By Marissa Sainz, May 8, 2026
Last weekend I had the chance to visit Palm Springs with girlfriends and we took the time to do a self guided mid century architecture tour. The city is a mid century enthusiast’s dream and we were able to see some beautiful examples of architecture from the 50s and 60s. The house we stayed in was also a remodeled mid century home with vaulted ceilings, clean lines and a flow between indoor and outdoor living. Here are a few of the favorites.
Downtown we first drove up to the old Coachella Valley Savings & Loan which is now a Chase bank building. The inverted parabolic curved columns are stunning and the ground level water feature brings a coolness to the desert building. On the same block we saw two more beautiful mid century buildings that are now banks as well. Does our financing sector have an eye for architecture here?
A bit further south from downtown we drove by the Royal Hawaiian Estates. This is a cool condo complex designed by Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison with tiki architecture. The nearby restaurants and commercial spaces all had Polynesian themes well.
Then we turned to find some residential homes on the tour. The first is actually currently listed on the market, so we were able to view some interior photos online. The William Holden residence at 1323 S Driftwood Drive is the most unassuming home from the street that opens into a 4,449sf house on a full acre lot. The original architect is unknown and the home has been modernized in recent years. See the listing here.
Just around the corner we ran into this lovely home that is for sale as well, 1190 S Calle De Maria. It is not on the tour, but when we pulled up the photos I had to share. The fireplace is my absolute favorite part of this house. See the listing here.
On our way back to our house we stopped to try and peek at the Sinatra house. It is named Twin Palms and was designed by E. Stewart Williams. Originally Sinatra wanted a Georgian style home, but the architects were able convince him to go with a more mid century desert style.
While walking to find the Sinatra house we ran into a whimsical art display tucked right into the neighborhood between homes. Robo Lights is an ever evolving art display made completely of recycled materials. You can tour the robo lights during the day for a few dollars. From the street we could see so many nostalgic characters including a trio of mice from Chuck E Cheese, KokoPelli and Santa. Such a fun surprise!
If you are ever in Palm Springs I highly suggest the self guided mid century tour! See the tour here.
Marissa Sainz
Broker | Earth Advantage | OR
She/Her
Whether you want to live in a hip Pearl District condo or a unique east side bungalow I am here to help you find the perfect home.
The Pearl District and the close in surrounding neighborhoods are exciting and evolving areas and where I focus my business.
It is important in our changing real estate world, where location is so vital to home buyers, to work with a neighborhood expert. We all want to live near our local grocery store and within walking distance of our favorite coffee spot, restaurants and parks.
I am here to guide buyers and sellers through the process every step of the way, if you are a first time home buyer searching for the perfect starter home or looking to move as your family and lifestyle change.
Marissa earned a degree in finance with a concentration in real estate from The University of Texas at Austin. Before coming to residential real estate in Portland Marissa worked for both a national and local commercial real estate firm. Around town Marissa is involved with the Women in Insurance and Financial Services Portland chapter as well as the Women's Council of REALTORS®.
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