Cliff May — Borrego Modern

Cliff May is widely regarded as the father of the modern ranch house movement that became the focus of post World War II American suburbs in the 1950’s.. May was born and raised in San Diego and as a descendant of the Estudillo family was influenced by the hacienda style architecture of early adobes including the Casa de Estudillo in Old Town and Las Flores at Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores in northern San Diego County. While his early work mirrored the traditional hacienda his later designs altered this traditional form to take advantage of expansive views and to blur the lines between the indoors and outdoors. Borrego Springs features two custom Cliff May designs that bookend his career.

Both Borrego Springs Cliff May designs are located in the “Estate” section in Unit D and while these private homes were designed and built two decades apart, they are less than a half-mile apart in physical distance.

Hauser Residence Courtyard view to Indian Head Mountain - Judy Parker Photography — Hauser Residence Courtyard view to Indian Head Mountain - *Judy Parker Photography*

Hauser Residence - 1949

The first Cliff May design to be built in the Borrego Valley was in 1949 for Rupert V. Hauser, an Oregon timber magnate who used the home as his winter residence. Nicholas Olsberg, author and architectural historian, says May saw the Hauser house “as a great leap forward in his work -- and which is an immensely influential work in developing a regional architectural vocabulary for southern California in general.”

A major change in the design of the Hauser residence is that May took the traditional hacienda shaped U and splayed the ends out, opening the center courtyard to expansive views of Indian Head mountain. This idea of changing the U appeared in May’s Post War Demonstration House and the Pace-Setter House designs and with these and the Hauser Residence, May began to increase the size of the house and living spaces.

Hauser Residence, 1949 - Maynard L. Parker Collection, The Huntington Library — Hauser Residence, 1949 - *Maynard L. Parker Collection, The Huntington Library*

In the closing chapter of the book, Sunset Western Ranch Houses published in 1946, the design of the Hauser Residence was shown in detailed drawings and descriptions as a projection of the post-war ranch house.

In this house, the editors noted,

“Cliff May has brought his ranch-house thinking, up to date.”

Hauser Residence, 1949 - Maynard L. Parker Collection, The Huntington LibraryInterior Design: Paul. T. Frankl — Hauser Residence, 1949 - *Maynard L. Parker Collection, The Huntington Library*
Interior Design: Paul. T. Frankl

As described in the 1958 Western Ranch Houses by Cliff May, (the sequel to Sunset Western Ranch Houses):

"…this house departs from the others (predecessors) that it gains special significance. Two changes are particularly noteworthy. For one, glass is used more abundantly than in pre-war houses. Secondly, the living room and corridor which were attached to each other in previous houses, are separated, thereby creating an additional patio". "One of the most interesting innovations is a canvas sky-shade that can be drawn across the patio as needed. During the day this sunshade filters the sunlight and the porch offers shade. At night, the canvas sails are illuminated by concealed lights that impart a soft glow to the patio."

The home was built by Hal Martinez Construction of Borrego Springs at a cost of $250 thousand dollars and was extensively photographed in 1949 by architectural photographer Maynard L. Parker for House Beautiful magazine. Paul T. Frankl designed the original interior and the landscape design was by Tommy Tomson, Landscape Architect.In 1955 the Borrego Sun reported the sale of the Hauser Residence to a Pasadena heart surgeon.

Hauser Residence Sold - Courtesy Borrego Sun & Copley Press — Hauser Residence Sold - *Courtesy Borrego Sun & Copley Press*

The house later passed to a variety of owners over the years, including architect Robson Chambers, who knew May from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Chambers is known for his work in Palm Springs, partnering with architect Albert Frey in the design of the Palm Springs City Hall, and the iconic Tramway Gas Station. Chambers is believed to have made several modifications to the home, including removal of interior soffits in the living room.

This was one of the first of May's designs to use sliding glass doors, which had been in short supply to builders during the war. Due to severe deterioration a previous owner replaced the sliding glass doors with French doors that lead out to the courtyard. The patio was originally designed with electrical radiant heating in the concrete to further blur the lines between indoors and out, and make the area usable on cool desert nights.

Daniel Residence - 1971

Daniel Residence - Judy Parker Photography — Daniel Residence - *Judy Parker Photography*

“Will you design our house for us? We are terrified at our temerity, but look forward to hearing from you...one way or the other.” Harry Daniel to Cliff May, March 2, 1971

When Harry and Julia Daniel came to Borrego Springs they knew exactly what they wanted in a desert home and who they wanted to design it. Ever since Sunset published “Western Ranch Houses” (1958), Harry Daniel had admired May’s work. In 1970, Harry Daniel wrote Lane Publishing (Sunset) asking how to contact Cliff May. He was somewhat surprised to get May’s address.

“Transplanting our roots from the rich humus of the Appalachians to the sand of the Santa Rosas is not an easy matter nor can it be done overnight... This will be our last house and it must be right in all its details.”

Two weeks after Harry Daniel sent his letter to Cliff May, Harry and Julia Daniel and the Mays met at Mays’ famed Mandalay. It was the beginning of a professional relationship but also a personal friendship that would last until May’s death in 1989. Enclosed in his initial letter to Cliff May, Harry Daniel included a manifesto of his and Julia’s dreams for their desert home. It was called, Program for a House in the Desert. It begins:

“We want our house to be a quiet place, a place of sanctuary and refuge. We want the pervading atmosphere to be one of serenity. We believe in luxury rather than comfort. Money alone can buy comfort but it takes money plus thought plus love to obtain luxury. We want the simplicity that derives from materials used honestly; the patina of richness that textures give; the accent of occasional drama...”
In general, we want a basic informality of background which will furnish the best possible setting for us, the sturdy elegance of seventeenth century furniture, the spare beauty of oriental paintings and sculpture of twentieth century art. We know from experience that a simple background of stone, wood and glass can be the perfect frame for fine old furniture and good art, and we see no reason why such a frame cannot spring from a tradition rooted in ranch house as well as Bauhaus...”

The Program that Harry Daniel sent to May would be the basis for their collaboration and friendship. Regular letters and visits were exchanged between the Daniels and May. Chronicled in those letters are the joys, and pain of life, and in each is nearly always a mention of their home in the desert and the sheer joy it brought them.

“Thank you for your delightful letter. We too enjoyed the day at Borrego and seeing your great location. I have been thinking about the building ever since and we have been working all morning today putting it on paper...I am sure with your great experience you will have no difficulty following the ideas we are putting forth. We are enthused and think it will become a new standard for desert living.” Cliff May to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Daniel, April 3, 1971

Daniel Residence Courtyard - Judy Parker Photography — Daniel Residence Courtyard - *Judy Parker Photography*

Today the home remains as the Daniels and May conceived it. The present owners are the home’s second, and they are passionate about their stewardship:

“Cliff sited the house well, taking advantage of the fabulous Borrego mountains, landscape and light. The house feels private without being inaccessible or unfriendly and it’s a wonderful place to entertain friends. Harry Daniel succeeded in his goal of creating a luxurious home that would be informal at the same time. Kudos to Harry and Cliff; we are the lucky beneficiaries.”

Daniel Residence Front Entry - Judy Parker Photography — Daniel Residence Front Entry - *Judy Parker Photography*

Excerpts from March 2, 1971 Letter from Harry Daniel to Cliff May (117/492), Program for a House in the Desert (117/492) and April 3, 1971 Cliff May to Harry Daniel (1117/492) are from Cliff May papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design and Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara. Contemporary photographs by Judy Parker Photography.