undeterred, designer albert frey decided to go west, to palm springs, chasm. >> what attracted him toank canvas. the desert was a place that actually he could experiment with new forms of architecture. >> reporter: adam lerner is the executive director of the palm springs art museum, which houses the largest collection of albert frey's work, including his private home, the stunning and austere frey house ii. >> he is a local hero. he is a kurt cobain equivalent for seattle or what andy warhol was to downtown new york. he is palm springs' greatest achiever. >> reporter: but as albert frey was becoming the father of palm springs architecture, designing many buildings, including city hall and this gas station, which is now a welcome center, back in new york state, his first big project, iluminare house had fallen into disrepair and eventually into the hands of francis and her partner, michael schwarting in 1987. >> it's amazingly designed by albert frey, which we discovered partly in the process of taking it apart and put:00 it back together. >> reporter: they used it as a learning tool