Sunnylands Center and Gardens – Frederick Fisher and Partners

“Fluid in its spaces and open to the outdoors, the house encourages relaxation, intimacy, and a constant awareness of the constructed landscape.” – Janice Lyle, Sunnylands Director

The single-story building lays low and long against the dramatic desert landscape. In the spirit of the Annenberg’s love of nature, outside and inside spaces are fully integrated.

The 200-acre historic estate first opened in 1964, with an iconic home by A. Quincy Jones. We know Jones’ architecture well – we work every day in a building he designed in 1954 for his own office and we renovated in 1995. Our design for the public Center takes aesthetic inspiration from, while not imitating, his high-profile private retreat at Sunnylands.

The 200-acre historic estate first opened in 1964, with an iconic home by A. Quincy Jones. We know Jones’ architecture well – we work every day in a building he designed in 1954 for his own office and we renovated in 1995. Our design for the public Center takes aesthetic inspiration from, while not imitating, his high-profile private retreat at Sunnylands.

Since the beginning, Sunnylands hosted foreign dignitaries, U.S. presidents, royalty and political summits – the Annenberg Foundation calls it “Camp David of the West.” The original estate represented grandeur and ambition, defying the arid landscape with its twelve man-made lakes and Dick Wilson-designed golf course, renovated by CMG Landscape Architecture.

Since the beginning, Sunnylands hosted foreign dignitaries, U.S. presidents, royalty and political summits – the Annenberg Foundation calls it “Camp David of the West.” The original estate represented grandeur and ambition, defying the arid landscape with its twelve man-made lakes and Dick Wilson-designed golf course, renovated by CMG Landscape Architecture.

We collaborated with The Office of James Burnett to reinterpret the splendor of Sunnylands with a sustainable and indigenous desert garden surrounding the Center. We introduced a photovoltaic array to generate all the energy required to run the Center and efficient geothermal heating and cooling.

Inside the Center, interior decorator Michael S. Smith paid homage to the estate’s original, regal decorator, William Haines, using light and neutral upholstery, midcentury modern forms and dark wood. True to Sunnylands ethos, Smith’s décor brings together comfort and stateliness. The Annenberg’s sculpture by Alberto Giacometti now overlooks the gardens, silhouetted against the garden and mountains.

Inside the Center, interior decorator Michael S. Smith paid homage to the estate’s original, regal decorator, William Haines, using light and neutral upholstery, midcentury modern forms and dark wood. True to Sunnylands ethos, Smith’s décor brings together comfort and stateliness. The Annenberg’s sculpture by Alberto Giacometti now overlooks the gardens, silhouetted against the garden and mountains.

Onsite galleries, reception halls, a new café and public meeting rooms accommodate lectures, performances and other events, creating space for new programming in addition to the high-level retreats Sunnylands famously hosts.

Onsite galleries, reception halls, a new café and public meeting rooms accommodate lectures, performances and other events, creating space for new programming in addition to the high-level retreats Sunnylands famously hosts.

Approachability and sustainability were key concerns with this project. We restored the historic residence and guest houses, added a new retreat pavilion to generate all the energy required to run the Center and reimagined the grounds to better accommodate the Foundation’s retreats and public tours and better use energy and resources.

Approachability and sustainability were key concerns with this project. We restored the historic residence and guest houses, added a new retreat pavilion to generate all the energy required to run the Center and reimagined the grounds to better accommodate the Foundation’s retreats and public tours and better use energy and resources.

Ambassador Walter and Leonore Annenberg described their original estate as “a place of tranquility and hospitality,” and now it’s open to all.