Da Vaal Estates a Rancho Mirage Neighborhood Home Tour

Located in the Tamarisk Country Club area, Da Vaal Estates, a midcentury modern architectural condo development, was designed in 1960 by Val Powelson and built by contractor Robert Marx.  Referred to as the original Desert-X, it consists of five one-story, four-unit condominium buildings, each based on a four-pointed star.  Although each home was in a four-unit complex, there are no common walls, the only adjoining areas are at the core of each "X", where 150 square feet of private storage could shelter a golf cart and recharging outlets. Da Vaal's clever layout gives homeowners an extra level of privacy as well as a sense of space and the X-shape buildings make an ingenious use of the two and half acre site, originally a grapefruit orchard.  Powelson and Marx planned the apartments so that each yard would have its own grapefruit trees, which are still a part of the community.  

In a 1961 interview, Robert Marx explained that Powelson wasn't fond of right angles.  This aversion is displayed in the design of the Da Vaal Units.  At one end, a triangle contains the master suite which includes a dressing room area and bathroom with a fashionable Roman tub.  At the other end, a second triangle incorporates the guest bathroom and bathroom suite.  In between, is the open plan living area which is a spacious 32 foot long from point to point, with an open bar kitchen at one end, a fireplace and walls of glass with views to the private yard and the community grounds on either side.  A steep pitched and beamed tongue-and-groove ceiling rising up to 14 feet adds to the internal drama.  

Today, the Da Vaal Estates stay true to their original midcentury charm and design. 

$65

Things to Know
Please arrive 15 minutes before tour time to check-in.
This tour is for ages 12 and older.
There are eight (8) homes on this tour.
Photography is at the discretion of the homeowner.
Private homes are not wheelchair accessible.
Please no pets, food or smoking allowed in homes.
Bathrooms in homes are not available.
The organizer of this event is Da Vaal Homeowners Association.

Event Check-in Location
Da Vaal Estate, 37800 Da Vall Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
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Photo Credits: Da Vaal Homeowners Association