E. Stewart Williams, Desert Modernist

Alongside names like Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, and William Cody, Emerson Stewart Williams is considered one of the architectural giants of Palm Springs. He and his firm Williams, Williams, & Williams helped to pioneer the regional style known as Desert Modernism. Let’s learn more about E. Stewart Williams’ background, career, and iconic works.

Williams, Williams, & Williams: A Family Business

Emerson Stewart Williams was born on November 15^th, 1909. His father was Harry Williams, the architect who designed the National Cash Register offices in Dayton, OH.

Emerson decided to follow in his father’s footsteps, attending Cornell University, and later the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated in 1933 with a Master of Architecture degree. He proceeded to teach at Columbia for several years, then spent time in Europe before going to work in the US with fellow future modernist, industrial designer Raymond Loewy.

During WWII, Williams worked on projects for ship building and defense in Ohio and California, and briefly served in the Navy at Mare Island.

Palm Springs Unified School District Educational Administrative Center exterior — E. Stewart Williams was among the most prolific and influential architects in Palm Springs. Photo by Farragutful//CC-BY-SA-4.0.

In the 30s, Emerson’s father Harry had relocated to Palm Springs, where he designed La Plaza Shopping Center, a commission for the National Cash Register comptroller’s wife, Julia Carnell. His younger son, Roger, also moved to Palm Springs, where they opened a firm together.

Following WWII, Emerson also moved to Palm Springs. The firm then became known as Williams, Williams, & Williams. They would build their first house in 1947, for a client guaranteed to bring fresh prominence to their firm.

Famous Works by E. Stewart Williams

Frank Sinatra House exterior — The Frank Sinatra House highlighted the work of Williams, Williams, & Williams, and showcased the potential of the desert modernist style. Photo by Farragutful/CC-BY-SA-4.0.

The Frank Sinatra House

The Williams family’s famous client in 1947 turned out to be none other than Frank Sinatra, who strolled in on May 1^st, 1947, declaring that he wanted a new home in Palm Springs within six months.

Originally, Sinatra had his heart set on a Georgian home. This style would have suited the desert so poorly that Roger later said it could have ruined their business to go through with it. Emerson drafted the Georgian design Sinatra requested, but also showed him a modern design as an alternative. He successfully persuaded Sinatra, who relented. The result was the famous Frank Sinatra House, called Twin Palms.

Edris House exterior — The Edris House actualized the style of desert modernism even more, melding perfectly with its setting. Photo by JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D./CC-BY-SA-4.0.

The Edris Residence

The 1954 Edris Residence is another of Williams’ most famous commissions in Palm Springs, designed for his friends William and Marjorie Edris. Emerson had a deep respect for the building site, modifying it as little as he could to place the foundation and home.

Glass walls and an angled ceiling flood the interior with light and offer expansive views of the desert, making for an open, airy interior. Board and batten Douglas fir siding and a chimney made out of rocks from the region create a warm, inviting ambiance and harmonize beautifully with the boulder-strewn landscape.

Coachella Valley Savings No. 2 exterior — Its inverted arches make Coachella Valley Savings #2 (now Chase Bank) one of Williams’ more distinctive buildings. Photo by Farragutful/CC-BY-SA-4.0.

Other Works by E. Stewart Williams

Other well-known projects by E. Stewart Williams include:

Coachella Valley Savings No. 1 in 1955: This white building with its rectangular forms includes a native rock wall and wood paneling. These warm, local materials enhanced the International Style for the desert setting.
The Koerner House in 1955: Natural wood, a shed roof, and sliding glass doors made this modernist house ideal for the landscape.
The Williams House in 1956: Emerson designed this house for himself and his family. The living room features glass walls built around the boulders present on the site. Parts of the boulders are actually inside the house. The result is a spectacular integration of indoors and outdoors, making the interior truly feel like part of its surroundings.
Coachella Valley Savings No. 2 in 1961 (pictured above): The inverted arches fronting the façade of this building make it one of the most recognizable structures in Palm Springs.
The Palm Springs Desert Museum in 1976: The shapes and materials used in the design of this museum make it blend perfectly in with the desert hill behind it.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like We Get a Kick Out of Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms Estate and On Top of the World at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

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