White Dates House / The Ranch Mine

Architects: The Ranch Mine
Area: 422 m² (4545 ft²)
Year: 2021
Photographs: Dan Ryan Studio
Manufacturers: Lunawood, Western Window Systems, Our Block Co
Structural Engineer: Broderick Engineering
MPE Engineer: Sequoia Trail Engineers
Architect: The Ranch Mine, Cavin Costello
Builder: Minnewaska Construction
General Contractor : Minnewaska Construction
City: Phoenix
Country: United States

White Dates House, designed by The Ranch Mine in Phoenix, Arizona, honors its midcentury modern neighbor, the iconic White Gates by Al Beadle, while introducing a fresh, contemporary design. Completed in 2021, the house features midcentury elements like breezeblocks and a focus on Camelback Mountain views, with seamless indoor-outdoor living spaces. The design integrates local materials and inspiration from Date palm trees on the site, creating a unique and harmonious addition to the neighborhood.

In the fall of 2018, The Ranch Mine architects arrived at their new project site in Phoenix and saw the iconic midcentury home, White Gates, designed by Al Beadle, across the street. This home had been vacant for decades. Understanding the historical significance of White Gates, the architects faced the challenge of creating a new neighborhood addition that honored the midcentury modern legacy while adding a new chapter to the area’s story.

The house was named “White Dates” after the Date palm trees on the site, including one marking the home’s entry.

The house layout prioritizes views of Camelback Mountain. The great room and primary suite are positioned to maximize these views, featuring floor-to-ceiling pocketing glass doors on both sides of the great room. These doors capture cool mountain breezes and open onto front and rear patios, creating seamless indoor-outdoor living spaces.

The design incorporates midcentury modern elements in contemporary ways. The front patio uses breezeblocks to screen the road and focus views toward the mountain. These breezeblocks, sourced from a local company, are used on a larger scale than typical midcentury applications.

Exterior patios and walkways are made of flagstone, and the entry is highlighted by a single date palm tree growing through a triangular aperture to the sky, referencing Albert Frey’s entry to Palm Springs City Hall. The Date palm leaf pattern is used throughout the home, including wood details behind the bar and a midcentury-like screen wall in the formal sitting area.

The interior palette is restrained to highlight the mountain views and midcentury elements, featuring concrete floors, plaster in the primary bath and shower, and a combination of walnut, white oak, and matte black cabinetry.