The Harvey House (1969): A Buff & Hensman Mid-Century Modern Masterpiece in Palm Springs

Completed in 1969 for actor Laurence Harvey, The Harvey House is a standout example of Buff & Hensman’s refined approach to California modernism. Located in the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood of Palm Springs, the home was designed as a discreet yet luxurious desert retreat. Perched on a hillside lot with sweeping views of the San Jacinto Mountains, the house utilizes signature post-and-beam construction, a low-slung profile, and expansive glass walls to merge architecture with the surrounding terrain.

The 2,800-square-foot residence is arranged around a central courtyard and pool, allowing nearly every room to open to the outdoors. Interior spaces are framed in warm natural materials—cedar ceilings, poured concrete floors, and original cabinetry—while the structure’s exposed wood and steel beams create long, uninterrupted sightlines. Buff & Hensman’s attention to proportion and orientation ensures that the home captures morning and evening light while protecting interior spaces from the harshest afternoon sun—an essential consideration in the desert climate.

Lovingly restored by Marmol Radziner in the early 2010s, The Harvey House remains one of the most carefully preserved Buff & Hensman homes in existence. It has become a touchstone for collectors and design enthusiasts, emblematic of a uniquely Californian expression of mid-century modern architecture.

---

Buff & Hensman: Masters of California Modernism

Architects Conrad Buff III and Donald Hensman began their partnership as students at the University of Southern California in the 1950s, quickly establishing themselves as innovators in the postwar residential boom. Deeply influenced by the Case Study House program—though never formally participants—they developed a design language that balanced clean, modern lines with the warmth of organic materials and indoor-outdoor flow.

Unlike many modernists who leaned into stark minimalism, Buff & Hensman focused on comfort and livability, often incorporating wood-paneled ceilings, clerestory windows, and carefully landscaped courtyards into their projects. Their homes were less about radical experimentation and more about refinement—modernism scaled to the human experience.

The Harvey House exemplifies this ethos. Rather than dominating the landscape, the home nestles into it, using native materials and a restrained material palette to emphasize the natural beauty of its Palm Springs setting. This combination of elegance and restraint has made Buff & Hensman’s work enduringly popular and highly collectible, especially among discerning buyers seeking authenticity in mid-century design.

---

Architectural Features of The Harvey House

The Harvey House exemplifies Buff & Hensman’s architectural philosophy at its most refined, where structure, material, and setting coalesce into a unified experience of desert modernism. Every detail of the home speaks to their mastery of livable design and environmental responsiveness.

Post-and-Beam Construction

The house is built on a classic post-and-beam structural system, allowing for long, horizontal rooflines and expansive interior volumes unbroken by load-bearing walls. Massive exposed Douglas fir beams stretch across the ceilings, visually anchoring the home while maximizing openness and spatial flow. This construction not only supports a minimalist aesthetic but also allows for full-wall expanses of glass and wide passageways, creating a fluid, uninterrupted living environment.

Expansive Glass Walls

Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors span nearly the entire rear elevation of the home, opening the living room, dining area, and bedrooms to a central courtyard and pool deck. These panels dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior, providing unobstructed views of the San Jacinto Mountains and blurring the line between the built environment and the desert beyond. The use of clerestory windows above the main living space brings in additional natural light, casting soft shadows across the home’s rich textures throughout the day.

Warm, Organic Materials

Buff & Hensman’s careful material palette lends the home a grounded, tactile warmth. Cedar tongue-and-groove ceilings, concrete slab floors, and original redwood paneling foster a sense of calm and permanence. Custom millwork—including built-in cabinetry, shelving, and a signature floating fireplace—adds functional elegance while reinforcing the architectural cohesion of each space.

Indoor-Outdoor Flow

The layout centers on a lush, private courtyard featuring a rectangular swimming pool surrounded by low desert landscaping. Each of the primary rooms opens directly onto this space via oversized glass sliders, creating a 360-degree indoor-outdoor living experience. Covered patios and overhangs provide shade and passive cooling, essential for year-round use in the Palm Springs climate.

Minimalism Infused with Comfort

While The Harvey House maintains a minimalist architectural language—characterized by flat planes, recessed lighting, and limited decorative elements—it never feels austere. The generous scale of its rooms, the warmth of its materials, and the fluidity of its design make the home feel inviting and livable. Subtle details, such as the angled clerestory windows and softly textured plaster walls, elevate the house’s understated sophistication.

---

The Timeless Legacy of The Harvey House

The Harvey House is a well-preserved relic of the past and a testament to the enduring appeal of mid-century modernism. Buff & Hensman’s signature design choices—exposed beams, walls of glass, and the seamless connection to nature—have kept this home relevant long after trends have come and gone.

Its architectural significance and coveted Palm Springs location make it more than just a collector’s piece. It’s a rare example of modernism that was built to be lived in, not just admired. As mid-century homes continue to rise in value and demand, The Harvey House stands as a reminder that good design never fades and only becomes more iconic with time.

Typos? Not on our watch. This article has been fact-checked and finessed by the eagle-eyed editors at For The Writers. Have more to contribute or see something worth calling out? Let us know.