RESTAURANT
(PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA)

Situated at the foot of a small hill in the desert of Palm Springs rests a restaurant that was designed from the curvature of the natural site. The hill appears to slope down through the restaurant. In 1994 it received the Vintage Pinot Noir Award sponsored by AIA, APA, ASLA, AEP, CSPE, IEDI of the Inland Empire of California, whereupon they said it was energy efficient before the issue of energy efficiency became popular. The roof, with four inches of urethane foam, ungulates around the perimeter of the small hill resting on recycled roof boards which are supported by laminated curved beams. The centered skylight is made of 3 layers of translucent plastic running the full length of the restaurant. The rock in the subterranean walls run in and out, are from the site. The double doors at the entrance are made of laminated beveled glass in fine curved wood frames, for keeping out the 130 degree summer heat. A low-profile waterfall of about 20 feet runs in and out through the glass on the right side of the entrance. In 1981 the restaurant was on the Cover of Restaurant Design Magazine. To paraphrase a corporate officer of Charthouse, "To change Kellogg's design is to jeopardize our investment."