In a recent Architectural Digest feature, the dream of living in a Modernist masterpiece—even for a night—becomes a reality. From Richard Neutra’s crisp geometries to Albert Frey’s mountain-perched glass box, the article highlights a selection of iconic homes by some of the 20th century’s most influential architects, now available for rent. For fans of Modernism—and for residents and admirers of Optima® communities—it’s an irresistible invitation: a rare chance to inhabit the blueprints of a design revolution.
What makes this article particularly resonant for the Optima® brand is its celebration of the very values that inform every Optima development: connection to landscape, spatial efficiency, and the transformative power of architectural vision. Take Neutra’s Rice House in Los Angeles, for example. Tucked into a lush hillside and outfitted with dramatic horizontal planes and floor-to-ceiling glass, it is a study in indoor-outdoor living—a core principle in Optima’s own projects, from the vertical landscaping of Optima Verdana® to the desert-integrated design of Optima McDowell Mountain®.
The article doesn’t just catalogue homes; it offers a sensory passport to different regions of the country through the lens of Modernist aesthetics. A visitor to Frey House II in Palm Springs, with its compact footprint and boulder-punctuated interiors, will quickly understand how simplicity and restraint can elevate comfort. Similarly, homes like the Olsen House by Donald Wexler show how metal, glass, and light can harmonize to create a lived experience that feels simultaneously minimal and luxurious—a balance that Optima properties across Scottsdale and Chicago artfully pursue.
For Optima® residents, these rentals might feel more like cousins than aspirational getaways. The modular rhythm of exposed steel and glass, the prioritization of views and natural light, and the seamless blurring of inside and out are already part of everyday life. But there’s still something magnetic about standing in the very spaces that shaped the Modernist canon—homes that were once experiments and are now monuments.
The Architectural Digest roundup is more than a travel guide; it’s a reminder that architecture can be intimate. That great design isn’t just something to look at—it’s something to live in. And while Optima® creates that reality at scale, these short-term rentals offer a pilgrimage of sorts: a tactile, time-bound encounter with the pioneers who laid the foundation for the way we live beautifully today.
For those seeking inspiration or simply a design-forward escape, this curated list of Modernist rentals offers a rare chance to dwell inside history. Just don’t be surprised if, after a few nights immersed in Neutra or Frey, you come home to your own Optima® residence with a renewed appreciation for its vision—and its view.
