Palm Springs Air Museum

Cultural / Adaptive Reuse Project
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs Air Museum Expansion & Renovation Study

Role: Design Development, Facade Studies, Visualization, and Presentation Graphics
Collaborating with Fabritecture and project design team

The Palm Springs Air Museum project explores a contemporary facade language for a public institution rooted in aviation history and the expansive desert landscape. Developed in response to the ongoing evolution of the Palm Springs Air Museum, the design reflects both the legacy of flight and the forward-looking identity of the institution.

The facade is conceived as a rhythmic structural system—expressing repetition, depth, and shadow—while responding to the clarity and horizontality of its surroundings. A series of vertical elements establish a measured cadence across the elevation, functioning as a brise-soleil to modulate light and reduce solar gain. This layered approach creates a dynamic interplay of light and shadow throughout the day, balancing openness and enclosure while maintaining a strong architectural presence.

Materiality is intentionally restrained, emphasizing tone, texture, and the effects of light rather than ornament. The composition is designed to read as both a singular gesture and a layered system, reinforcing the civic scale of the building with precision and clarity.

The result is an architectural expression that is at once contextual and contemporary—grounded in the desert environment, yet reflective of the enduring spirit and innovation of aviation.

Melanie Gilbert, M.Arch — Project Designer: Palm Springs Air Museum