New to Modernism Week, the Canyon South II Home Tour invites guests to explore an exceptional example of midcentury desert living in South Palm Springs. This exclusive experience will showcase seven residences within a 62-unit community set among lush greenbelts, multiple pools and sweeping views of the San Jacinto Mountains.
Canyon South II is part of the larger Canyon Country Club development, established in the 1960s as a premier destination for luxurious, golf-oriented living. Originally primarily developed on Indian lease land, Canyon South II has converted to fee simple land. The neighborhood reflects the principles of midcentury Modern design—thoughtfully oriented to embrace the desert climate, natural light and indoor-outdoor living.
Located in the desirable Canyon area, the community features mature landscaping, four pools (two with spas), and a tranquil, resort-like setting just minutes from downtown Palm Springs. Each residence is designed with private, enclosed front courtyards and gated rear patios, creating intimate outdoor spaces for entertaining or relaxing while taking in mountain and garden views.
The community was designed by László E. Sandor, AIA, a Hungarian-born architect whose career reflects both European training and American Modernist innovation. After fleeing Soviet-occupied Hungary in 1956, Sandor arrived in the United States in 1958 and began his career in Phoenix, working with Ralph Haver & Associates and later Dailey & Associates, where he collaborated with noted Modernist Alfred Newman Beadle.
A defining moment in Sandor’s career came in 1964 when he worked alongside Beadle on a project with Palm Springs architect William F. Cody. This collaboration led Sandor to Palm Springs in 1965, where he joined Cody’s firm as a senior associate. During this time, he contributed to major projects including the expansion of the El Dorado Country Club clubhouse (1969) and St. Theresa’s Catholic Church (1968).
In 1972, Sandor established his own practice in Palm Springs and quickly became a prominent architect in the Coachella Valley. His work evolved beyond Cody’s lighter Modernist aesthetic toward more expressive forms influenced by Postmodernism and Brutalism, characterized by bold massing and textured materials.
Between 1974 and 1979, developer Dick McCarthy’s Canyon Site Corporation commissioned Sandor to design all five phases of the Canyon South condominium communities. Canyon South II exemplifies his design approach, with flat-roofed duplex structures composed of strong geometric volumes and clad in a mix of stucco, slumpstone and vertical wood siding. Private walled courtyards provide secluded outdoor living at the front, while rear patios open to expansive greenbelts, community gardens and recreational amenities.
Sandor’s influence extended beyond Canyon South, as he designed additional custom homes and notable civic and religious buildings throughout the valley. His work remains a significant part of Palm Springs’ architectural legacy.
This tour offers a rare opportunity to experience the vision of an architect who helped shape the evolution of Desert Modernism—where thoughtful design, material richness and lifestyle converge in one of Palm Springs’ most enduring communities.