An iconic mid-century home perched on Camelback Mountain known as White Gates, designed by esteemed Arizona architect Al Beadle, is facing demolition following its recent sale for $1.7 million. Al Beadle's house, once a beacon of modern architecture in Phoenix, may soon be reduced to rubble unless local preservationists can convince the city to intervene.
The urgency to save this architectural treasure is palpable, as the new owner, shielded behind a veil of an LLC, has quickly moved to potentially erase history. According to AZFamily, the structure, affectionately dubbed "Beadle Box," was never protected under historical designation. Celebrated for its design, which includes oval forms inspired by the surrounding landscape, the home is a testament to Beadle's vision of integrating architecture with nature. Now the Historic Preservation Commission has a mere 30 days to stave off its destruction after placing an emergency hold on the demolition permit.
Grand Canyon University professor and mid-century historian Alison King has been vocal about the issue, stressing the importance of the building to the city's cultural heritage. "This is going to be a real test for the mettle of the Historic Preservation Commission and the city council to see if they can stand up for something beautiful," King told AZFamily. Community members and enthusiasts have been urged to email the city to express their opposition to the demolition, a plea echoed by the Modern Phoenix website, which played a key role in rallying supporters to preserve the modernist gem.
In addition to its design significance, White Gates has been featured four times on the Modern Phoenix Home Tour, a testament to its enduring appeal. The home's detail, a unique plaster screen applied over wooden frameworks to create an ellipsoid pattern mirroring the mountain's natural ellipses, was revealed by Ned Sawyer, a Beadle employee, to not even be masonry, as Modern Phoenix explains. Instead, the ingenious design used metal flashing and plaster to achieve the iconic look that has made it a staple in architectural tour circuits and social media.
As efforts to protect White Gates intensify, advocates hope to to quickly sway public sentiment and the mysterious LLC's intentions. This building, which once faced similar threats, was lovingly restored and celebrated by its former owners and architecture enthusiasts alike. The battle for its survival is thus not just about the structure itself but about safeguarding a piece of Phoenix's history and its identity as a haven for mid-century modern architecture.
