An Albert Frey and Hugh Kaptur Classic Reawakens in Palm Springs

"The Burgess House has never belonged to the elite fraternity of architectural marvels synonymous with the efflorescence of midcentury modernism in Palm Springs-places like Richard Neutra's Kaufmann House, E. Stewart Williams's Twin Palms estate for Frank Sinatra, and Albert Frey's own landmark residence, Frey House II. Obscured by a convoluted history of renovations and expansions spanning many decades-as well as an owner who was loathe to share credit with his architects, Hugh Kaptur and Albert Frey-the Burgess House has existed in a fog of improper attribution and appreciation."

"Sassoon, an inveterate collector and art historian as well as an accomplished designer in her own right, famously shepherded the renovation of Neutra's Singleton House in Los Angeles, where she lived with her late husband, legendary tastemaker Vidal Sassoon. Crump, a documentary filmmaker and curator equally steeped in the history of modern design, has trained his lens on a host of artists and architects, among them Marcel Breuer, Robert Mapplethorpe and Sam Wagstaff, and Jordan Wolfson."

The Burgess House, located near the San Jacinto Mountains in Palm Springs, has long been overshadowed by more celebrated midcentury modernist landmarks. Years of renovations, expansions, and improper architectural attribution obscured its significance, while overgrown vegetation concealed its modernist design. Ronnie Sassoon, an accomplished art historian and designer who previously restored Richard Neutra's Singleton House, and James Crump, a documentary filmmaker and curator specializing in modern design history, have become the home's current stewards. Both bring extensive expertise in architectural preservation and modernist design. Their acquisition represents a significant commitment to restoring the house's proper place in Palm Springs' architectural heritage.

Read at Architectural Digest