PALM SPRINGS LANDMARK RIVIERA RESORT & SPA RESTORED TO FORMER GLORY

Revitalized Resort Now Offers Breathtaking Mix of Sleek Lines, Dazzling Details

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Following an infusion of $70 million in upgrades, Riviera Resort & Spa, a former desert hot spot once frequented by the film industry and business elite, has been playfully reinvented to evoke the mystique and allure of mid-century Hollywood – with a decidedly contemporary twist.

The Riviera – which in its heyday played host to Rat Pack icons such as Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. – once again emanates the glitz and uber-cool attitude of 1960s Palm Springs. Owner/operator Noble House Hotels & Resorts has pulled out all the stops to imbue an ultrachic “Hollywood glam” motif – marked by bold artworks, sleek lines, geometric accents and plenty of lustrous color, including an abundance of deep orange, the favored hue of “Ol’ Blue Eyes” himself.

Purchased by Seattle-based Noble House in 2006, the property originally opened to much fanfare in 1958. The landmark resort quickly became a mecca for Southern California’s movers and shakers – but over the years had languished into obscurity. When Noble House took charge, the company promptly embarked on an ambitious two-year plan to restore the hotel to its original status as an upscale playground for the rich and famous, with extensive enhancements made to the rooms, lobby area, restaurant, landscaping and meeting facilities.

Mid-Century Modern with Pizzazz
Spearheaded by Noble House Hotels & Resorts, San Diego-based Rossi Architecture and Chicago-based Delarosa Studio, the design team has artfully rejuvenated the property’s classic minimalist style. “The goal was to preserve the original structure and pay tribute to its colorful past,” says Noble House Owner and Chairman Pat Colee. “Our overall design scheme focuses on re-interpreting classic elements in a way that is both original and new.” The end result – a whimsical ‘60s-inspired design style, which melds posh Hollywood Regency overtones with sleek mid-century modern elements.

“There is a definite ‘wow’ factor here,” adds Colee. Guests take a deep breath upon entering the resort, which is brimming with old-fashioned drama and fine finishes, enhanced by clean lines and abstract details.

Masterfully capturing the essence of its ‘60s legacy with a splash of contemporary sizzle and a burst of deep color, the resort’s unique, fluid style is characterized by:
• A dramatic entryway hints at the playful glamour within. Popping with deep, light-infused tangerine-hued accents, the whimsical lobby portico sports backlit lattice cut-outs of desert rose bursts on the walls.
 
• A futuristic lighting scheme marked by edgy, oversized crystal chandeliers; vibrant light-infused pillars; abundant spot lighting and one-of-a-kind handcrafted fixtures, many by vanguard Dutch design firm Brand van Egmond.

• Andy Warhol-inspired portraits of the resort’s swinging celebrity clientele – among them Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Debbie Reynolds, Cher, Dean Martin, and Marilyn Monroe – line the lobby promenade, and were masterminded by artist Carl Myers, who created these glittery abstract pieces using Guatemalan coins.

• A series of swank bars, among them the lobby’s ultra-hip Starlite Lounge. Awash in vivid color with bright white, metallic and orange overtones, this resort hub features a 30-foot video wall – flashing vintage images of celebrities – offering an intriguing glimpse at Palm Springs’ storied past.

• Larger-than-life spaces with elements that are also grand in scale, such as massive Turkish ottomans flanked by ten-foot-tall metallic candelabras and huge, almost cartoon-like, wingback chairs.

• Completing the attention-grabbing design mix: an electric color scheme of lemon yellow, deep orange, fuschia, gold, silver, chartreuse and bright white; handsome English and French retro-style furnishings clad in brocade and slick metallic accents; colorful shag rugs; pop art galore and luxe details such as luminescent mirror-clad walls.

• A soothing counterpart to the resort’s bold and eclectic design, the signature SpaTerre offers a profusion of exotic fine details – natural bamboo, crackled glass globe-shaped light fixtures, chocolate brown accents and stunning tile finishes. This calming retreat houses the coed Buddha Lounge, replete with towering replicas of tropical palms.

An Outdoor Oasis
Outdoor areas are equally alluring, with meandering pathways connecting lushly-landscaped gardens with intimate courtyards anchored by fire pits. A seductive and sunny hub, The Bikini Bar, the resort’s outdoor pool bar, sports a comfy open-air living room with a hip lounge atmosphere. Striking images of former Miss Americas – re-colored for a retro edge – line the sun-splashed pool area. Perpetuating an aura of communal camaraderie, in- and outdoor areas are carefully designed to encourage conversation. The pool and lobby areas are the spots to “see and be seen” – strategically situated lounges and couches attract groups of people for social events and mingling.

Original Architecture Preserved
The renewal preserves the façade and layout pioneered by original architect Irwin Schuman, who fashioned the resort after Las Vegas hotels like The Sands, The Flamingo and The Stardust. Designed in a modernist spoke wheel configuration, the revitalized property evokes the same sense of intimacy it did 50 years ago – with a series of two-story buildings skirting a central hub consisting of a huge swimming pool and bar, restaurant and outdoor lounge area. Guests feel connected to one another in what was once deemed a futuristic layout.

Once one of a trio of white-hot star-studded resorts, along with the El Mirador Hotel and the famous Racquet Club Resort, only Riviera Resort still stands as a monument to classic
mid-century Palm Springs.

Riviera Resort & Spa is located at 1600 N. Indian Canyon Dr. in Palm Springs. For further information, visit www.psriviera.com or call (760) 327-8311.