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P R O F I L E | S U N N Y L A N D S
DESERT SPL EN DOR
In R ancho Mirage, Sunnylands Center & Gardens offers
a sensor y experience that invites visitors to contemplate
the beaut y of arid landscapes
W R I T T E N B Y K A R I N E M O N I É
L
ocated 20 minutes from Palm Springs, Sunnylands Center & Gardens is
a peaceful haven that celebrates the union of landscape and architecture.
Spread over nine acres, the botanical gardens and interpretive center
pay tribute to the cultural legacy of diplomat and philanthropist Walter
Annenberg and his wife Leonore. For many years, the couple's adjacent 200-
acre estate was a retreat for U.S. presidents, foreign dignitaries and celebrities.
In this serene property where nature prevails, visitors discover over
53,000 individual specimens representing 70 different species of native
and arid-adapted plants from North and South America, Africa and the
Mediterranean. OJB Landscape Architecture—led by Jim Burnett—worked
closely with horticultural consultant Mary Irish to create these gardens,
which are dedicated to contemplation and discovery. Everything was
designed to be an ode to the desert with more than 1.25 miles of walking
trails that lead to a circular event lawn and labyrinth garden, among other
interesting features. "We like desert plants for their beauty, sculptural habits
and color," says Burnett. e Annenberg collection of Impressionist and
Post-Impressionist paintings—bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum of
Art in 1991—was one of the most important sources of inspiration for the
OJB Landscape Architecture team.
e edges of the gardens reflect a free flowing energy, while more geometric
shapes prevail closer to the Sunnylands Center. Los Angeles architectural
firm Frederick Fisher and Partners restored the building, originally designed
by A. Quincy Jones, honoring its midcentury modern aesthetic and earning
the 15,000-square-foot space a LEED Gold rating. It hosts an exhibition
space, cafe, theater and gift shop. Whether inside or out, visitors enjoy
views of the San Jacinto Mountains, which further complement the idyllic
PHOTOGRAPHS:
(CLOCKWISE
FROM
TOP)
COURTESY
OF
MARION
BRENNER,
KEN
HAYDEN
AND
DILLON
DIERS
