Pages

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Bob Hope’s Contemporary Castle Architect John Lautner made his mark on Southern California by designing dramatic, space-age residences throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. The estate of entertainer Bob Hope and his wife, Dolores, in Palm Springs was one of the largest homes he ever made. With six bedrooms and 10 bathrooms and spanning 22,000 square feet, the swooping structure boasts remarkable views, intricate gardens, and a stunning open portico. Described by Dolores as her “contemporary castle,” the structure was designed by Lautner to disappear into the mountain and to have guests looking outward from it feel as though they were looking from a cave onto a remarkable vista. The copper roof makes the home, from a distance, appear to rise like the sun out of the top of the hill. It was put on the market this week by the Hope estate, colisted for $50 million Ann Eysenring of Partners Trust in Beverly Hills along with Patrick Jordan and Stewart Smith of Windermere Real Estate in Palm Springs.