Fontenell Apartments / Palm Springs

The Fontenell, also known as the Max Factor Compound, 1957

 James and Frances Kopecky were the original owners of the Fontenell. Unfortunately the San Diegan passed away of a heart attack in 1959 while vacationing in Canada. 

It was then purchased by Max Factor in 1960 and was used as his Palm Springs family retreat. 

US Modernist and a couple of other sources state William F. Cody was the architect.  I wasn't able to track down any period references to the architect and I can't find a reference in his CalPoly archives. One source that doesn't list the project is Master of the Midcentury: The Architecture of William F. Cody.  US Modernist is usually on point with their information. Also, Cody was living and working in San Diego around this time. The Kopecky family was from San Diego so they could have known each other. If I find out anything for sure, I'll update this post.

UPDATE: Charles W. Doty, (1927-2011) designed the apartments.  The Rancho Mirage-based designer  worked in the office of Walter S White in the early 1950s. Doty, never licensed as an architect, occasionally collaborated with licensed architects.

The ad announcing the completion of the project and rental availability. The units were outfitted with custom furniture by Dalu Designs. Anthony Francis, Antone or Tony Dalu was a noted interior and landscape designer who did many projects in the desert. He collaborated with many of the well known architects in Palm Springs and even opened an office next door to Wexler & Harrison. 

Source: Desert Sun, 1957

Each apartment has a different colored kitchen.

At some point it was converted into a single large unit. 

In 2012 the Palm Springs Modern Committee awarded Kris & James McMillan, Julie Rogers & Mitchell Cowley the Architectural Restoration Award for their work on returning The Fontenell back into period correct apartments.

The property is very understated from the exterior. Gerard O'Brien's Mercedes did a lot to bump up the curb appeal.