Palm Springs House: A modern home for modern times

Design problem

Kennedy High School students were tasked with developing a 3,000-square-foot, single-story Type V wood-framed primary residence in Palm Springs, with a minimum of 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, designed under Uniform Building Code standards and 9’+ plate heights. The program includes a centralized great room integrating a family lounge, concealed kitchen (visually screened from entry), formal dining area, built-in bar, and adjacent home theater. A functional fireplace is required.

The plan must incorporate a dual-occupant office with optimized daylight control, glare reduction, and opposing/angled workstations with exterior sightlines. The primary suite includes a walk-in closet, spa bath (dual sinks, shower, private WC, two-person tub), and private exterior patio. Children’s bedrooms require a Jack-and-Jill bath with dual lavatories and compartmentalized wet areas.

Additional requirements include a powder room, pool-accessible full bath, attached two-car garage (12’x22’ stalls) with 10’x10’ workshop, and screened guest parking.

Site planning must address adjacency privacy through window offsetting or screening, integrate xeriscape landscaping, and include a rear outdoor program with a pool, shaded zones, a fire feature, and an outdoor kitchen. Deliverables include a 1/4” scale plan, elevation, and section with full material and system notation.

Student solution

My project is a 3,000-square-foot, single-story modern residence designed for a family of four living in Palm Springs. The home is tailored to a working couple—a museum curator and an ice cream shop owner—and their twin pre-teen daughters who are active in swimming and gymnastics. It serves as their primary residence and prioritizes both functionality and contemporary desert living.

The design centers on a large “great room” that brings together a casual family space for gatherings, with an adjacent home theater. The kitchen is integrated into this zone but intentionally screened from the front entry, alongside a formal dining area and built-in bar. A fireplace is included as a functional focal point.

The plan features a dual-work office for both parents, a private master suite with a patio, and separate children’s bedrooms with a Jack-and-Jill bathroom. Additional elements include guest and pool-access bathrooms, a welcoming entry, expansive outdoor living with shaded seating, a fire pit, an outdoor kitchen, and a two-car garage with workshop. Privacy, desert climate response, xeriscaping, and energy-efficient technology are key drivers of the design.

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