Sunnylands

The definitive story of the most ambitious and most glamorous midcentury modern house ever built in the United States: Sunnylands, the estate of Walter and Leonore Annenberg, in Rancho Mirage, California, now revised and expanded

In Palm Springs, the mecca of midcentury modern architecture, Sunnylands is considered the undisputed masterpiece. With its pastel green and yellow interior, giddy pink roof, dazzling collection of Impressionist paintings, and long, low sofas that look like vintage Cadillac convertibles, the estate was a Versailles for the Space Age. Envisioned by A. Quincy Jones, one of California’s most important architects, and possessing the only completely preserved interior by California’s great decorator to the stars, William Haines, there is no other house like it anywhere.

Sunnylands was built by media moguls, art collectors, and diplomats Walter and Leonore Annenberg, and it became a seat of power where politicians, movie stars, and corporate leaders could meet, relax, reflect, make deals, and run the world—all with nobody watching. For four decades, an invitation to New Year’s Eve at Sunnylands was the ultimate social prize. Exquisitely illustrated, Sunnylands is a must have for every fan of midcentury design. To mark the 10th anniversary of the opening of Sunnylands to the public, this revised edition adds 32 pages of new photography and text to what has become the definitive book on the house. It covers dramatic changes in the 15 acres of contemplative gardens by Jim Burnett, which are now mature; a new LEEDS Platinum building by o2 Architecture of Palm Springs, with 17 acres of striking net zero water use landscaping by CMG of San Francisco and art installations by Lita Albuquerque and Ghada Amer or the world renowned Desert X;l and events ranging from Day of the Dead celebrations to an exhibition of large scale sculpture by musician Herb Alpert.