Panorama House

High Desert Landing

With its cantilevered wingspan of a roofline and its moon-buggy-like legs elevating it above its rough-and-tumble Mojave Desert lot, this newly constructed view house takes California Desert Modernism to new heights.

Vivid white and gleaming, this home occupies five arid acres in the mythical Yucca Valley, with a wraparound view deck, an adjacent spa and fire pit pad with a sunken hot tub, and big banks of windows with oversized sliding doors incorporated into them that seem to bring the California desert indoors. That said, there’s nothing prickly or inhospitable about the home’s sleek interior. Bright white and designed with signature California ease, the home features sharp architectural angles and great, neo-Sixties mod appeal. Ceilings are high. Bathroom mosaics glint. Bedrooms with built-ins are serene and inviting. And the kitchen appliances are all latest issue. Furnishings throughout are svelte, mod and unassumingly cool, right at home with the spare outdoor furniture and landscaped cactus garden. Night skies in the area are legendary, and the home’s solitary location guarantees starry-lit skyscapes.

Around

Located in the rolling hills separating Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley in California’s rugged Mojave Desert, the home sits on five acres and is strikingly solitary, some 15 minutes from Joshua Tree National Park and about 10 minutes to the town of Joshua Tree. Endless desert surrounds the house, a landscape of spiny scrub brush and cactus, dotted with funky Joshua trees and giant yucca. Wildlife roam freely here, and chances are you’ll glimpse coyote, jackrabbits, quail and roadrunners from the spa deck, hot tub, or a chaise lounge on the wraparound deck. 

Retro glam Palm Springs and the new age, artistic playground of the Coachella Valley are the area’s best-known spots besides Joshua Tree National Park, an otherworldly park of Flintstone-sized boulders and spindly, spiky trees that’s a popular playground for rock climbers, hikers, mountain bikers and photographers. Nearby Pioneertown is an old Hollywood remnant, a Wild West movie set that’s now home to a handful of galleries and roadhouses, including the famous Pappy and Harriet’s Palace. 

Golf courses, restaurants, bars, and classic architecture fill the mid-century modern oasis of Palm Springs, located an easy drive away. The poster child of the Desert Modernism movement, Palm Springs’ iconic strip is dotted with vintage boutiques, hip concept stores, and a multitude of cafes and cocktail bars. Other day trips include the cooler landscapes of the San Jacinto mountains, or Indian and/or Palm Canyon. By night, take in the awe-inspiring cosmic masterpiece overhead from the view deck, hot tub or the comfort of the open plan, wide-windowed living room.

Nearest airport

Indio/Palm Springs (1 hour)

Best time to visit

Year-round