The Kellogg Doolittle House is a remarkable architectural landmark nestled within the rugged hills of the California desert, located just beyond the borders of Joshua Tree National Park. Designed with organic, natural curves, the structure reflects the wild beauty of its desert surroundings. The “Desert House” was designed by the American architect Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, one of the pioneers of the organic architectural style.
The home was a well-known example of organic architecture that sophisticatedly blends within the natural context, composed of several distinctive cast-concrete slab fins. The house was commissioned by the artist Bev Doolittle and her husband, who shared a fascination for the architect Kellogg’s unique architecture and design aesthetics.
The residence is composed of bold and fluid concrete that appears to be naturally rising from the rugged hill. Kendrick Bans, along with John Vugrin, an interior craftsman, collaborated to create custom furnishings reflecting the home’s architecture. The entire residence’s walls and floors have been built from the natural boulders and ridges found on the site.
Every detail of the interior spaces has been flawlessly designed, showcasing the seamless integration of art and functionality. The structural system of the residence is composed of concrete columns that are designed to flare out into canopies. Amidst the spread-out concrete canopies, glass has been utilized that allows sunlight to seep into the interiors.
The residence is a beautiful and seamless integration of architecture and nature, organically designed throughout the entire home from the exterior skin to the interior design elements. The concrete mass was designed and utilized to act as a vessel to absorb the sun’s heat throughout the day, which keeps the interiors cool during the desert nights.
The architecture focused on the functional aspects, with equal importance to its extensive utilization of the contextual views by creating glass curtains that offer views of the desert landscape.
The architect Kendrick Bangs Kellogg collaborated with John Vugrin, who designed and built pretty much everything in the house, from custom fence designs to the custom organic furniture. The surprising, warm, and inviting architecture was achieved, although glass and concrete were utilized and integrated with the custom-made interiors and furnishings.
Organic Architecture and its complementing interiors
The interior space was transformed by John Vugrin into an impeccable space that stands out yet blends with the exterior organic architecture of the home. From distinctive glasswork, custom marble, and hand-laid stonework throughout the home. The spaces reflect form and function in harmony, and interiors that showcase design that playfully utilizes Brutalist architecture in stark comparison to organic architecture.
The primary concept of the interiors was inspired by the desert landscape and rocky hill formations in the context. All decorative elements and furnishings, from the spaces’ color to their shape and textures, have been designed to showcase organic architecture.
Some impeccable and distinct interior elements included a self-standing organic bronze washbasin in the master bedroom, a parasol installed in the dining space built from 800 pieces of sandblasted glass, and a bronze fireplace in the sunken living space, among others.
The organic architecture and design of the residence reflect the impeccable attention to detail, evident in the client’s vision and the designer’s focus on both functional and aesthetic aspects.
The Kellogg Doolittle House Project Details
Project name: The Kellogg Doolittle House
Location: Joshua Tree, Southern California (USA)
Architects: Kendrick Bangs Kellogg and John Vugrin
Year: 2014
Photography: James Haefner
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