Stayner Architects revive Wave House – a lost Palm Springs gem
Los Angeles-based Stayner Architects is behind the thoughtful refresh of a Walter White house in the desert, a mid-century modern classic available to visit during the 2020 Palm Springs Modernism Week
Christian Stayner, the namesake principal of Stayner Architects, had never attended Palm Springs Modernism Week before. He happened to be there in search of a place in the desert to make his mark; his firm was initially thinking new construction. Then he ended up at an auction where he rediscovered the world of Walter White - not the other desert dweller you might be thinking of - an architect and industrial designer, who lived through most of the 20th century. White was a prolific modernist and primarily worked in the Coachella Valley and, later, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
At the auction, Stayner purchased the appropriately named Wave House, one of White’s mid-century modern gems, which he designed and built for artist Miles C Bates in 1954. White worked briefly for R.M. Schindler in the late 1930s, and Schindler’s inventiveness seeming to rub off on him, at least in the way that White was able to collaborate with his own clients.
‘I hope to find clients in my career like Miles Bates was to Walter White — open to architectural experimentation, enthusiastic about marrying formal invention and environmental sustainability, and willing to explore new modes of living in an arid and unforgiving climate,' says Stayner.
Stayner’s team went back to the original draft work by White, housed at the University of California at Santa Barbara. ‘We had some photos of the house, but not of every room and not from every angle,' he says. ‘There were discrepancies in the drawings themselves. We were careful not to entirely erase that from view.'
The results are breathtaking; the house feels like a time warp back to the Frank Sinatra 1950s, and yet it’s completely contemporary in its timeless design. It’s filled with spot-on details, handpicked for their letter-perfect fit by Stayner Architect family members: LIFE Magazines; vinyl albums; Scandinavian modernist furniture, textiles by Tibor LTD and Kvadrat (Denmark), vintage Russell Wright tableware, and various vintage cookware pieces.
This year, Stayner Architects will break ground on two new structures that will add 1,400 sq ft – including four guest suites, a commercial kitchen, and a shared pool and courtyard area – to the compound they are calling Desert Wave (in 2021, Desert Wave will be available for rental for retreats, artist residences, and special events).
‘The new construction is deferential to the original house,' Stayner says, ‘but definitely in conversation with Walter White. We are picking up some of his experiments and pushing them further both formally and tectonically, such as the unorthodox roof construction — in our case a modified dowel-laminated timber construction of the new structure. We hope that if a future architect comes along, he or she will step in to care for one of our designs after we’re no longer around.'
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
-
Real Motors’ Project: ARES electric motorbike may revolutionise two-wheeled travel
Project: ARES is an all-electric sports bike with science-fiction styling and old-school performance. Its makers hope it’ll be a hit with a new generation of riders
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Hermès captures the sheer delight of summer with new menswear collection
Hermès’ diaphanous menswear for S/S 2024 is Véronique Nichanian’s ode to sultry summer days
By Jack Moss Published
-
Japan in Milan: the best of Japanese design at Milan Design Week 2024
Discover the best of Japanese design showcasing innovative designs from terrazzo tables to tree-inspired textiles at Milan Design Week and Salone del Mobile 2024
By Danielle Demetriou Published
-
Modernist architecture: inspiration from across the globe
Modernist architecture has had a tremendous influence on today’s built environment, making these midcentury marvels some of the most closely studied 20th-century buildings; check back soon for new additions to our list
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Louis Kahn's modernist mastermind celebrated through new collaborations
The legacy of modernist architect Louis Kahn lives on to inspire a new generation, thanks to collaborations with family and fans
By Marina Cashdan Published
-
Royan Architecture Month showcases French modernism by the sea
Royan Architecture Month 2024 launches in the French city, where many travel to see midcentury builds by the sea, from Notre Dame church to Palais des Congrès
By Stacy Suaya Published
-
‘London Estates’ surveys the architecture and influence of the capital’s council-built homes
‘London Estates: Modernist Council Housing 1946-1981’, a new book by FUEL, is the perfect place to start for inspiration on how architecture can improve every sector of society
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Afrobeats and modernism: how the concrete ‘ruins’ of Lagos become a stage
We explore the relationship between Afrobeats and modernism in Lagos, as the Nigerian capital’s concrete structures become a stage for the music genre
By Olorunfemi Adewuyi Published
-
Is this the shape of wellness architecture to come?
Explore the future of wellness architecture through trends and case studies – from a Finnish sauna restaurant to UK cabins and a calming Canadian vet clinic
By Emma O'Kelly Published
-
Restored former US embassy in Oslo brings Eero Saarinen’s vision into the 21st century
The former US embassy in Oslo by Finnish American modernist Eero Saarinen has been restored to its 20th-century glory and transformed for contemporary mixed use
By Giovanna Dunmall Published
-
Discover Dyde House, a lesser known Arthur Erickson gem
Dyde House by modernist architect Arthur Erickson is celebrated in a new film, premiered in Canada
By Hadani Ditmars Published