A Donald Wexler-Designed Midcentury Home in Palm Springs Asks $599K

This Casablanca floor plan model, designed by the architect who shaped Palm Springs, is a classic example of desert modernism.
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Architect Donald Wexler (1926-2015) first moved to Palm Springs in 1952, where the then-empty stretches of harsh desert terrain inspired him to build minimalist, steel houses that would come to define the Coachella Valley. In the early 1960s, Wexler teamed up with Richard Harrison to launch their first residential subdivision in the city, the El Rancho Vista Estates. Now, desert modernist buffs can buy one of the model homes at 1659 Via Roberto Miguel, currently on the market for $599,000. Boasting a "flagship floor plan," the Casablanca layout features three bedrooms and two baths in 1,363 square feet. 

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The midcentury abode boasts floor-to-ceiling glass in the living room, which faces south toward the pool and mountain views. The third bedroom, believed to be the original sales office, now functions as a family lounge area and reading nook. The current homeowners added bursts of color to the white walls, adding a pop sensibility to the stripped-down aesthetic, and made some slight improvements to open up the rooms, draw in light, and restore an original carport.

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Know of a home for sale or rent that should be featured on Dwell.com? Drop us a line at jxie@dwell.com.  

Jenny Xie
Dwell Contributor
Jenny Xie is the author of the novel Holding Pattern, a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 Honoree. She’s received fellowships from Bread Loaf, Yaddo, and MacDowell, among other organizations.

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