Desert Palisades is perched on the hillside of Palm Springs, overlooking the panoramic view of the city. This residence aims to reinterpret the desert modernist style. Through the meticulous selection of building materials that engage in a dialogue with the natural environment, the architecture becomes an organic part of the landscape. Built around massive boulders and spanning a natural arroyo, the residence is cleverly elevated above the existing terrain while maintaining a close connection to the earth.

This weekend retreat was crafted by Brett Woods and Joseph Dangaran, the founders of Woods + Dangaran studio, for their family. With an L-shaped layout, the residence spans a total area of 3,800 square feet (approximately 353 square meters). The main building is a rectangular block facing the eastern city, housing the public areas and primary sleeping quarters. Its elevated design preserves the original topography of two natural gullies.

Architecturally, the residence gently soars above the ground as the plot slopes and dips eastward, spanning the natural terrain and gullies while maintaining the original drainage channels. In terms of design philosophy, the design team redefines the essence of desert modernism by emphasizing horizontal lines, utilizing natural materials, and creating visual and physical connectivity between indoor and outdoor spaces. While prioritizing desert environmental protection, the designers completely break away from the mid-century modernist paradigm that defines Palm Springs' iconic aesthetics. This innovative thinking directly shapes the building's unique color and material palette.

The interior layout of the residence is clear and straightforward. On one side of the architectural block lies the sleeping area, while the other side features an open-plan cooking, dining, and lounge space. A glass corridor connects the two wings of the house, with open courtyards and garden spaces interspersed, forming a central courtyard that can be viewed from almost every room. Full-height sliding glass doors run through the main living room, enabling a seamless transition to the outdoor dining area, patio, pool, spa area, fireplace, and lounge.

Taking into account the hot desert climate, the design team has also incorporated operable components within the glass corridor to achieve natural ventilation. The orientation design optimizes daylighting and thermal control. A wooden sunshade system creates dappled light and shadow effects, while the fully openable facade design cleverly blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing residents to fully experience the unique charm of the desert environment.

The interior spaces employ plaster walls to create a sense of layering and warmth. Plaster is also used for the kitchen and bathroom countertops, and the same material is continued for the indoor and outdoor flooring, giving the entire building a classic and timeless appearance. The earthy green color scheme continues the dialogue between the rocky landscape and the man-made environment, which is further enhanced by large glass panels. Through the careful combination of low-saturation hues and the delicate treatment of lighting and materials, the design team establishes a unique dialogue between the rugged natural environment and the comfortable living spaces. This residence, named "Desert Palisades," can both blend into the landscape and offer residents a unique lifestyle immersed in the harsh environment.

The exterior walls of the residence feature earth-toned stucco and textured concrete blocks, allowing the building to naturally merge with the site scattered with boulders. Oxidized brass panels and large areas of highly transparent ultra-clear glass form the facade of the residence, skillfully framing the desert panorama. The base of the building uses concrete block plinths paired with specially polished natural gray CMU block support walls, creating a visual effect of growing naturally from the ground. The thick walls firmly anchor the building to the site, while the transparent floor-to-ceiling windows invite in the sweeping desert views, enhancing the building's character through material contrasts.

In the master bedroom, Pierre Jeanneret's Capitol Complex armchair sits alongside Matthew Chambers' Earth Red Slow Twist sculpture and Mel Smilow's Woven Rush bench. Through the Otiima floor-to-ceiling windows, the desert panorama is brought into the interior, perfectly blending the wildness of nature with the tranquility of the indoor space.

The exposed polished natural gray CMU blocks harmonize with the terrain. The Prestigio custom bed frame, the oak base from KM Custom Furniture, and the Armadillo Malawi carpet further explore natural hues and textures. F&S Fabrics custom throw pillows, Parachute clay-colored linen bedding, and the LinenMe Store fringed plaid blanket add the finishing touches to the bedding ensemble.

The master bathroom's custom vanity features silver travertine and white oak veneer, paired with L’Aviva Home's Piedra black and white agate wall sconces and Rejuvenation's white oak curved mirror, collectively creating an exquisite space.

An in-ground pool has been cleverly integrated into the patio area in the backyard, creating a cohesive outdoor leisure space.