seems to change personalities, as the pool area becomes a secluded desert oasis

After sunset, the Loewy House seems to change personalities, as the pool area becomes a secluded desert oasis

Boulders from the site are incorporated into the pool’s design.

Boulders from the site are incorporated into the pool’s design.

An architectural screen of gridded squares contrasts with the curvilinear forms of the swimming pool.

An architectural screen of gridded squares contrasts with the curvilinear forms of the swimming pool.

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Cactus, boulder, brick and metal – the home’s entry is an artistic composition of forms and materials, natural and man-made.

Cactus, boulder, brick and metal – the home’s entry is an artistic composition of forms and materials, natural and man-made.

Palm Springs | 1947 | Clark & Frey Architects

The Raymond Loewy House Title Here

Raymond Loewy was one of the 20th century’s most prominent industrial designers, creating everything from corporate logos to locomotives. In the mid-1940s, Loewy hired architectural firm Clark & Frey to design a winter home in Palm Springs. Finished in 1947, the modernist home is a delightful mix of restrainted sophistication and quirky playfulness.

Photographs by Julius Shulman, 1947