The Design Citation of Merit is given for the restoration of the Miles C. Bates House in Palm Desert, California. In the years after its completion, a series of additions overtook the legibility of the home’s dramatic roofline and a period of vacancy threatened its integrity. Stayner Architects purchased the home from the city of Palm Desert and embarked on a restoration. Using sketches and drawings from the Walter S. White archives at the University of California, Santa Barbara, they researched key design elements. A significant portion of the work involved removing non-original additions, which happily revealed original features still extant such as the original ash wood paneling and joinery. The terrazzo floor, wooden roof, and masonry walls were restored to precisely match their 1950s condition. Where original elements were missing or beyond repair, they were custom fabricated to match. The restoration avoided “museumification” and instead placed an emphasis on restoring the experience—the desert landscape, ambient sounds, smells and textures, and the life of the house as discovered through oral history. To ensure the home has a future use, the project team worked with the city to obtain a Conditional Use Permit. With this success, the Miles C. Bates House was reborn as a space for all to visit, hosting artist residencies, educational tours, overnight stays, and events. 

Stayner Architects 

Stayner Architects