An iconic midcentury modern Palm Springs estate that was once owned by Hollywood actor William Holden has hit the market for $10.99 million—eight years after it was sold for less than a third of that price.
Known as the William Holden Estate in honor of its most famous former resident, who lived there for 11 years, the trophy home offers buyers a rare opportunity to own both a piece of silver screen history and a slice of Palm Springs’ enduring architectural legacy.
The home was built in 1955 by Joe Pawling, a prominent builder who helped to define the Palm Springs aesthetic that the desert escape is so famous for to this day.
It was originally commissioned for George F. and Marcia Barrett, philanthropists from Illinois, and quickly gained attention thanks to its cutting-edge glass walls, which are supported by spaced wooden posts—a design choice that is now viewed as a hallmark of modernist post-and-beam construction.
Today, the home’s gleaming walls of glass are just one of a number of features that have helped it to become “the pinnacle” of Palm Springs’ celebrated midcentury modern architecture, according to listing agent Aaron Leider, with The Agency.
“Palm Springs loves its midcentury modern homes, and this is really the pinnacle of that style. I don’t want to say it’s the best because that’s cheesy … but it’s the best. It’s truly one of the most spectacular examples you’ll find.
“There’s a really special energy to it. You can feel the history of the house. I’d describe it as peaceful, almost soul-healing.”
While Pawling’s work helped to cement the home’s midcentury modern design legacy, it was Holden’s ownership that cemented its place in Hollywood history.
Holden purchased the abode in 1966, at the height of his career. He’d won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1953 for his role in “Stalag 17,” and appeared in such major hits as “Sunset Boulevard,” “The Bridge on the River Kwai,” and “Sabrina,” during which he was famously rumored to have been in a relationship with his co-star, Audrey Hepburn.
However, even after Holden sold the dwelling—which is located in Deepwell Estates—in 1977 and moved to nearby Southridge, his former estate continued to lure in Hollywood’s best and brightest.
“People love that it has such a Hollywood connection … and you can only imagine who else might have walked through those doors,” Leider teases.
Tippi Hedren, the star of Alfred Hitchcock‘s “The Birds” and the grandmother of actress Dakota Johnson, is another A-list legend to have once owned the home.
According to the listing, other famous names who may have called the property home over the years included Hepburn and actress Stefanie Powers, who was in a relationship with Holden from 1972 until he died in 1981.
“Hollywood allure abounds with such notables as Holden, Powers, Hepburn, and Hedren all calling this home through the years,” the description says.
Most recently, the dwelling was purchased by interior designer Rodrigo Vargas and his partner, Erik Storey, who carried out a two-year renovation of the home.
“It stayed absolutely true to its architecture,” Leider explains. “Visually, it looks the same as it always did, but with many modern improvements.
The renovation “was done thoughtfully, with no expense spared. The footprint of the home remained the same, but walls were replaced with glass, and everything was updated beautifully.”
That overhaul saw the property outfitted with both central heating and air conditioning. However, original features such as the free-standing fireplace remain, largely for the aesthetic appeal that they give to the dwelling.
In 2018, the property was listed as a historic site by the city of Palm Springs, which Leider says could also provide some financial relief to future owners.
“The property actually sits on four lots: two with the house and two that were once vacant yard space. A future owner could have developed the site, but the historic status ensures that won’t happen,” he says.
“The historic designation also brings a major benefit, it gives owners of historic properties a significant reduction in property taxes.”
Leider and the rest of the Palm Springs community hope the next owner will continue to open up the house to the public during Palm Springs Modernism Week. Tours of the home have frequently sold out in the past.
Leider says it is in no way a condition of sale, but he would love to see it continued to be shared with Hollywood and architecture fans alike.
The 4,559-square-foot residence includes five bedrooms, each with an en suite. It is one of the larger properties in the Deepwell Estates neighborhood.
The house sits toward the front of the lot, leaving ample backyard space for a large pool, lawn, and pool deck, all easily enjoyed from inside thanks to 47 glass doors and windows.
“Those incredible glass pivoting doors bring the outdoors in, every bedroom and hallway opens right into the yard. The same flooring continues from inside to the patio, so it all flows together seamlessly,” Leider notes.
With multiple living areas, including a breakfast nook, great room, office, and open patio, the layout encourages both quiet relaxation and effortless entertaining.
The home’s 1-acre parcel affords ample privacy—with palm trees stretching up over the abode and providing a beautiful natural setting for the glass building.
“My favorite thing about the property is the land,” Leider admits. “The feeling you get when you’re there. … There’s a simplicity to it, and yet a grandeur. It has wonderful intimate spaces, but you also feel the expanse of the grounds.”
