Few residences capture the essence of desert modernism like Albert Frey’s Frey House II. Built in 1964, the mountainside retreat was carefully sited after Frey spent 12 months charting the sun with a 10-foot pole to determine the ideal orientation. The result is a study in harmony with the desert: floor-to-ceiling glass walls, intimate built-ins, and a dramatic boulder embedded into the great room wall.
Tours are offered during Modernism Week October, Oct. 16–19, as well as every Saturday throughout October and November, giving visitors ample opportunity to step inside this Palm Springs landmark. Tickets also include free admission to the Palm Springs Art Museum and Architecture and Design Center, where Frey’s legacy continues to be celebrated.
Reflecting on the desert’s influence, Frey once wrote: “The sun, the pure air, and the simple forms of the desert create perfect conditions for architecture.” That ethos is woven into every corner of his second desert home, where natural rock, light, and landscape are inseparable from the architecture itself.
Advance reservations are required. Space is limited, and tours often sell out, so book your tickets early.
