Desert Modern architects like myself didn’t think of what we were building as ‘Modern’ in terms of architecture for the desert. We did it to live with the environment, a matter of balancing orientation and views.
Palm Springs Modern
Working with Desert Masters
Wexler practiced in Palm Springs for almost six decades designing houses, schools, hotels, banks and among many other projects, the 1966 main terminal building for the Palm Springs International Airport.
In 1956, Don’s immediate need was designing a home for his wife Lynn and soon-to-arrive baby. With a $15,000 GI loan for his budget, Don chose post-and-beam construction and other economical materials, including T1-11 siding for both exterior and interior walls. The original plan included a 2 bedroom/ 2 bath, single carport with 1,200 square feet of living space - modest yet functional.
The simple flexible design had intersecting planes and deep roof overhangs shading the floor to ceiling glass panels, a feature borrowed from Don’s former employer Richard Neutra. The design aesthetic resulted in a truly modernist home, which rightfully could have earned placement in the Case Study Houses.
In 2005, after reading “Palm Springs Weekend” by Alan Hess, the current owners contacted Don to request his 1956 family home be redesigned to 2012 Palm Springs building code and California Title 24 energy requirements. Don was in his 80’s but embraced the challenge, and subsequently enlisted Lance O’Donnell of o2 Architecture as architect of record (maintaining architectural liability insurance became a challenge in Don’s retirement). At Elmers during breakfast one Saturday, Don started sketching his vision on a napkin.
Don lived to see his prior family home rebuilt by Gary Barton, a no-nonsense builder which surfed Carlsbad on the weekends, played bass guitar in a church group, and coached the local girls high school volleyball team.
Through the years the owners added a desert-dip pool, solar electric system, 220V EV car charge hookup, steel fascia, aluminum clerestory trim, fruit trees, rocks, and drought tolerant Kurapia ground cover.
Don and Lance were proud of their results. People stop to gaze at the home throughout the year thinking “We should build a desert home”. And that’s how it all begins.
