PROJECT SCOPE

Splash House, a boutique Goldenvoice event since 2013, entrusted HNZLR as production designer for The Saguaro main stage, a site beloved for its colorful mid-century setting. He envisioned and delivered a fully bespoke scaffolding structure in brilliant powder-coated white, clad in a series of concentric, geometric “portals” and an innovative membrane of pigmented sheer mesh. The design reflected Splash House’s identity as a sun-drenched desert oasis, its sensitivity to Palm Springs’ art and architecture, and the boutique whimsy of The Saguaro. Festival leadership was deeply satisfied with the final product and the creative process through which it emerged- a process grounded in dialogue, responsiveness, and care.

ARCHITECTURAL INFLUENCE

The form was subtly inspired by the Aluminaire House by A. Lawrence Kocher and Albert Frey—channeling Palm Springs’ legacy of experimental, lightweight architecture. Mesh screens in wooden frames- reminiscent of greenhouse windows and screen doors- were zip-tied to the scaffolding, blurring the line between structure and sun shelter. Scaffolding became sculpture, with a two-story framework supporting a curated nursery of tropical plants.

CREATIVE PARTNERSHIP

This project marked HNZLR’s first collaboration with the Coachella Art Department, and a spirit of creative trust quickly took root. Reviewing his drawing sets, carefully crafted for visual clarity and thoughtful detail, became a welcome ritual in the shop, fostering camaraderie and design fluency across teams.

SCREENLESS LIGHTING

Each portal harbored concealed lighting coves fitted with Martin Sceptron units. Without relying on video content, the stage made a lasting impact through rhythm, reflection, and atmospheric depth- proving that light alone, when precisely articulated, can become the story.

SITE-SPECIFIC INGENUITY

The Saguaro’s access limitations- no freight route beyond a standard doorway- ruled out boom lifts and heavy machinery. HNZLR & team answered the constraint with precision: breaking oversized scenic into modular parts and employing a motorized pulley system for overhead installation. The process was adaptive, inventive, and cleanly executed- an embodiment of creative engineering shaped by context.