Howard Lapham’s Palm Springs Vision
Among the architects who helped define Palm Springs’ architectural identity, Howard Lapham remains less well known but no less important. Working alongside (and often in competition with) figures such as William F. Cody, E. Stewart Williams, Donald Wexler, and Richard Harrison, Lapham contributed a distinctive body of work that bridged architecture, design-build practice, and real estate development during Palm Springs’ midcentury growth.
Born in Oklahoma City in 1914, Lapham moved to Palm Springs in 1954, drawn by opportunity in a rapidly expanding desert city. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he was not solely an architect by trade. His career encompassed roles as a carpenter, draftsman, contractor, land planner, and architectural designer, a hybrid skill set that proved advantageous in Palm Springs’ competitive postwar building boom.
His architectural office was located at 577 East Sunny Dunes Road, placing him physically and professionally within the city he helped shape.
A Family Legacy in Palm Springs Architecture
Lapham’s architectural legacy extended beyond his own career. His son, Lawrence Lapham, moved to Palm Springs in 1959 and also became a local architect. Lawrence is best known for his role in the architectural development of the Alan Ladd Building, further cementing the Lapham family’s imprint on the city’s built environment.
Throughout his career, Howard Lapham received commissions recognized both locally and nationally. In recent years, architectural historians and preservationists have increasingly acknowledged designers like Lapham—alongside Herbert Burns and others—whose work was often overshadowed by more widely published modernist architects. Despite this, Lapham consistently secured commissions through inventive design solutions and a strong command of desert-appropriate architecture.
Early Residential Work in Deepwell Estates
Some of Lapham’s earliest Palm Springs residential projects were custom homes in Deepwell Estates, a neighborhood that became a proving ground for many midcentury architects. Located just east of “The Curve” and north of Smoke Tree, Deepwell Estates attracted high-profile residents, including Elizabeth Taylor and William Holden.
Architecturally cohesive yet never monotonous, Deepwell’s streets reveal a restrained elegance, flat roofs, privacy walls, and a sophisticated dialogue between indoor and outdoor space. Lapham’s work fits seamlessly into this landscape while asserting its own architectural personality.
Residence - 1515 S Manzanita
Howard Lapham’s design at 1515 South Manzanita exemplifies his ability to balance intrigue and restraint. The exterior’s rock-faced wall creates a sense of mystery, offering only a partial glimpse of the residence beyond. From above, the zigzag geometry of the roofline resembles a lightning bolt, an unexpected flourish within an otherwise composed design.
Inside, the architectural experience unfolds gradually. Angular interior spaces transition into sweeping outdoor curves, where a kidney-shaped swimming pool anchors the backyard. Landscaping plays an active role in the design, guiding movement and sightlines back toward the home’s architectural core. The result is a residence that rewards exploration while maintaining a strong modernist identity.
Residence - 650 E. Tachevah
Water defines Lapham’s most ambitious residential commission: the Movie Colony estate at 650 East Tachevah Road, adjacent to Sunrise Park. Built in 1966, the property spans approximately 9,400 square feet and includes nine bedrooms and twelve bathrooms.
A koi pond welcomes visitors at the entry, while a fountain and a striking 50-foot swimming pool anchor the opposite end of the property. An indoor pool reflects Lapham’s sensitivity to year-round desert living. Inside, 13-foot floor-to-ceiling glass walls flood the living spaces with light, illuminating original terrazzo floors and framing views of the surrounding mountains.
This residence stands as a confident expression of midcentury Palm Springs luxury, where architecture, landscape, and water are inseparable.
Desert Star - 1611 S. Calle Palo Fierro
One of Lapham’s earliest and most enduring Palm Springs projects is The Desert Star, commissioned in 1955 by three couples seeking an ideal resort-style retreat. The complex consists of studio-style bungalows arranged around a central pool, unified by canted rooflines that visually echo the nearby mountains.
In 2016, the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation designated Desert Star a Class 1 Historic Site, recognizing its architectural and cultural significance. Unlike many preserved properties, Desert Star remains in active use today as a vacation rental, allowing visitors to stay in a living piece of Palm Springs architectural history.
Debbie Reynolds Residence - 6710 West Stevens Road
Built in 1957, the Debbie Reynolds Residence once stood as a dramatic 5,000-square-foot home overlooking one of Palm Springs’ most prestigious neighborhoods. Although the residence was extensively reconstructed in 2008, resulting in the loss of much of Lapham’s original design, its history remains an important chapter in his residential work.
Commercial, Civic, and Entertainment Architecture
Howard Lapham’s portfolio extended well beyond residential design. His commercial and civic projects helped define Palm Springs’ midcentury streetscape and automobile-oriented culture.
Skylark Hotel - 1466 N. Palm Canyon (1956) - expansion. This has also undergone a recent renovation.
Kelly's Home Furnishings (1956) - 4525 E Ramon Road.
Tranquilla Villa (1956) - 291 Camino Monte Vista
Store Building (1958) - 1074 N. Palm Canyon - Now DaVita Dialysis
Palm Springs Greyhound Bus Depot (1959) - 311 N. Indian Ave. - currently vacant.
