Part 2: Architect William F. Cody, Not Just a “Desert Maverick”

by SweisKloss
November 4, 2021

In our blog last week, we gave you a glimpse into who William F. Cody was as a person and how his path to becoming an architect was forged. We found that his artistry and personality certainly added to the indelible mark he made in the architecture world. This week we continue our blog about Cody, focusing on some of the memorable built structures he designed that are still standing to this day.

While Cody may have been widely known for his Desert Modernism projects in Palm Springs, his breadth of work stretched to Northern California, Arizona, Texas, Cuba, and Mexico. Palm Springs is where he flourished most; he moved his practice and family there after World War II, which is when his portfolio grew to include hotels, country clubs and club houses.

Many of his residential projects, such as the Goldberg House and the Abernathy House, were designed to allow for year-round indoor-outdoor living. His modern take on geometric construction, large expanses of glass, and white exteriors had subtle aesthetic similarities to Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye. But Cody kept functionality in mind, incorporating covered patios and al-fresco areas surrounded by native plants.

There is one particular project of Cody’s that stands out to us…the L’Horizon hotel, which he designed in 1952 for television producer and oil tycoon Jack Wrather who was best known for producing the shows The Lone Ranger and Lassie. He commissioned Cody to design a retreat comprised of 20 guest houses for his Hollywood friends and visitors like Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe. The bungalow hotel is considered to be one of Cody’s finest works.

When L’Horizon was for sale almost 10 years ago, well known L.A.-based designer Steve Hermann jumped at the chance to purchase it. In an Architectural Digest article, Hermann said, “I loved the original midcentury-modern lines Cody created for the bungalows…. I designed it as a 25-bedroom house. No two rooms are the same, and we used residential-grade furnishings, mixing collectible vintage and new modern pieces.” The hotel is now the L’Horizon Resort and Spa.

William F. Cody was inducted into the College of Fellows of the AIA in 1965. During our research, we learned that his legacy continues to be revered and celebrated, which is quite gratifying to see. We enjoyed writing and sharing the story of his life, art, and architecture, so thank you for following along.