The Last Home Designed by Donald Wexler Hits the Market For $2.43M
In 2000, Donald Wexler came out of retirement to design a house for his friend Marc Sanders, but Sanders was unable to get the design built at that time in accordance with city requirements. Per the Desert Sun, it wasn’t until 2014 that Sanders found a different lot to build on and started the process again. Wexler and local architect Lance O’Donnell agreed to update the original plans to meet code and suit the new site.
The "Steel & Glass" home was finalized just two months before Wexler’s passing, making it the last home the famed architect participated in building. (A client had previously built another iteration of Wexler’s Steel & Glass design from the original plans.)
The home is located in the Movie Colony East neighborhood, on land that was once part of the Frank Sinatra estate before it was subdivided.
Palm Springs architect Donald Wexler (1926-2015) was dubbed the "Man of Steel" for his approach to steel-framed construction. In the early 1960s, the Alexander Construction Company tapped Wexler and Richard Harrison to design a neighborhood of 40 prefabricated steel homes.
The modest homes are now internationally known as examples of the Desert Modern style, incorporating open layouts, floor-to-ceiling glass, deep roof overhangs, and easy indoor/outdoor connections. (Only seven were actually built at the time because of a steep increase in the price of steel.)
The L-shaped, flat-roofed Steel & Glass home has many of the hallmarks of Wexler's style. The 2,550-square-foot layout wraps a pool, made accessible by lots of sliding glass.
A border hedge provides privacy for the backyard, where distant views of the San Jacinto mountains can be appreciated.
The home's key features are its post-and-beam construction, deep overhangs to modulate light and shadows, open-plan interiors, and easy indoor/outdoor flow via floor-to-ceiling sliding doors.
Shop the Look
Light-colored terrazzo flooring bounces daylight throughout the interior.
Both the living and dining areas benefit from the streamlined, two-sided fireplace.
A hard-working galley kitchen with wood cabinets and stone counters.
The kitchen overlooks the drought-tolerant landscaping in the yard.
A small sitting patio just outside the kitchen door.
An in-ground water feature is surrounded by atrium-like glass walls that keep the interior feeling open and airy.
The home has three bedrooms. This one has framed views of the backyard, as well as a bedside fireplace.
The terrazzo flooring continues in the three bathrooms.
Wexler thought steel was a good material for desert building. He told the Los Angeles Times: "With steel you get clean, sharp lines that will look good forever. Nothing can destroy it. Nothing can affect it."
1155 E. Granvia Valmonte is currently listed for $2,435,000 by Rich Nolan of The Agency.
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