Rackstrom-Reid Building (1961) - 668 N Palm Canyon.
Palm Springs National Bank (1963) - 441 S. Palm Canyon Drive - with Richard Harrison. This is now a retail space across the street from Johnny Costa's. The side entrances facing a spacious parking lot featured a porte cochere, under which patrons could conduct banking from their vehicles without being exposed to the sun’s rays. These breezeways remain.
Smoke Tree Village (1965) - Hwy 111 & Sunrise Way - with Richard Harrison. Walt Disney also submitted plans for this project, but they were rejected. The original concept was an open-air farmers' market connected by spacious covered arcades. Once completed, Howard also became the first Vice President.
Commercial Complex (1966) - South Palm Canyon & Sunny Dunes
Orchid Tree Lane Estates (1966) - Alejo & Burton Way
Medical Office Building (1969) - 140 Luring Drive. This is off Tahquitz and now holds an attorney's office.
Palm Springs Fire Station #4 (1971) - Corner of La Verne Way and Marion Way. Although Kaptur has received credit for this project (and renovation), The Desert Sun notes "was designed by Kaptur and Lapham" in an October 28, 1971, article.
Bob's Big Boy Restaurant (1977) - N. Palm Canyon & Steven Road
Professional Offices (1977) - N Palm Canyon & Indian Avenue, north of Tachevah Drive
Las Palmas Plaza (1977) - across from old El Mirador Hotel.
The Chi Chi Club - 217 N Palm Canyon - Lapham also contributed to entertainment architecture, most notably the renovation of the legendary Chi Chi Club in 1959. His saturated color palette and Yucatan-inspired atmosphere welcomed Hollywood elites, including Jack Warner, Cecil B. DeMille, and Howard Hughes, reinforcing Palm Springs’ identity as a desert playground for celebrities.
Legacy and Preservation
Howard Lapham officially retired in the 1980s but maintained an office in Palm Springs until his death in 2008 at age 92. Today, his work continues to be studied, preserved, and reappraised through institutions such as Palm Springs Modernism Week and ongoing architectural tours throughout the city.
Palm Springs architecture is not static; it is experiential. Through Lapham’s homes, resorts, commercial buildings, and civic spaces, visitors can quite literally step into midcentury history.
This article is part of the ongoing series, "Architects Who Built Palm Springs," which explores the designers whose visions transformed a desert town into a modernist landmark.
Palm Springs Architect – E. Stewart Williams
Palm Springs Architect – Charles Du Bois
Architects Who Built Palm Springs: Albert Frey
Timeline: Howard Lapham and His Work in Palm Springs
1914
Howard Lapham is born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
1954
Lapham relocates to Palm Springs, California, entering a rapidly expanding postwar architectural market. He establishes his practice at 577 East Sunny Dunes Road and begins working as a designer, builder, and land planner.
1955
Commissioned by three couples, Lapham designs Desert Star at 1611 South Calle Palo Fierro, an innovative resort-style bungalow complex organized around a central pool.
1956
Lapham completes several notable commercial projects, including the Skylark Hotel expansion at 1466 North Palm Canyon Drive and Kelly’s Home Furnishings at 4525 East Ramon Road.
1957
Construction is completed on the Debbie Reynolds Residence at 6710 West Stevens Road, a dramatic hillside home reflecting midcentury luxury design.
1958
Lapham designed the Store Building at 1074 North Palm Canyon Drive, which was later repurposed for medical and retail use.
1959
He undertakes the redesign of the legendary Chi Chi Club on North Palm Canyon Drive, creating an immersive interior environment that attracts Hollywood elites.
That same year, his son Lawrence Lapham moved to Palm Springs and began his own architectural career.
1961
Completion of the Rackstrom-Reid Building at 668 North Palm Canyon Drive.
1963
Lapham collaborates with Richard Harrison on the Palm Springs National Bank at 441 South Palm Canyon Drive, introducing shaded drive-up banking breezeways tailored to desert conditions.
1965
Development of Smoke Tree Village at Highway 111 and Sunrise Way, an open-air commercial center inspired by marketplace concepts and automobile-oriented design.
1966
Completion of the Movie Colony estate at 650 East Tachevah Road, one of Lapham’s largest and most ambitious residential commissions.
That same year, work is completed on Orchid Tree Lane Estates and additional commercial developments across Palm Springs.
1969
Design of the Medical Office Building at 140 Luring Drive, demonstrating Lapham’s continued engagement with civic and professional architecture.
1971
Lapham collaborates on Palm Springs Fire Station No. 4, later documented by The Desert Sun as a joint design effort.
1977
Completion of multiple late-career projects, including Bob’s Big Boy Restaurant, professional office buildings on North Palm Canyon Drive, and Las Palmas Plaza near the former El Mirador Hotel site.
1980s
Howard Lapham formally retires but continues to maintain an architectural office in Palm Springs.
2008
Howard Lapham passes away at the age of 92.
2016
Desert Star is designated a Class 1 Historic Site by the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, securing Lapham’s legacy within the city’s architectural canon.
