In 1959, famed architect Adrian Jennings Wilson, designed Indian Wells Village, as a master-planned community of Mid-century Modern homes. Wilson played a significant role in defining the architectural landscape of Southern California from the 1940’s until his death in 1988.
In and around the public spaces of Los Angeles, Wilson’s work can be seen in some pretty high-profile edifices, like the Los Angeles Superior Court of California, and the University of Southern California’s Arnold Schoenberg Institute, the Chinatown Master Plan, as well as the Anaheim, Las Vegas and Honolulu convention centers. All are Wilson’s work.
But, it is Wilson’s influence of residential design for which he is most often credited and will likely be remembered.
California Art & Architecture magazine labels Palm Springs, “…nothing more than Spanish Mission Revival”.
Until 1936, the influential design magazine, California Art & Architecture, had paid little interest in Palm Springs, relegating it to nothing more than Spanish Mission Revival.
It would take only one Adrian Wilson design, built in October of that year to blow the lid off that perception, forever.
The construction of the Davidson Residence – better known as the “Ship of the Desert”, was so remarkable, Adrian Jennings Wilson is cited as leading a transformation of an entire region – – and the direction of California Art & Architecture magazine who chronicled it. To this day, This property is so recognized for its contribution to architectural design that sight seeing tours visit it regularly. While annually, it is celebrated as a cornerstone of Modernism Week, the epicenter of Mid-Century architecture.
Gracious living, calm serenity, in the incomparable Palm Springs desert resort area
In 1958, 22 years after the completion of the “Ship of the Desert”, Adrian Jennings Wilson would return to the desert. This time he would agree to sign on as the Architect of Record for Indian Wells Village, a master-planned community of Mid-Century Modern homes. There are a few pieces of marketing material used to promote the planned development, still floating around out there. You can read for yourself the words that Wilson chose to share his vision for the newly designed desert community.
Essentially, Wilson’s design would comprise of 19 colonies with 20 luxury homes in each. Each 20-home, resort-like colony, (or pod as we call them) shares it’s own beautifully landscaped 2+ acre recreation area including a heated pool, landscaped gardens and winding walkways, throughout.
The value add was these homes were designed and built as vacation rentals. Arrangements were made for an outside company to provide full service rental management to any new homeowner who wanted to offset their ownership expense with a little ownership revenue. Think of it as a 1960’s community of Mid-Century Modern AirBnbs.
It appears that arrangements would be made to accommodate enterprise level customers as well. The marketing collateral also shows the developer was willing to set up a business enterprise. A company looking to buy their own 19 colonies of 20 homes could contact the courteous people at Indian Wells Village for more information.
A few homes in Pod #2 have never left the hands of families that built them over 60 years ago. There are some families here with as many as 5 generations of family members who come individually and as a group to get away from day to day life and celebrate being a family.
My grandmother and grandfather stood in line the day lots became available. Together they selected one of the four model homes and just the right lot for our family. This is where my affinity for Indian Wells Village began. The home being sold here is not my family’s vacation home. That home is still in the family and just 7 doors down. My grandmother and grandfather are no longer with us but their decision to purchase in Indian Wells Village has now shaped the lives of 4 generations.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT ADRIAN WILSON
Additional reading about the career of Adrian Wilson and Erie Webster, his partner at Webster & Wilson Associates, I recommend, “Hidden in Plain Sight” an online expose written by Allen Hess.
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INDIAN WELLS, CA 92210
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