New Life for John Lautner’s “Ugly, Tough job”
In the early 1970s architect, John Lautner designed a Palm Springs, California home for entertainer Bob Hope and his wife Dolores. Unfortunately, the architect-client relationship was not an ideal one. Mrs. Hope made several major design decisions that clashed with Launter’s original vision for the house. According to a quote in a recent Los Angeles Times article Lautner said the project “was an ugly, tough job.” A fire on the construction site and the untimely death of interior designer Arthur Elrod made the situation worse.
More than forty years later the house was purchased by venture capitalist Ron Burkle who is fulfilling the architect’s original vision along with the help of Helena Arahuete who assisted Lautner on the original project and is now the principal of Lautner Associates. Designer Tim Gleason was hired to handle the interiors. Lautner’s preferred materials of mahogany and copper were used along with quartzite flooring, replacing Mrs. Hope’s highly ornamental gold, pink and black interiors.
The multi-year project is now close to completion. Owner Burkle plans to open up his home to “groups he supports for charity fundraisers, political gatherings and receptions.”
Read the entire article on the Los Angeles Times website and see an interview with Helena Arahuete.
John Lautner, Bob and Dolores Hope House, Palm Springs, CA. Image source.
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