Serenity, Indian Wells, CA

The desert is open space and long views, but also the close-up, detailed perfection of the cactus flower. It is nature’s serene minimalism. This is the setting for our project inside the gated community of The Vintage in Indian Wells, California.

This project involved deep creative collaboration with clients Bob Davidson and Lisa Park. Lisa, an artist herself, partnered with architect Marc Whipple and the W^R team on every aspect of the interior design, and personally curated or co-designed each of the many art pieces throughout the house. Bob, a businessman and engineer, has a passion for racing and cars, and also for collecting fine wines. So, at the start, the program was going to include dazzling and innovative ways of displaying cars and wine, that would be both highly visible and striking artistic statements.

This house is a modern canvas upon which this artist and engineer could play out their strong vision and sense of creative adventure. A home they could call, Serenity.

The front façade displays a graphical image on film that has been applied to the glass, creating a translucent mural capturing the motion and colors of the desert hills, while providing privacy from the street. The home’s long horizontal profile is contrasted with strong vertical columns flanking the entry, in addition to Marc’s signature ribbon windows.

As in most Whipple Russell Architects’ designs, water greets a guest at the entry. In one of the two streetside reflecting ponds stands Arete, a bold, energetic piece by sculptor Richard Erdman, commissioned along with four others for the house.

Passing through the front entry door, the walkway becomes glass underfoot, a bridge, crossing an expansive courtyard filled with greenery, waterfalls, a fire feature, and a trio of sculptures by Erdman. A floating staircase leads down to the lower level and the open courtyard.

As you enter the house, views open up in every direction; down through the bridge’s glass floor to see the lower level and reflecting pond, left and right, the main living areas, and ahead, out to the patio, pool, golf course, and mountains.

Client Bob Davidson designed and collaborated extensively on the creation of the wine tower that presides at the entry. The striking revolving steel cylinder rises through both levels, spiked with custom holders cradling 1,280 bottles of wine. This unique structure can be viewed from many rooms of the house.

From the main level of the house, a wide glass walkway leads out to the pool and patio area. To the right is circular firepit seating and dining tables, and ahead is a feature particularly enjoyed by the couple’s dog, Happy. This glass swim bridge connects the two pools, traversing the small courtyard below.

At one end of the double pool area is the terraced sunning deck outside the primary suite, and at the other, an outdoor kitchen, bar, and custom made Korean BBQ table. Stepping pedestals lead out across the water to a submerged pool island with seating for sunning and conversation–ah...serenity.

Access to the pool and patios from the lower level takes you below the glass walkway, through a quiet, secluded Zen garden.

Another passion that enlivens the house is one for cars. Fast cars. And classic cars. Bob didn’t want these beauties to be housed out of sight in a dark garage. So, an open display garage was designed that can be viewed from the entire lower level. Bob does drive these cars, so there is an exhaust system with a hose for the tailpipes, and a trickle charge for the batteries.

Next to the car museum is a space made for dancing. Opposite the fireplace is a 14 foot stage for live entertainment. The fire is also dancing, as it is a Ruben’s tube design, where the flames jump and shimmy in time with the beat.

Lisa wanted variety and fun in the interior design, especially in the private spaces. Each bedroom and bath have their own thematic colors, textures, and personality. Each of the five powder rooms also has a theme and color scheme.

There is vibrant air and crisp delineation between sky, mountains, and what humans have built. An interior brimming with the passions and creativity of their lives, open to the vermillion sunsets, valleys in a blue haze, and sculptures of the hills carved by wind and water. Here they can find stillness and a wide, pale morning sky.