Architect. Williams, who graduated from Cornell University and received a master's degree in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, helped define what became known as the Desert Modern style in the Palm Springs, California area. The son of Harry Williams, a prominent architect, he began his professional career in New York where he worked on projects for the 1939 New York World's Fair and the Lord & Taylor store on Long Island. After serving in the United States Navy, he moved to Palm Springs to set up his own practice. In May of 1947, Frank Sinatra commissioned Williams to design and build a new house by Christmas of that year. The house that he created, Twin Palms, was a sleek home of glass, wood and stone that harmonized with the desert landscape and offered panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and featured a piano-shaped swimming pool. In 1949, he designed the Temple Isaiah, which won an award from the American Institute of Architecture. From the 1950's through the 80's, he completed several commissions for private residences and local banks and designed the mountain station for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Among other projects he designed were the Colony Studio Apartments (1949), The Oasis Building (1952), The Edris House (1954), Coachella Savings and Loan (1955), Sutter House (1958) and Santa Fe Savings and Loan (1960). His largest project was the campus for Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa, where in 1972, he transformed a hilly site into a flowing series of terraces. His most prominent project was the Palm Springs Desert Museum, which opened in 1976 and in 1993, he came out of retirement to design a new wing for the museum.
Architect. Williams, who graduated from Cornell University and received a master's degree in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, helped define what became known as the Desert Modern style in the Palm Springs, California area. The son of Harry Williams, a prominent architect, he began his professional career in New York where he worked on projects for the 1939 New York World's Fair and the Lord & Taylor store on Long Island. After serving in the United States Navy, he moved to Palm Springs to set up his own practice. In May of 1947, Frank Sinatra commissioned Williams to design and build a new house by Christmas of that year. The house that he created, Twin Palms, was a sleek home of glass, wood and stone that harmonized with the desert landscape and offered panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and featured a piano-shaped swimming pool. In 1949, he designed the Temple Isaiah, which won an award from the American Institute of Architecture. From the 1950's through the 80's, he completed several commissions for private residences and local banks and designed the mountain station for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Among other projects he designed were the Colony Studio Apartments (1949), The Oasis Building (1952), The Edris House (1954), Coachella Savings and Loan (1955), Sutter House (1958) and Santa Fe Savings and Loan (1960). His largest project was the campus for Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa, where in 1972, he transformed a hilly site into a flowing series of terraces. His most prominent project was the Palm Springs Desert Museum, which opened in 1976 and in 1993, he came out of retirement to design a new wing for the museum.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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