Before & After: This Historic Midcentury With a Slinky Roofline Debuts at Modernism Week 2020
Once destined for destruction, the Miles Bates House—better known as the Wave House for its curvy roof—will finally open to the public in Palm Springs this week.
When the Los Angeles–based firm Stayner Architects purchased Wave House in 2018 for $360,000 from the City of Palm Desert, little did they know what lay buried beneath. The house had remained vacant and in disrepair for years before father and son began the painstaking process to assess and upgrade the home’s infrastructure and efficiency.
An archival rendering of the Wave House dating from 1953-54.
Image Courtesy Walter S. White papers, Architecture and Design Collection; Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara
"For us, historic preservation is not about turning back the clock," says Christian, the junior Stayner, in reference to reinvigorating the 900-square-foot, one-bedroom, two-bath abode. The firm gently coaxed it back to its original state, stripping layers of paint, while removing, restoring and replacing windows, cabinets, paneling, ceilings, and doors.
The house, originally built by Miles C. Bates—an architect who designed more than 40 homes in the Palm Desert area—was listed under the National Register of Historic Places in 2018, and debuts this week during Modernism Week 2020.
Before: Exterior
The home had been boarded up, so the original roofline had been hidden for years.
Photo courtesy of Stayner Architects
After: Exterior
Viewed from the curb, Wave House, now painted a soft blue, showcases a curvilinear roof mimicking the mountainous landscape behind. The wave's canopy is anchored at four corners by beams supported by steel posts and installed with clerestory windows, emphasizing renewal for the midcentury form.
Tim Hirschmann
See the full story on Dwell.com: Before & After: This Historic Midcentury With a Slinky Roofline Debuts at Modernism Week 2020
