Villa Roma is an iconic midcentury community located in South Palm Springs, representing a particular period of American architecture often celebrated for its ‘leisure lifestyle': a ‘Roman holiday everyday.' Designed by Architect James Schuler, a “Temple of Venus” underneath a floating oculus supported by Ionic columns, and surrounding fountain draw attention to this garden home community. Temple 'ruins', statuary, benches and planters adorn this community, consisting of 2-bedroom and 2-bedroom + den units, all exhibiting all the hallmarks of Desert Modern architecture: simple forms, accentuated eaves, concrete screen blocks, private outdoor patio gardens and more.

8 homes highlight the best of “The Cesar” and “The Cleopatra” floorplans, with many homeowners preserving or enhancing the original architectural elements that defined Villa Roma when constructed in 1964.

The tour will also include Schuler's design of the community room, which was intended to be complementary yet distinctive from the residential structures. And distinctive it was. Perhaps nowhere else in the world is found the singularly-unique community building colonnade, which combined a midcentury Modern folded plate roof with classic ionic columns, a bizarre juxtaposition of styles that somehow works in the context of the overall development.

Villa Roma Garden Homes was designated historic district status by the City of Palm Springs in February 2023.