The Elrod House (Lautner)

NOTE: This is on private property - you need to research when the very occasional tours are offered and book well in advance. Arguably the most widely seen of Lautner's works, the Elrod House (1968) became famous through its use as a location in the Bond film Diamonds Are Forever. Situated on a commanding hillside in the desert outside Palm Springs, California, its best-known feature is the large circular "sunburst" concrete canopy which appears to float above the main living area; this area also incorporates a large natural rock outcrop at the edge of the room, creating the impression that the fabric of the building is fused with the rock. The canopy is fitted with curved glass-and-aluminium sliding doors that allow the space to be completely opened around half its circumference, opening out to a semi-circular swimming pool and a broad terrace. The prime hilltop site offers sweeping views of the surrounding desert. In 007: The Elrod House provided the filming location for one of James Bond’s most iconic film sets, serving as Willard Whyte’s winter retreat. Set along the hillside in Palm Springs, California the dominant feature of this house is the “large circular sunburst concrete canopy which appears to float above the main living area.” Architect John Lautner was an apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright. Today you can rent the house for only $100,000 a year (based on a three-year lease). That price tag comes with concierge services, daily housekeeping and other personal amenities.