Rising high above the hillside in Palm Springs’ Southridge community, the “Boat House” makes a striking first impression. Designed in 1989 by architect Michael P. Johnson for race car driver Jim Jeffords, the home was built to stand out, showcasing bold form and intention. Johnson is an internationally recognized architect closely associated with the Desert Modernism movement in Arizona. He took an unconventional path, choosing to forgo formal architectural education in favor of self-directed study, learning directly from masters such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Paolo Soleri, and Louis Kahn. His work seamlessly blends minimalism, structural clarity, and a deep sensitivity to both site and experience.

The Boat House embodies these principles with its sharp angles and glass walls, resembling a ship poised to launch off the cliff, which is how it earned its nickname. Inside, the home features an open and dramatic design. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame breathtaking views of the valley floor below, while natural light floods the expansive living space. A broad central staircase leads to an upper floor that overlooks the main area, enhancing the home’s sense of height and movement.

Touring the Boat House feels like stepping inside a sculpture, an unforgettable expression of architecture as art, vision, and place. You, too, can now enjoy this remarkable experience.

The Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS ModCom) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the appreciation and preservation of Desert Modern architecture and design. We achieve this through education, advocacy for threatened buildings, promotion of heritage tourism, and the celebration of successes in preservation and adaptive reuse.

psmodcom.org @psmodcom