palm desert, california · stayner architects
2022-present · design intern: sahar simforoosh
gross floor area: 522 ft2
existing floor area: 901 ft2
site area: 0.32 acres
floors: 1
height: 8’-10”
construction type: type III
The Desert Wave House, or Miles C Bates House, is a home on the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places. Stayner Architects restored the home prior to the pandemic. Since joining Stayner, I have led the design of a back casita and pool, and have overseen the landscape design by Cactus Store. All plantings selected aredrought tolerant and native species.
The casita is embedded in a continuous curved wall which wraps the yard -- acting as both visual and auditory buffer to the neighborhood, providing a blank canvas for the lush landscape in the foreground. The design pays homage to the landscape intent of the original architect, Walter White.
desert wave casita
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9fdab71da62617dd634b6503707b6dfbca058ca1b81694ab68c974cb7b9de501/240110_DesertWaveHouseYard_Planted.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ae531629317b6fd18bcde392b2743942bfd81fe7363e1136e7428d8a335d7226/walter-white-palm-desert-home-floorplan-edit.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/94c670b3f73d7fb3be1c74d92389e91a637a3ab037551c3fcb707a554e077819/231205_MilesBatesSitePlanDraft_crop.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b5d0c193b38da0b32b9b3067abadf27f45261da804018a3c0698600053253462/230503_Entry.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1f235923c6d01cdfe76c393891e2f0919d77fa90da21d4864e02c1068d84cf5e/240110_CasitaEntry_noon_plants.jpg)