This Is the Last Home Ray Kappe Ever Designed—and It’s Now Up for Sale

Commissioned by developer Ed Freeman and completed in March this year, the final home design by the legendary late architect is now asking $6,400,000.

Jun 9, 2021 - 02:34

This Is the Last Home Ray Kappe Ever Designed—and It’s Now Up for Sale

Commissioned by developer Ed Freeman and completed in March this year, the final home design by the legendary late architect is now asking $6,400,000.

Floor-to-ceiling glazing wraps around the exterior, opening the home up to ample light and views.

There is no doubt Ray Kappe was a driving force in laying the foundation of the modern architecture movement that swept across Southern California. His designs—often considered to be an extension of the works of Wright, Neutra, and Kaufman—marry sustainability with innovation, and can be found all across the country. Kappe’s final masterpiece, a commission by developer Ed Freeman that marks the beginning of a community of architectural gems in Palm Springs, is now up for sale.

As with many previous projects, Kappe designed the home to honor the topography of the site. Steel components frame the residence, allowing parts of the abode to cantilever over the natural terrain with minimal disturbance.
Photo courtesy of Compass

Nestled in a hillside enclave of Desert Palisades, a gated community in Palm Springs, California, the newly built dwelling serves as Kappe’s last residential design. According to listing agent Marc Sanders, the late architect brought "his gifted vision for site-sensitive design to this rarified location," creating a "wholly contemporary, yet midcentury-inspired" home.

Stretching over 3,100 square feet, the home comprises cantilevered, glass-enclosed volumes which appear to float over the natural terrain. An open layout offers seamless flow between the various living areas—all of which capture sweeping views of multiple mountain ranges, as well as the entire Coachella Valley.