Esoteric Survey

Here we are again at at the  Joshua Tree Retreat Center . This is one of the Ridge Cottages by Lloyd Wright.  It is part of the largest collections of Lloyd Wright buildings anywhere.  They offer personal retreats , which allows you the opportunity to stay in a Lloyd Wright ridge cottage. The 300 seat dining room was also designed by Lloyd Wright in 1956. It's now called Food For Thought Café . “First Sanctuary of Mystic Christianity,” the First Sanctuary of Mystic Christianity (1959) is topped by a 90 foot spire. It was built by O.K. Earl Jr., who also constructed the Inspiration Heights housing units .  More on the Joshua Tree Retreat Center: Here Here Here

Inspiration Heights, serene contemplative living. Designed in 1960 by Harold Zook.  This is a continuation on my latest visit to the Joshua Tree Retreat Center . To be honest, I never noticed these buildings before. However, they are now being restored in a collaborative effort by the retreat center and Homestead Modern . Brad Dunning  is leading the design and restoration. Needless to say, it's in great hands and soon you'll be able to stay at The Bungalows . The housing was built on a knoll referred to as Inspiration Heights. The permanent living suites were designed for students and retired members of the organization. They were completely furnished and touted as being  "thoroughly modern."  In newspaper articles of the day, it was also described as "serene contemplative living."   Harold B Zook A.I.A, a Cornell graduate and former Albert Frey employee, was the architect and O.K. Earl Jr was the builder. Both were based in Pasadena. Earl was fresh off o...

  The Lotus Meditation Building at the Institute of Mentalphysics or Joshua Tree Retreat Center . Although most of the buildings on the campus are by Lloyd Wright, this one was designed in 1960, by Arturs Damrose (1910 - 2002). The architect was born in Latvia and settled in Los Angeles, where he lived in the Daniel House (1939) by Gregory Ain. Information on any other projects by Damrose seems to be scarce. This is my fourth or fifth time at the retreat center and my second time staying there. That's right, you can stay there. Currently you can  stay the night in the Lloyd Wright cottages . Soon, there will also be other options as well. More on that in a future post. I came out here during Palm Springs Modernism week to get away from all the hoopla. There wasn't a single double decker tour bus in sight. Arturs Damrose repeated the triangle theme that is also present in the Lloyd Wright and other buildings on the property. There is an Arturs Damrose plate under the memorial p...

High Desert House (1993) by Kendrick Bangs Kellogg I did a post about the house in 2014 but as far I was able to get was the front gate.  This time I was able to get inside. The property abuts the Joshua Tree National Park. The front door. John Vugrin is responsible for the interior work. It's unclear how much of the furnishings were spec'd by Kellogg versus what was built in the decades after the initial house construction. Every detail is custom and incredible.