Palisades Sunset Idea House

The Palisades Sunset Idea House, a collaboration between Donald Wexler, FAIA and Lance O'Donnell, FAIA of o2 Architecture, emerges from the boulder-strewn terrain of Desert Palisades as a realization of a previously-unbuilt modernist vision originally designed for a fieldview site in East Hampton, New York. Broad horizontal rooflines, expressed post and beam steel structure, and expansive glass walls anchor the home to its rugged site. The surrounding mountains and valley become an integral part of the home's experience. Every room opens directly to the outdoors, reinforcing the dialogue between interior and landscape beyond, while the plan ensures that all spaces—from the great room to the guest suites—share equally in the downvalley desert vistas. Clean horizontal lines, durable materials, and climate-responsive detailing contribute to a timeless architectural character that honors Wexler’s legacy while responding to the unique demands of the transition from New York to the Desert Palisades site.

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Outdoor spaces extend the home’s modest elegance, with shaded terraces, planters, and a stepping linear pool deck creating a series of calm, livable environments oriented toward the sweeping views. Deep overhangs and slender steel trellises modulate sunlight, casting shifting patterns of shade across terraces and facades throughout the day. Inside, wood ceilings, refined surfaces, and boundless glazing reinforce the home’s sense of openness and connection to place. The result is a modern desert retreat that embodies clarity, openness, and harmony with its environment—an enduring expression of modernist principles elevated by thoughtful craftsmanship and a deep respect for the home's legacy.