Mid Century Dome House

This dome-shaped house in Palm Springs was renovated by its owner, Los Angeles-based architect Pavlina Williams, who added new windows and created open interiors.

The mid-century home’s location allows for 360-degree views of the surrounding area, including Joshua Tree and Coachella Valley, as well as a collection of wind turbines. The Palm Springs Dome House, built in 1956, consists of a hemispherical section and a rectangular section.

The architect renovated her house from the inside out, acting as general contractor while she gutted the interiors and tore down walls to create a light-filled space inside. The biggest challenge was installing all of the trapezoidal and triangular windows in the dome. Now the house contains three bedrooms and three bathrooms, with a sleeping area and a bathtub in the attic.

The owners switched the flooring to polished concrete and incorporated white surfaces and metal into their redesign. A new stainless steel spiral staircase from Fontanot leads to a roof section in the glazed atrium. The interiors show a combination of contemporary design and modern furniture from the mid-century. The kitchen has some industrial features like exposed brick and metal cabinets.

On the side of the house is a smaller white geodesic dome that currently houses a fiberglass hot tub. However, the owners plan to set up a guest room there.