For sale: MCM Alexander House by Walter S. White

DavidC · Post by **DavidC** » Mon Feb 05, 2018 4:02 pm

The article states that Walter S. White worked with Wright (among others) but his name doesn't show up on the Geiger apprentice list.

1950s Alexander House by Walter S. White in Palm Springs, California, USA

David

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Tue Feb 06, 2018 10:31 am

Not true. White did work as a draftsman for both Schindler (8 months) and Harwell Hamilton Harris (6 months). He recalled visiting Taliesin West with a friend to meet with Wright about joining the Fellowship. White says he was offered a spot but after much consideration, he declined and returned to California to make his own way.

White one of the least known of the Palm Springs area modernists. Another of his designs, the "Wave House," is soon to be auctioned off by the City of Palm Desert (which currently owns it). It's an glorious wreck and I am eager to see what comes of it.

http://www.cityofpalmdesert.org/our-cit ... bateshouse

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Tue Feb 06, 2018 11:15 am

The house is fine, but it seems to be hemmed in. For that kind of money, one should get more privacy from nearby houses. Yet it is within a walk of the Elvis Presley Estate!

DavidC · Post by **DavidC** » Mon Feb 12, 2018 2:56 pm

Palm Springs Modernism by Walter White

David

jay · Post by **jay** » Mon Feb 12, 2018 4:13 pm

I saw this floor plan by WW a couple weeks ago:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BeCcTctH5rI/
Seems like a great little concept. Does anyone know more about it?
I found a fairly current listing for one of the units:
http://www.paulkaplanrealtor.com/listin ... -ca-92253/
(The reno zaps some charm...)

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Mon Feb 12, 2018 6:33 pm

Nice compact plan ! He really gets those roofs floating by supporting the end of the ridge on a narrow lally. These little houses owe something to a Cliff May prefab -- with a 60Ã‚Âº prow that May never drew, as far as I know.

There's always something fresh in modernism, isn't there. Wright and the other leaders had many followers, any one of whom can surprise us with something the "master" never got around to trying ?

SDR

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 12:45 pm

Zapped charm, indeed. Talk about TDMW! But the house is charming, nevertheless.

jay · Post by **jay** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:47 pm

Originally four were built on a quadrant. Two got demolished....
Perhaps they can be submitted for recognition from the official foundation of "Cool Little Moderate Housing Designs for Suburban America".

DRN · Post by **DRN** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 7:40 pm

Great little house. The gable end prow windows admit a lot of light and lend spaciousness to the rooms. I also like the trapezoidal little desk worked into the corner next to the closet to resolve an otherwise difficult spot to utilize...nothing wasted.

DavidC · Post by **DavidC** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:17 am

The newly listed $2.795 million Alexander House evokes the high artistic value for which master architect Walter S. White is known

David

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 10:27 am

A minor complaint. They couldn't move the dining table over about 2 feet so they wouldn't have to swag that underwhelming orange chandelier thing?

SDR · Post by **SDR** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 12:40 pm

Swagging -- ah yes; takes me back to my stint in a lamp store. There's plenty of room, here, it would see, to place a table correctly. Perhaps the architect intended a different furniture arrangement ?

The most objectionable thing for me is the gloss finish to the ceiling. Perhaps it reads differently in fact. Reflections move as the observer does, something lost in still photography . . .

SDR

DavidC · Post by **DavidC** » Tue Jan 29, 2019 11:57 am

Price is now $2,695,000 - THE ALEXANDER HOUSE - [0:57]

PALM SPRINGS, CA, USA US $2,695,000 (CURRENCY) 1011 W Cielo Drive, Palm Springs, CA, USA, 92262

David